1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Carol
In North Carolina, hurricane-force winds left minor damage to houses, estimated around $228,000. Rains from Carol alleviated drought conditions in the Washington, D.C. area. On Long Island, the storm surge flooded the Montauk Highway with 4 ft (1.2 m) of water about a mile across. High winds left 275,000 homes without power, and damage totaled $3 million on the island.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Carol
The hurricane moved ashore in Connecticut shortly after high tide, producing a storm surge of 10–15 ft (3–4.5 m) from New London eastward. The surge in Narragansett Bay reached 14.4 ft (4.4 m), which surpassed that of the 1938 New England hurricane, which flooded downtown Providence with 12 feet (3.7 m) of water. In New London, rainfall peaked around 6 in (150 mm). The hurricane produced winds of over 115 mph (185 km/h) in Connecticut and Rhode Island, including a record-high gust of 135 mph (215 km/h) at Block Island.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Carol
Widespread areas were left without power from eastern Connecticut to southern Massachusetts. Further north in Maine, Hurricane Carol downed hundreds of trees, as well as destroying widespread apple groves and corn fields. It became the costliest natural disaster in the state's history, only to be surpassed by Hurricane Edna ten days later. Across New England, the hurricane destroyed about 4,000 homes, 3,500 cars, and 3,000 boats. Damage totaled $460 million, and there were 60 deaths. In neighboring Canada, high rains caused flooding while strong winds downed trees and power lines.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Dolly
A tropical wave spawned a tropical depression on August 31 to the northwest of Puerto Rico. It moved rapidly north-northwestward, intensifying into Tropical Storm Dolly later that day and into a hurricane early on September 1. Early in the storm's duration, the U.S. Weather Bureau noted the potential for Dolly to affect the same areas of New England that Hurricane Carol struck just days prior. However, the hurricane turned to the north away from land.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Dolly
The Hurricane Hunters estimated maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) on September 2 after the storm passed about halfway between the Outer Banks and Bermuda. Dolly turned to the northeast on September 2 and became extratropical later that day to the south of Nova Scotia. It was tracked until September 4, until it was last located to the north of the Azores. There was no reported damage.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Edna
As Dolly became extratropical, the tropical depression that later became Hurricane Edna developed east of the Lesser Antilles on September 2. It moved northwestward, dropping heavy rainfall on Puerto Rico as it passed north of the island. On September 7 Edna became a hurricane, and the next day reached peak winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). It turned to the north and northeast, bypassing the Outer Banks and skirting Cape Cod. On September 11, Edna struck Massachusetts as a strong Category 2 hurricane. The hurricane later moved ashore near the border between Maine and New Brunswick around the time it became extratropical. The remnants persisted a few more days before dissipating south of Greenland.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Edna
Early in its duration, Edna produced high seas and gale-force winds in the Bahamas, but there was no damage there. Hurricane-force winds occurred in the Outer Banks, although damage was minor. As it passed New England, Edna produced a 6 ft (1.8 m) storm surge during a high tide, which caused severe flooding in Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod. Wind gusts peaked at 120 mph (190 km/h) on Martha's Vineyard, and the strong winds across the region left widespread power outages.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Edna
The hurricane dropped additional heavy rainfall to areas affected by Carol, resulting in flooding in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In Long Island and New England, the hurricane left over $42 million in damage and 20 deaths, only 11 days after Carol affected the same area. About a third of the damage occurred in Maine, becoming the costliest hurricane on record in the state. Hurricane-force winds extended into Canada, causing $6 million in damage (1954 CAD), mostly from crop damage. There was one death in Nova Scotia.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Nine
A surface trough persisted across the central Atlantic Ocean on September 2. Over the next few days, the system moved slowly northeastward, independent of any frontal systems. On September 6, nearby ships indicated that the a closed circulation had developed, marking the genesis of the system as a tropical depression. Accelerating to the northeast, the storm reached peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) on September 7. By the next day, the system became extratropical, and soon after was absorbed by a larger extratropical storm to the north.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Florence
A tropical storm formed in the Bay of Campeche on September 11. Given the name Florence, the storm moved generally west-southwestward with a small radius of maximum winds. Hurricane Hunters reported winds of 65 mph (105 km/h), although winds were initially (before reanalysis confirmed it was a tropical storm) estimated to have reached minimal hurricane force, or 75 mph (120 km/h). Before the storm moved ashore, officials in Veracruz evacuated residents from low-lying areas, and overall about 90,000 people left their homes. On September 12, Florence moved ashore between Tuxpan, and Nautla, Veracruz and quickly dissipated. The hurricane flooded coastal cities with up to 3 ft (0.91 m) of water, cutting off communications throughout the state. Damage was heaviest around Poza Rica, primarily from the destruction of banana plantations. Monetary damage was estimated around $1.5 million, and there were five reported deaths.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Eleven
A low pressure area was present north of the Yucatán Peninsula on September 14. Nearby ship observations indicated that a tropical depression developed the next day in the central Gulf of Mexico, although the system's large structure meant it could have been a subtropical cyclone. The system moved slowly westward, bringing winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) to the coast of Louisiana. It is estimated that the storm reached peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) on September 16, based on reports from ships and the Hurricane Hunters. On the next day, the system began weakening over water, dissipating on September 18 without moving ashore.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Gilda
On September 24, Tropical Storm Gilda developed in the central Caribbean Sea about halfway between Jamaica and Colombia. A small storm, it moved westward throughout its duration. On September 26, Gilda attained peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) while nearing northeastern Honduras. The storm paralleled the coastline a short distance offshore, maintaining its intensity before hitting and later weakening over Belize on September 27. It re-emerged in the Gulf of Mexico before making another landfall near Tampico as a tropical depression on September 29, dissipating the next day.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Gilda
While moving just offshore the coast of Honduras, Gilda dropped intense rainfall, which flooding about 680 mi2 (1760 km2) of land along the Chamelecón and Ulúa rivers. The waters caused the widespread destruction of banana plantations and houses, leaving about 3,000 people homeless. The United Fruit Company reacted to this destruction by firing 10,000 of its about 100,000 workers within Honduras. Honduras's then-President Juan Manuel Gálvez appealed for aid from the United States. In response, U.S. Air Force planes flew food, medicine, rafts, and water purification tablets to the most-affected regions. A total of 29 people were killed in Honduras. When Gilda made its landfall in Belize, it left little property damage and no deaths.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Thirteen
A tropical depression formed in the Central Atlantic on September 25. It drifted east-northeastward, eventually becoming a tropical storm on September 29. The storm curved to the west and west-southwest, becoming a hurricane on October 2. It turned to the northeast on October 3, and reached a peak of 100 mph (155 km/h) winds about halfway between Bermuda and the Azores. By that point it began accelerating, and late on October 6 the hurricane became extratropical over the Northeastern Atlantic. Early the next day it was last observed to the south of Iceland. The hurricane was not named due to its presence in the eastern Atlantic and not being a threat to land.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Unnumbered Tropical Depression
On October 2, a tropical depression moved westward from the coast of Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico. It moved westward without intensifying beyond winds of 35 mph (55 km/h), moving ashore about 40 mi (65 km) north of Brownsville, Texas. The depression weakened as it moved across southern Texas and dropped heavy rainfall. Brownsville recorded over 3 in (75 mm) in a 45-minute period, as well as about 6 in (150 mm) in six hours. The rainfall rates of about an inch per hour was the heaviest since June 1950. The depression also moved ashore with high waves and tides.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Unnumbered Tropical Depression
When the system reached the Big Bend region on October 5 it reintensified slightly. Around that time, the United States Navy conducted a rocket test from White Sands, New Mexico; this was despite that such tests were rarely performed when the skies were cloudy. The rocket took an unintended photograph of the depression from an altitude of about 100 miles (160 km), which became the first such large-scale image of a tropical cyclone. The depression later moved into New Mexico and dropped additional rainfall, interacting with an approaching cold front. Flooding was reported around Roswell, as well as along the Pecos River system. Rainfall in the state peaked at 9.8 in (250 mm) in Canton, New Mexico. The system dissipated on October 7.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and second costliest hurricane of the season. The storm killed as many as 1,000 people in Haiti before striking the United States near the border between North and South Carolina, as a Category 4 hurricane. After causing 95 fatalities in the U.S., Hazel struck Canada as an extratropical storm, raising the death toll by 81 people, mostly in Toronto.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Hazel
Hazel formed on October 5 just east of the Windward Islands and intensified into a Category 1 hurricane while crossing the southeastern Caribbean Sea. After making a hard turn northward, it rapidly intensified as it approached Haiti, reaching Category 3 intensity before landfall. In Haiti, Hazel destroyed 40% of the coffee trees and 50% of the cacao crop, affecting the economy for several years to come. It fluctuated in intensity before making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Carolinas, which destroyed most waterfront dwellings near its point of impact. It affected several more states, including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, bringing gusts near 100 mph (160 km/h) and causing $308 million in damage.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Hazel
When Hazel arrived in Ontario, rivers and streams passing through the Greater Toronto Area overflowed their banks, causing severe flooding. As a result, many residential areas located in floodplains, such as the Raymore Drive area, were subsequently converted to parkland. In Canada alone, over C$135 million (2009: $1.1 billion) of damage was incurred. Hazel was particularly destructive in Toronto, as a result of a combination of a lack of experience in dealing with tropical storms and the storm's unexpected retention of power.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Hazel
Hazel had traveled 680 mi (1,090 km) over land, but while approaching Canada, it had merged with an existing powerful cold front. The storm stalled over the Greater Toronto Area, and although it was now extratropical, it remained as powerful as a category 1 hurricane. To help with the cleanup, 800 members of the military were summoned, and a Hurricane Relief Fund was established that distributed $5.1 million (2009: $41.7 million) in aid.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Fifteen
On November 16, a tropical depression developed about halfway between the Lesser Antilles and the Azores. It moved to the west, intensifying into a tropical storm and reaching peak winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) (however, due to limited data, it is possible that the storm remained a tropical depression). The storm maintained that intensity on November 21 when it began weakening, dissipating later that day.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Alice (December)
The final storm of the season, Alice, developed on December 30 from a trough of low pressure in the central Atlantic Ocean in an area of unusually favorable conditions. The storm moved southwestward and gradually strengthened to reach hurricane status. It persisted into the following calendar year, passing through the Leeward Islands on January 2. Alice reached peak winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) before encountering cold air and turning to the southeast. It dissipated on January 6 over the southeastern Caribbean Sea.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Alice (December)
Alice produced heavy rainfall and moderately strong winds across several islands along its path. Saba and Anguilla were affected the most, with total damage amounting to $623,500 (1955 USD). Operationally, lack of definitive data prevented the U.S. Weather Bureau from declaring the system a hurricane until January 2. It received the name Alice in early 1955, though re-analysis of the data supported extending its track to the previous year, resulting in two tropical cyclones of the same name in one season. It was one of only two storms to span two calendar years, along with Tropical Storm Zeta (2005) in 2005–06.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Storm names
The following names were used for named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) that formed in the North Atlantic in 1954. The list was the same as 1953 with the exception of Gilda, which replaced Gail due to the name's confusion with the term gale. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.


1954 Atlantic hurricane season, Storm names, Retirement
The name Carol was re-used in the 1965 season, but was retroactively retired when the modern naming system was introduced. Edna was reused in 1968 and retired. Hazel was not re-used and was retired.


1954 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1954 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1954 college football season. It was the Tigers' 63rd overall and 22nd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Cliff Hare Stadium in Auburn and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished with a record of eight wins and three losses (8–3 overall, 3–3 in the SEC) and with a victory over Baylor in the Gator Bowl.


1954 Australian Championships
The 1954 Australian Championships was a tennis tournament that took place on outdoor grass courts at the White City Tennis Club, Sydney, Australia from 22 January to 1 February. It was the 42nd edition of the Australian Championships (now known as the Australian Open), the 12th held in Sydney, and the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. The singles titles were won by Australians Mervyn Rose and Thelma Coyne Long.


1954 Australian Championships, Finals, Men's Doubles
Rex Hartwig /  Mervyn Rose defeated  Neale Fraser /  Clive Wilderspin 6–3, 6–4, 6–2


1954 Australian Championships, Finals, Women's Doubles
Mary Bevis Hawton /  Beryl Penrose defeated  Hazel Redick-Smith /  Julia Wipplinger 6–3, 8–6


1954 Australian Championships, Finals, Mixed Doubles
Thelma Coyne Long /  Rex Hartwig defeated  Beryl Penrose /  John Bromwich 4–6, 6–1, 6–2


1954 Australian Championships – Men's Singles
Mervyn Rose defeated Rex Hartwig 6–2, 0–6, 6–4, 6–2 in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 1954 Australian Championships.


1954 Australian Championships – Men's Singles
Ken Rosewall was the defending champion and the first-seed but lost in a five-set semifinal to fifth-seeded and eventual champion Mervyn Rose.


1954 Australian Championships – Men's Singles, Seeds
The seeded players are listed below. Mervyn Rose is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.


1954 Australian Championships – Women's Singles
First-seeded Thelma Long defeated Jenny Staley 6-3, 6-4 in the final to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 1954 Australian Championships.


1954 Australian Championships – Women's Singles, Seeds
The seeded players are listed below. Thelma Long is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.


1954 Australian Grand Prix
The 1954 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Southport Road Circuit near Southport in Queensland, Australia on 7 November 1954. The race was held over 27 laps of the 5.7 mile (9.17 kilometre) circuit, a total distance of 153.9 miles (247.6 km). It was the nineteenth Australian Grand Prix and the second to be held in Queensland.


1954 Australian Grand Prix
With no suitable permanent circuit available, a course was mapped out on roads in sparsely settled coastal land 2.5 km south west of Southport, and just to the north of later circuits, Surfers Paradise Raceway and the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. The Grand Prix race meeting was organised by the Queensland Motor Sporting Club and the Toowoomba Auto Club in conjunction with the Southport Rotary Club. The race, which was open to Racing and Stripped Sports Cars, had 28 starters.


1954 Australian Grand Prix
The race was won by Lex Davison, later to become the most successful driver in the history of the Australian Grand Prix. It was Davison's first win in the Grand Prix having finished in the top three as far back as 1947. Davison drove a Formula 2 HWM re-engined with a 3.4 litre Jaguar engine. Davison finished a lap clear of Curley Brydon's MG TC special and two laps ahead of third placed Ken Richardson in a Ford based special. The gaps were caused by attrition amongst the fastest drivers.


1954 Australian Grand Prix
Jack Brabham was out on the second lap with a broken engine in his Cooper; Rex Taylor was black flagged for receiving outside assistance after spinning his Lago-Talbot; Dick Cobden retired his Ferrari after a spin and Stan Jones crashed heavily while leading after his chassis failed. It would be the last race for the Mk.II Maybach special, Charlie Dean's team rebuilding it as the Maybach III.


1954 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
A leadership spill of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), then the opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, was rejected on 21 October 1954.


1954 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
On 5 October 1954 Evatt gave an aggressive speech against 'disloyal elements' within the Labor Party, which aimed "to deflect the Labor Movement from the pursuit of established Labor objectives and ideals." The speech caused ructions within the ALP leading many to question Evatt's position.


1954 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
Labor's caucus rejected by 52 to 28 votes a motion for a spill moved by Senators George Cole and James Fraser. Deputy leader Arthur Calwell and Allan Fraser would have stood for election as Leader and deputy leader respectively in the event of a spill occurring. After the ballot, Evatt insisted on counting the names for and against, which only furthered his opponents animosity.


1954 Australian federal election
The 1954 Australian federal election were held in Australia on 29 May 1954. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, but no Senate election took place. The incumbent Liberal–Country coalition led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies defeated the opposition Labor Party led by H. V. Evatt, despite losing the two-party preferred vote. As well as being the only election in which a party received a clear majority of votes and was unable to form government.


1954 Australian federal election
This was the first federal election that future Prime Minister Gough Whitlam contested as a member of parliament, having entered parliament at the 1952 Werriwa by-election.


1954 Australian federal election, Issues
The election was complicated by the Petrov Affair, in which Vladimir Petrov, an attache to the Soviet embassy in Canberra, defected amidst a storm of publicity, claiming that there were Soviet spy rings within Australia. Given that the 1951 election had been fought over the issue of banning the Communist Party of Australia altogether, it is unsurprising that such a claim would gain credibility.


1954 Australian federal election, Aftermath
The 20th session of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. This was the first time a reigning monarch had opened a session of parliament in Australia. The Queen wore her Coronation Dress to open the 20th session of parliament. The success of the 1954 Royal Tour of Australia (the first by a reigning sovereign), the recovery of the economy from a brief recession in 1951-52 and the Petrov Affair were all credited with assisting in the return of the government.


1954 BC Lions season
The 1954 BC Lions season was the inaugural season for the Lions. By Bailey scored the first touchdown in BC Lions history in an 8–6 loss to Winnipeg on August 28, 1954.


1954 BC Lions season
The first win in franchise history (and the only win of the season) came on September 18, 1954, when the Lions defeated the Calgary Stampeders 9–4 at Empire Stadium in Vancouver.


1954 BC Lions season
The Lions finished the season with a 1–15 record and failed to make the playoffs.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash
A British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Lockheed L-749A Constellation crashed and caught fire as it attempted to land at Kallang Airport on 13 March 1954, killing 33 of the 40 passengers and crew. The accident occurred when the aircraft struck a seawall on approach to the runway. The inquiry attributed this to crew tiredness, noting that the captain had been on duty for over 21 hours. It also criticised the response of the airport fire unit. This is the highest death toll of any aviation accident in Singapore.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Flight
The aircraft was operating a joint Qantas–BOAC scheduled passenger flight from Sydney, Australia, to London, England. Following a stopover at Jakarta, Indonesia, it crashed while landing at Kallang Airport. Captain Trevor Hoyle was the pilot. The aircraft was a Lockheed L-749A Constellation, a low-wing monoplane airliner with four Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engines. It had first flown in the United States in 1947. Originally part of an order by Eastern Air Lines it was re-allocated to the Irish airline Aerlínte Éireann and delivered on 16 September 1947. It was sold in 1948 by Aerlínte Éireann, along with five other Constellations, to British Overseas Airways Corporation. It had been registered as G-ALAM and named Belfast.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Accident
The accident occurred when the aircraft struck a seawall on approach to Runway 06 at Kallang, damaging the undercarriage and causing a leak from the number three wing fuel tank. As the aircraft touched down a second time, on the runway, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft slid until the starboard wing broke off. The remainder of the aircraft rolled to the right, coming to rest upside down with the fuselage in two pieces, and one of the engines carried on for another 100 yd (91 m). The aircraft was already on fire when it came to rest. The weather was clear at 2:35 p.m. when the accident occurred.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Accident
Five crew members escaped from the cockpit through a 14-by-10-inch clear vision panel, and two more through a gash in the fuselage in the crew compartment, the sole survivors of the accident. Holes were cut in the fuselage through which a stewardess and two passengers were removed, but the latter died before reaching a hospital, and the stewardess died later of her injuries. No attempt was made to use the emergency exits, and the main cabin door was jammed; at the inquiry a fire expert attached to the RAF stated that the door of the Constellation was the most difficult he had had to open in his 24-year firefighting career.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Accident
All 31 passengers died, along with 2 crew members (the other crew fatality being a steward). It is the highest death toll of any aviation accident ever to take place in Singapore. Among the victims was Ami Chandra, a noted Fijian educator and president of the Fiji Industrial Workers Congress.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Public inquiry
The Singapore government held a public inquiry into the accident under Justice Knight from 31 May to 16 August. The accident was attributed to poor execution of the approach due to crew tiredness, which exacerbated the pilot's decision to touch down near the end of the runway. The inquiry determined that, at the time of arrival in Singapore, Captain Hoyle had been on duty for 21½ hours since the flight departed Sydney.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Public inquiry
Christopher Shawcross, senior counsel for BOAC, stated that "the crash would not have happened had it not been for the condition which existed at that end of the runway on the day of the crash", referring to the wall struck by the plane.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Public inquiry
The inquiry criticised the airport fire unit's lack of equipment and the efforts it made to rescue the passengers in the six- to eight-minute period after the aircraft came to rest, when many were probably still alive. It did not censure the aircraft crew but did not commend their actions either, noting they were suffering from shock and the darkness and fumes.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Public inquiry
After studying the public report on the crash, the Singapore coroner recorded verdicts of 'death by misadventure'. The coroner also said that Captain Hoyle had made an error of judgement but that no one was criminally responsible for the crash.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Aftermath
Twenty-four of the victims, including fourteen who were not identified, were buried together in a communal grave at Bidadari Cemetery. Two crash victims were mistaken for one another and received funeral rites of the other's religion.


1954 BOAC Lockheed Constellation crash, Aftermath
BOAC based four captains in Sydney so the Sydney–Darwin and Darwin–Jakarta routes could be flown by separate captains.


1954 BYU Cougars football team
The 1954 BYU Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Brigham Young University in the Skyline Conference during the 1954 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Chick Atkinson, the Cougars compiled a 1–8 record (1–6 against Skyline opponents), finished eighth in the Skyline, and were outscored by a total of 188 to 96.


1954 BYU Cougars football team
The team's statistical leaders included Ron Bean with 441 yards of total offense (4 rushing, 437 passing), Dick Felt with 379 rushing yards, and Phil Oyler with 18 points scored.


1954 Ball State Cardinals football team
The 1954 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State Teachers College (later renamed Ball State University) in the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) during the 1954 college football season. In its second season under head coach George Serdula, the team compiled a 6–2 record.


1954 Baltimore Colts season
The 1954 Baltimore Colts season was the second season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1954 season with a record of 3 wins and 9 losses and finished sixth in the Western Conference.


1954 Baltimore Colts season, Regular season, Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.


1954 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1954 Baltimore Orioles season saw the return of Major League Baseball to Baltimore after a 51-year absence, and the debut of the current edition of the MLB Oriole franchise. In reality, its first year in Baltimore was the 54th season in the history of the American League team originally founded as the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901, then transferred to Missouri as the St. Louis Browns, who played from 1902 to 1953. Baltimore thus returned to the Junior Circuit over a half century after the Orioles of 1901–02 departed for New York City, where they eventually became the Yankees.


1954 Baltimore Orioles season
Inheriting the playing personnel of the 1953 Browns, the 1954 Orioles finished seventh in the eight-team American League with a record of 54 wins and 100 losses, 57 games behind the AL champion Cleveland Indians. The team was managed by Jimmy Dykes, and played its home games at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, where it attracted 1,060,910 fans, fifth in the Junior Circuit but a massive 257 percent improvement over the 1953 Browns' totals. The new Orioles' games were broadcast over television and radio by the trio of Ernie Harwell, Howard Williams and Bailey Goss on WMAR-TV/WAAM (television) and WCBM (radio).


1954 Baltimore Orioles season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1954 Baltimore Orioles season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1954 Baltimore Orioles season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Baltimore Orioles season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Baltimore Orioles season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1954 followed a system practically the same as in 1952 because the new Veterans Committee was meeting only in odd-number years (until 1962). The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) voted by mail to select from recent players and elected three: Bill Dickey, Rabbit Maranville, and Bill Terry. A formal induction ceremony was held in Cooperstown, New York, on August 9, 1954, with Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick presiding.


1954 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, BBWAA election
Any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall. Votes were cast for 53 players; a total of 252 ballots were cast, with 189 votes required for election. A total of 2,091 individual votes were cast, an average of 8.30 per ballot.


1954 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, BBWAA election
The three candidates who received 75% of the vote and were elected are indicated in bold italics; candidates who have since been elected in subsequent elections are indicated in italics.


1954 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, BBWAA election
Players were eligible if they had finished their career between 1928 and 1952. Starting with this election, players had to have been retired from baseball (including no longer working as a manager) for a minimum of five seasons to be eligible, unless they had received at least 100 votes in the prior year's election—those who qualified under this clause were Joe DiMaggio and Ted Lyons.


1954 Bathurst 100
The 1954 Bathurst 100 was a motor race held at the Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia on 19 April 1954. It was staged over 26 laps  of the 3.7 mile circuit, a total distance of approximately 100 miles. The race, which was open to 'racing cars of all powers', was contested on a handicap basis with the first car, the HRG of Eddie Senior, starting 17 minutes and 46 seconds before the last cars, the Maybach of Stan Jones and the Ferrari of Dick Cobden.


1954 Bathurst 100
The race was won by Bill Clark driving a HRG, with the Scratch section (disregarding handicaps) won by Stan Jones driving a Maybach.


1954 Bavarian state election
The 1954 Bavarian state election was held on 28 November 1954 to elect the members of the Third Bavarian Landtag. It is notable for being both the only time that a member of the SPD was elected as Minister-President, and the only time that the CSU was in the opposition.


1954 Bavarian state election, Background
In the previous 1950 election, the CSU had suffered a major blow, losing 40 of their seats within the Landtag. After strenuous negotiations that lasted 17 days, a broad coalition was formed between the CSU, SPD, and GB/BHE, with Hans Ehard retaining in his position as Minister-President. With a vote of 131-5, with 36 abstentions he was elected as Minister-President within the Landtag.


1954 Bavarian state election, Background, Auerbach Affair
The second Ehard term did not go without scandals, however. In 1946, Holocaust survivor Philipp Auerbach had been appointed as state commissioner of reparations. His tasks were many, but there was a particular focus on managing the repatriation of and administering reparations checks to those in displacement camps. Auerbach was described as having "acquired the funds for reparations payments in marginally legal, brilliant, and unorthodox ways," however this wasn't enough. The Bavarian government did not pay the full amount for reparation claims above $600.


1954 Bavarian state election, Background, Auerbach Affair
Instead, claimants received a first installment in cash, and a second in the form of compensations checks that couldn't be renewed until 1 January 1954. Displaced persons, who were often desperate for money, would sell these notes to for 30 to 50 percent of their face values to banks. The banks by 1950 had bought up about $2 million dollars worth of these notes. Minister-President Ehard gave approval for such transactions.


1954 Bavarian state election, Background, Auerbach Affair
Auerbach eventually lodged a complaint to the state Justice Ministry in December 1950 that residency permits were being counterfeited for money, which blocked the way of actual claimants from receiving funds. Justice Minister Josef Müller however, turned this on its head and blamed Auerbach for such behaviors. On 27 January 1951, the Bavarian police occupied the state reparations office in Munich in search of evidence of fraud and mishandling on the part of Auerbach. While his methods (which included state-backed loans secured by Nazi property) were unorthodox, they weren't illegal, and there was no evidence of him personally enriching himself.


1954 Bavarian state election, Background, Auerbach Affair
However after a 17-month investigation, a four-month trial was launched (with several figures on the government's side being ex-Nazis, including the judge, Josef Mulzer, who had been on the Supreme Military Court for the Third Reich), which found him guilty and sentenced for two and a half years in prison. In the proceedings it was also discovered he falsely claimed the title of doctor, and had been a member of the Sicherheitsdienst. Auerbach took his own life in prison on 14 August 1952.


1954 Bavarian state election, Results
While the Auerbach Affair hung over much of Ehard's tenure, none of the intrigue of the first term occurred, and the coalition stayed intact. The only immediate result was the forced resignation of the Justice Minister in 1952. The CSU managed to recoup some of their 1950 losses, gaining 19 seats in the 1954 elections, at the primary expense of the BP and GB/BHE which had divided the right-wing vote in 1950. However, an unlikely coalition formed.


1954 Bavarian state election, Results
Under the leadership of the state SPD chair, Waldemar von Knoeringen, the SPD brokered a Viererkoalition (coalition-of-four) between themselves, the FDP, the BP, and GB/BHE  which stemmed from a collective skepticism of the CSU. On 14 December 1954 Wilhelm Hoegner was voted in as Minister-President. In light of this, disputes broke out within the CSU, which led to the resignation of Hans Ehard as party chair in January 1955, but he still retained his position as President of the Landtag.


1954 Bavarian state election, Aftermath
The Hoegner government fell into a major scandal of its own, but it did not manage to come out intact like Ehard's had. In 1951, businessman Karl Freisehner had approached the government about casino operating concessions in his name. While this was rejected, several Landtag members had received a bribe of 50,000 marks in order to vote yes. With enough pressure, the Bavarian government did give the licences in April 1955. Soon afterwards, the CSU had launched a parliamentary investigation into the opening of the casinos.


1954 Bavarian state election, Aftermath
One of the recipients of the 50,000 mark check was a CSU deputy,  Franz Michel, who came forwards to his other party members. Later on he'd claim he burned the check. The crusade against the bribery was now led by Friedrich Zimmermann, who reportedly had incriminating evidence on the Deputy Minister-President and co-founder of the BP, Joseph Baumgartner. In 1957, Baumgartner and Minister of the Interior August Geislhöringer (also a member of the BP) resigned in face of these allegations, and the coalition collapsed.


1954 Bavarian state election, Aftermath
This wasn't enough for Zimmerman and he eventually got what he wanted: in January 1959 Freisehner came forward with documents detailing payments made to the two ministers. Both were sentenced to jail, with Baumgartner receiving two years in prison, and Geislhöringer one and a half. It would later be revealed that the documents Freisehner had presented were most likely forged, however by that point it didn't matter, the BP had managed to destroy its own reputation.


1954 Bavarian state election, Aftermath
The Viererkoalition officially collapsed on 8 October 1957. due to a combination of the Casino Affair, and the CDU/CSU victory in the 1957 federal election. The right-wing parties abandoned the SPD in reaction to the election, and Hoegner submitted his resignation on 9 October 1957. CSU politician Hanns Seidel was chosen as Minister-President, and formed a coalition with the FDP and GB/BHE, which would last through the 1958 state elections.


1954 Bavarian state election, Parties
The table below lists parties represented in the Second Landtag of Bavaria.


1954 Baylor Bears football team
The 1954 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the 1954 college football season. The team finished with a record of 7–4 and lost the Gator Bowl to Auburn University, 13–33. Players L. G. Dupre (halfback) and James Ray Smith (tackle) played in the North–South All-Star Game; Smith, Billy Hooper (quarterback), Del Shofner (halfback) and Henry Gremminger (end) were selected as All-Conference players.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix
The 1954 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 20 June 1954. It was race 3 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers. The 36-lap race was won by Maserati driver Juan Manuel Fangio after he started from pole position. Maurice Trintignant finished second for the Ferrari team with Fangio's teammate Stirling Moss in third.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Background
The opening race of the 1954 Formula One season was held in Argentina in January and won by Juan Manuel Fangio driving a Maserati. The second race that counted towards the year's World Championship of Drivers, the 1954 Indianapolis 500, was, as in the years before, not attended by the European drivers (and won for the second time by Bill Vukovich). After the cancellation of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the Belgian Grand Prix was the season's first championship race on European soil, held five months after the season opener.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Background
While most of the other drivers had competed in the various non-championship races, it was the first appearance of the season in Europe for Fangio, the championship leader. Fangio had signed with the Mercedes team for the season, but since their new car was not finished in time for the Francorchamps race, he competed in the Maserati 250F as he did at his home Grand Prix. Alongside him in the Maserati team were compatriot Onofre Marimón and Italian Sergio Mantovani, while Stirling Moss, Prince Bira and Roberto Mieres entered Maseratis for private teams.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Background
After recovering from an accident at the Mille Miglia, 1950 World Champion Giuseppe Farina returned to the field in his Ferrari 553. The team was completed by José Froilán González, and in last year's cars Maurice Trintignant and Mike Hawthorn. Jacques Swaters entered another Ferrari for his home Grand Prix.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Background
The field was completed by the Gordini team with their drivers Jean Behra, Paul Frère and André Pilette. Although the newly formed Lancia team did make an entry for the Belgian Grand Prix, they withdrew, resulting in reigning World Champion Alberto Ascari missing another race of the season. Therefore, the field at Spa-Francorchamps only consisted of 14 drivers.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Qualifying
On the first day of practise only the Ferraris were making an appearance. The battle for Pole Position became interesting, when Juan Manuel Fangio showed up on the second day. In his Maserati he managed to pulverize his own track record (set in 1951 in the Alfa Romeo 159) and qualified fastest with a time of 4:22.1. Behind him on second place was González who was very pleased with the improved handling of his Ferrari. Over two seconds behind him was Farina who wasn't satisfied at all with the car's set-up.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Race
On 20 June 1954 the 14 cars lined up for the Belgian Grand Prix. Behind them a 15th car, the Maserati of Emmanuel de Graffenried was ready for the start to film authentic race footage for the upcoming movie The Racers starring Kirk Douglas. The start saw González take the lead in front of Farina while Fangio dropped back. During the first round the Maserati of Mieres caught on fire, but the driver was able to jump out of the moving car, getting away with only minor burns.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Race
Meanwhile, González' lead was only short lived; he had to retire after lap 1 with engine failure (as well as Swaters and two laps later Marimón). Farina led Hawthorn and Fangio, who managed to pull in front on lap 3. At lap 10 Fangio lost the lead due to a broken visor strap that forced him into the pit. However, he quickly recovered and retook the lead. Farina had to retire with engine failure on lap 14, which left Fangio quite unchallenged with Hawthorn over a minute behind in second.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Race
Hawthorn, who had not quite recovered from an accident at Syracuse, was slowing down during the following laps and therefore the Ferrari Team flagged him into the pits and had the car taken over by González, after a collapsed Hawthorn had to be lifted out of his car. Trintignant was therefore in second place. González soon discovered the reason for Hawthorn passing out: a broken exhaust pipe was allowing fumes in the cockpit, so the Argentinian pulled into the pits to have it fixed, losing a whole lap in the process.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Race
Meanwhile, Fangio was sitting in a comfortable lead and rode to his second victory of the season, as well as recording the fastest lap of the race. Only seven cars were able to finish. The retirements had put Trintignant in second and Moss (who scored his first podium in a World Championship race) in his privately entered Maserati in third. After his long pit stop González managed to recover and finished fourth in front of Pilette, Bira and Mantovani. For Pilette it was his first and only finish in the points of his career.


1954 Belgian Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race
After his second win of the season, Juan Manuel Fangio was in a comfortable lead with 17 points. Trintignant was second with 9, while Bill Vukovich, the winner of the Indianapolis 500 was third in the championship standings (although he wouldn't compete in another World Championship race).


1954 Belgian general election
General elections were held in Belgium on 11 April 1954. The dominant Christian Social Party won 95 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 49 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 93.2%. Elections for the nine provincial councils were also held.


1954 Belgian general election
The outgoing Catholic government led by Jean Van Houtte lost their majority in parliament. The two other main parties, the Socialist and Liberal Party, subsequently formed a rare "purple" government with Achille Van Acker as Prime Minister. Both parties had an anti-clerical agenda and aimed to reverse policies of the Catholic government regarding private schools. This would become known as the Second School War.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season
The 1954 Big Ten Conference football season was the 59th season of college football played by the member schools of the Big Ten Conference (also known as the Western Conference) and was a part of the 1954 college football season.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season
The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team, under head coach Woody Hayes, won the conference football championship, compiled a 10–0, was ranked No. 1 in the final AP Poll, and defeated USC in the 1955 Rose Bowl. Halfback Howard Cassady was selected as the team's most valuable player and was a consensus first-team All-American.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season
The 1954 Wisconsin Badgers football team, under head coach Ivy Williamson, compiled a 7–2 record and was ranked No. 9 in the final AP Poll. Fullback Alan Ameche won the 1954 Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. Ameche broke Ollie Matson's career rushing record, finishing his tenure at Wisconsin with 3,212 rushing yards.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season
Purdue quarterback Len Dawson led the conference with 1,464 passing yards.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Results and team statistics
KeyAP final = Team's rank in the final AP Poll of the 1954 seasonAP high = Team's highest rank in the AP Poll throughout the 1954 seasonPPG = Average of points scored per game; conference leader's average displayed in boldPAG = Average of points allowed per game; conference leader's average displayed in boldMVP = Most valuable player as voted by players on each team as part of the voting process to determine the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy; trophy winner in bold


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Preseason
Two Big Ten teams changed head coaches between the 1953 and 1954 seasons:


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, September 25
On September 25, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played two conference games and six non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in five wins and one loss.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, October 2
On October 2, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played one conference game and eight non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in five wins and three losses, giving the Big Ten a 10–4 record in non-conference games played to that date.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, October 9
On October 9, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two wins, giving the Big Ten a 12–4 record in non-conference games played to that date.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, October 16
On October 16, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in two losses, giving the Big Ten a 12–6 record in non-conference games played to that date.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, October 23
On October 23, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 13–7 record in non-conference games played to that date.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, October 30
On October 30, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played against each other in five conference games.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, November 6
On November 6, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played three conference games and four non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in three wins and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 16–8 record in non-conference games played to that date.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, November 13
On November 13, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played against each other in five conference games.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Regular season, November 20
On November 20, 1954, the Big Ten football teams played four conference games and two non-conference games. The non-conference games resulted in one win and one loss, giving the Big Ten a 17–9 record in non-conference games played to that date.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Bowl games
On January 1, 1955, Ohio State (ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll) defeated USC (ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll) by a 20–7 score before a crowd of 89,191 in Pasadena, California. UCLA (ranked No. 2) was not permitted to play in the Rose Bowl due to the Pacific Coast Conference's no-repeat rule. Ohio State quarterback Dave Leggett was selected as the game's most valuable player.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Season overview, Post-season developments
On February 3, 1955, Bob Voigts resigned as Northwestern's head football coach. Voigts had come under fire from alumni after Northwestern won only one conference game in two seasons. Less than a week later, Lou Saban was announced as Voigts' replacement. Saban had been an assistant coach at Northwestern in 1954. He had played for Indiana in 1941 and 1942 and for the Cleveland Browns from 1946 to 1949.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Awards and honors, All-Big Ten honors
The following players were picked by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the sports editors (Ed) as first-team players on the 1954 All-Big Ten Conference football team.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Awards and honors, All-American honors
At the end of the 1954 season, Big Ten players secured three of 11 consensus first-team picks for the 1954 College Football All-America Team. The Big Ten's consensus All-Americans were:


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Awards and honors, All-American honors
Other Big Ten players who were named first-team All-Americans by at least one selector were:


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, Awards and honors, Other awards
Wisconsin running back Alan Ameche won the 1954 Heisman Trophy.


1954 Big Ten Conference football season, 1955 NFL Draft
The following Big Ten players were among the first 100 picks in the 1955 NFL Draft:


1954 Bilderberg Conference
The Bilderberg Conference in 1954 was the first annual meeting of European politicians, bankers and monarchs and American politicians and bankers. The founders and promoters were Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands (who was the president of the meeting until 1976) and the Polish political advisor Józef Retinger. It took place in the Hotel de Bilderberg, Oosterbeek, Netherlands, and was held 29–31 May 1954.


1954 Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours 1954 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The Queen.


1954 Birthday Honours
The 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours were announced on 1 June 1954, for the United Kingdom and Colonies, Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, Pakistan, and for various members of Commonwealth forces in recognition of services in Korea during the period 28 July 1953 to 31 January 1954.


1954 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)
The 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 10 June 1954.


1954 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.


1954 Bitburg explosion
The devastating Bitburg tank explosion took place on 23 September 1954 at the then NATO air base near the city Bitburg, in the municipality of Niederstedem, Germany. The explosion took place in an underground storage tank containing JP-4, a military jet fuel blend. The toll was 34 dead, 2 injured, 3 missing. The explosion was caused by the deliberate activation of a novel carbon dioxide fire extinguishment system during an acceptance test as part of final commissioning. The JP-4 blend has since largely been abandoned due to safety concerns because of its low flash point.


1954 Bitburg explosion, The accident
In 1954 at the US Air Force fuel depot near Bitburg, various acceptance tests were being made on a newly constructed underground fuel storage tank. The tank was fitted with a novel carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system, the first of its kind in Germany. The US Army was not responsible for design, construction and operation of storage facilities at the time, but the fuel involved was the property of the United States.


1954 Bitburg explosion, The accident
The senior engineering staff of the French La mission des grands travaux aéronautiques en Allemagne and other French and German officials, technicians and contractors were present at the site and attending an acceptance test.


1954 Bitburg explosion, The accident
The diameter of the underground tank was about 96 feet (29 m) with a total capacity of 1,386,000 US gal (5,250 m3). The tank was about 20% full at the time of the accident. The roof of the underground tank was capped with iron reinforced concrete and covered with a layer of soil. The CO2 cylinders were located in a half-buried concrete structure about 250 feet (75 m) from the storage site. 120 gas cylinders, each with a liquid gas capacity of 30 kg, were connected together in a three battery arrangement. A buried steel pipeline connected the battery with the storage tank.


1954 Bitburg explosion, The accident
Most if not all of the victims were standing on the top of the tank during a controlled activation of the thermal sensing devices that would trigger CO2 cylinders to discharge gas into the tank's headspace. At about 16:00 hours, one minute after the CO2 discharge commenced, a massive explosion disintegrated the tank.


1954 Bitburg explosion, The accident
Although the ability of liquefied CO2 to create static electricity upon depressurization was reported as early as in 1925, it was unknown to the tank designers and not identified in the official investigation of the accident by the US Army. It was only identified later in a report by German scientists.


1954 Bitburg explosion, Relevance
The accident has relevance today as it demonstrates the dangers of static electricity when injecting carbon dioxide into an ignitable atmosphere. As such, it is a case example of de-learning. Knowledge on hazards learned the hard way through accidents can be forgotten. This has happened in the fast-growing wood pellet industry where trouble with smoldering fires in storage silos has led to new techniques for firefighting which employ injection of inert gases such as carbon dioxide.


1954 Bitburg explosion, Relevance
Although the electrostatic hazard has been known for more than 50 years, many standards, guidelines, recent editions of frequently cited pellet handbooks, and other literature cover the hazard superficially or do not mention it at all. The hazard is insufficiently covered in NFPA 12 and it may constitute a hazard for seagoing general cargo vessels where fire protection for cargo holds employs pressurized storage of liquefied carbon dioxide.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash
The 1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash (Norwegian: Bjørnøya-ulykken) was a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) of a Consolidated PBY Catalina on the island of Bjørnøya in Svalbard, Norway, on 28 March 1954 at ca. 15:00. The Royal Norwegian Air Force aircraft of No. 333 Squadron RNoAF (333 Sqn) was conducting a postal drop flight from Tromsø to five settlements on Svalbard, including Bjørnøya Radio, making a low pass over Bjørnøya at a height of 40 meters (130 ft) before crashing into the ground. Only one of the nine on board survived.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash
The crew at the station set out to find the aircraft in 3 ft (1 m) of snow, and did not manage to bring the survivor back to the station until the following day. Four military ships were dispatched to search for the aircraft. Once it was found, Andenes and Sørøy returned to Tromsø and then took the investigation commission to Bjørnøya. They concluded that the accident was caused by the aircraft losing altitude through a sideslip, possibly due to the pilot losing spatial awareness in the poor visibility.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Background
Svalbard had since its settlement in the early 20th century been entirely isolated from the world during winter, when ice closed its ports. As a trial, the air force carried out a postal delivery expedition in April 1949, dropping mail at Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund and Sveagruva. Another flight was carried out the following year, with two more in 1951. The services continued with increasing frequency throughout the 1950s.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Background
The aircraft was a Boeing-Canada PB2B-1 Catalina IVB—a version of the Consolidated PBY Catalina—with construction number 28129 and the Squadron code of KK-N. It was built in 1944 for the United States Navy. The aircraft was sold to Norway after the Second World War ended. It was bought by Vingtor Luftveier of Oslo and registered as LN-OAP on 2 June 1947. The RNoAF bought the aircraft on 15 September 1948. It was originally given the squadron code K-AN, which was later changed to KK-N. The aircraft was part of No. 333 Squadron based at Sola Air Station.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
The flight was a postal delivery flight which was to drop mail at six Norwegian settlements and outposts in Svalbard. The flight plan was to take a load of post from Tromsø Airport, Skattøra and fly a route to drop it at Bjørnøya Radio, Isfjord Radio, Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund, Hopen Radio and then fly back via Bjørnøya. The flight had an estimated duration of sixteen hours. It had been delayed for several days because of bad weather. The aircraft was prepared for the flight on 27 March.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
The aircraft had a crew of eight: three pilots, two navigators, two radio operators and a mechanic. The same crew had been attached to the aircraft and flown it together the past 20 months. In addition there was a passenger, a journalist from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, who was making a radio program about the flight. Originally the broadcaster had appointed Jan Frydenlund to the task, but when it became clear that the flight would be delayed by several days he was replaced by local radio journalist Sigvart Tingvoll.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
The aircraft departed Skattøra on 28 March at 01:55. The flight went as planned, with the post being dropped at Bjørnøya and all the other settlements. The surviving crewmember reported that the residents of the various settlements greeted the aircraft enthusiastically at all locations. The weather was generally poor, with low-laying rainclouds. However, there were clear spots in between the clouds which provided pockets of good sight.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
On the return leg from Hopen the aircraft followed a route via Bjørnøya, approaching the island from the northeast. At 14:57 it passed at low altitude just west of the station, while it retained radio contact. Minutes later the station lost contact with the aircraft, although the operators there simply presumed that the aircraft's radio had stopped working—a common occurrence at the time. The aircraft was flying at an altitude of only 40 meters (130 ft) above the ground over Bjørnøya. While passing the radio operator on the Catalina had made contact with Bjørnøya Radio.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
He had attempted to make contact again just before impact, which was thought by the investigation commission to be possibly because the crew had discovered something wrong with the aircraft. This possible problem may have been the cause of the accident. The impact took place 4.5 kilometers (3 mi) south of the station, when the tip of the right wing hit the ground and subsequently the aircraft crashed into the ground in an explosion. The landscape at the accident site is completely flat.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
The investigation commission concluded that the accident was caused by the aircraft losing altitude, falling into a sideslip and descending into the ground, first hitting it with the right wingtip. The cause of loss of altitude was unknown, but could either have been part of a sideways banking maneuver or uncontrolled. The varying weather with pockets of good and poor visibility led the commission to believe that the aircraft could have flown into an area with fog and lost sight of the horizon.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
It reported that the accident took place towards the end of a very long flight and that fatigue could have reduced the pilots' faculties. This could be a decisive pivoting factor in the narrow margins while maneuvering at such low altitudes. The commission found no signs of technical error on the aircraft. It also commented that flying at low altitudes over the sea was common because of the lower wind speeds.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Flight and crash
The only person to survive the crash was Paul Olsen, one of the two radio operators. He was sitting in the aircraft's rear in one of the Catalina's side blisters. Upon impact he was ejected 50 meters (160 ft) from the aircraft. Olsen stated that he did not recall anything from the accident and that he initially was unconscious. After waking up he tried calling to the other crew members. He then tried to walk around, but the pain in his foot made this impossible. The aircraft was still on fire and he dared not approach it. Because of the aircraft's poor insulation, Olsen was wearing a leather jacket and a sheepskin sweater, which kept him warm until he was rescued.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Rescue and investigation
The RNoAF initiated rescue preparedness three-quarters of an hour after estimated time of arrival to Skattøra. A distress signal alert was issued by the air traffic control at Skattøra at 18:20. A Catalina was dispatched in a search and rescue mission. It flew the route from Tromsø to Bjørnøya and back that evening. Four Royal Norwegian Navy ships, Andenes and Sørøy and two minesweepers, were dispatched to participate in the operation. Other ships participating in the search were G. O. Sars and Norsel. Allied Forces Northern Europe at Kolsås was alerted and assistance was initiated from the US Third Air Force and the RAF Coastal Command, which were due to arrive at Bodø Main Air Station the following morning.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Rescue and investigation
The distress call was received by the crew at Bjørnøya Radio and they decided to send two men, Einar Strand and Alv Alvær, to look for the aircraft on the island. After an hour of searching in one meter (3 ft) deep snow, the two spotted the aircraft, which they quickly identified as they saw flames. They arrived three hours after the accident and found Olsen. Strand and Alvær attempted to drag the survivor with them, but this proved too strenuous. Instead Alvær went back to the station and Strand stayed with Olsen. On the return trip Alvær got lost at one time, but finally managed to reach the station. Bjørnøya Radio contacted Skattøra at 21:45 reporting that the wreck had been found.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Rescue and investigation
Strand built an ad hoc sled out of his skis and attempted to drag Olsen on it. It was difficult as Strand was forced to put down his backpack, drag the sled a distance and then return to walk back to bring forth the backpack. As he could not wear his skis, it was a strenuous exercise. The hauling proved futile, and instead Strand decided to return to the station for help.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Rescue and investigation
He left his flashlight with Olsen so that he could find him again, although even with this aid relocating the stranded survivor proved difficult, as this part of Bjørnøya is flat and there were no visual references to help orient the searchers. Strand did not return until morning, and Olsen was getting wetter and colder as he waited for help. In the end Olsen decided that further help would not come in time and started following Strand's footsteps, but he soon had to give up, having traversed about 200 meters (660 ft). Three of the four crew at the station returned and transported Olsen to safety. (As the station needed to remain manned at all times, one of the crew was forced to stay behind.) Olsen reached the station at 13:00 on 29 March.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Rescue and investigation
Andøya and Sørøy were recalled back to Tromsø. There they were attached to the investigation commission, led by Major Anonsen. He was assisted by two pilots, a technical officer, a medical doctor and a police officer. Most of the commission was transported by Sørøy, while further supplies and eight coffins were sent by Andenes. Sørøy arrived at Bjørnøya at 23:00 on 29 March, while Andenes arrived on 30 March. Also aboard was a contingent of fifty conscripts who stayed in Bjørnøya for five days. The commission started its work by investigating the wreck and removing the bodies. The deceased were transported to Tromsø, arriving at 13:30 on 1 April. There was a common memorial service at Tromsø before the deceased were transported to their respective hometowns for burial.


1954 Bjørnøya Consolidated PBY Catalina crash, Aftermath
The accident was the 333 Squadron's third fatal accident with the Catalinas. It was the first aviation accident in Svalbard and remained the deadliest aviation accident of a civilian nature in the territory until Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 in 1996, which killed 141 people. The air force continued on the postal service until 1959. By then a winter airport had been built in Adventdalen outside Longyearbyen and Braathens SAFE took over the postal flights. A memorial plaque with a part of the aircraft's propeller was erected at the station at Bjørnøya on 1 November 1984. The 333 Squadron commemorated the accident on its 50th anniversary in 2004 by flying two Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft over Bjørnøya and dropping flowers over the site. The wreckage has never been cleaned up and is still located at the crash site.


1954 Blons avalanches
The Blons avalanches took place in Austria in January 1954. They occurred in the federal state of Vorarlberg, where they had a big impact on the Great Walser Valley region and specifically, the village of Blons. The avalanches occurred over a two-day period beginning from 11 January 1954 and resulted in the death of 125 people, 57 of whom were killed specifically in Blons. Two big avalanches struck Blons within 9 hours, the second of which buried rescue workers who were attempting to save civilians from the first avalanche.


1954 Blons avalanches
The avalanches caused much destruction to the Blons village, damaging one third of housing infrastructure and killing one third of the population. The Blons avalanches are considered to be one of the worst mass burials in Austrian history, resulting in one of the highest number of fatalities due to an avalanche.


1954 Blons avalanches, Geography
The village of Blons is located in the Bludenz district in the federal state of Vorarlberg, located on the western side of Austria. On its western side, the state of Vorarlberg borders with the European country Liechtenstein. Bludenz is a mountainous region with 525 mountains. In Vorarlberg there are 1315 avalanche catchment zones. The starting points of the Blons avalanches were Falvkopf and Mont-Calv. These peaks are situated approximately 6,500 ft high and surround the village. Falvkopf is 1849 meters above sea level. The coordinates of the Blons avalanche locations are Latitude: 47.2160 Longitude: 9.8160. The area of Blons is surrounded by rocks which are easily susceptible to  erosion.


1954 Blons avalanches, The Avalanches
On 11 January 1954 at 9:36am, the first avalanche began, starting at Flavkopf, where it struck the Blons village at 10:00am. The first avalanche struck the eastern side of the village, burying 82 people and killing 34 people. A second avalanche began later that night at 7:00pm starting at Mont-Calv. The second avalanche struck the centre of the village of Blons where 43 people were buried and 22 people died. Sixteen people who were rescued from the first avalanche were also later buried in the second avalanche. Both avalanches were classified as catastrophic.


1954 Blons avalanches, The Avalanches
An avalanche classified at a catastrophic level means it has the potential to damage the surrounding landscape, the runout can cause damage and destruction to infrastructure in a valley and is large in size. On the morning the avalanche occurred, the local radio announced the avalanche warning system cautioned "the danger of avalanches has become extremely serious and is still increasing." A survivor, Robert Dobner, recounts the day as "a dark Monday, so full of snow."


1954 Blons avalanches, Rescue Mission
The rescue response to the Blons avalanches was slow due to damaged power and telephone lines, which delayed rescuers hearing the news of the avalanches a day later. The rescue mission to save victims trapped from these avalanches led to the first airlift in Austrian history. Airlifts can quickly provide equipment and resources needed for a rescue mission site including transceivers, shovels and probes. Rescue dogs can also be used as they use their sense of smell to search for humans.


1954 Blons avalanches, Rescue Mission
The first Austrian responders started a rescue mission on 13 January 1954 and countries such as Germany, Switzerland and the United States also contributed to help rescue the civilians. The US Air Force provided 99 helicopters and 11,000 kg of rescue supplies while The Swiss Air-Rescue sent 14 rescuers, 6 rescue dogs, 2 helicopters, doctors and 5 rescue paratroopers. One of the main causes of death for victims impacted and trapped from an avalanche is asphyxia, which means people can still be alive while buried for a period of time and have the potential to survive.


1954 Blons avalanches, Rescue Mission
Some survivors of the Blons avalanches had been trapped for up to 17 to 62 hours. A Sydney Morning Herald article that reported on the Blons avalanches described the rescue crews as having to face a deep and narrow valley covered on both sides by tons of snow and that every capable man contrbution to help. It also recounts that flares were used to help the rescue workers as the avalanches damaged lights as well as cutting off water supply and roads and rail communication.


1954 Blons avalanches, Aftermath
The aftermath of the Blons avalanches resulted in "270 burials resulting in 125 deaths, 55 houses and hundreds of farm buildings [were] destroyed, and 500 cattle were killed." The population of Blons in 1954 had a total of 376 people and a third (111 people) were killed outright by the avalanches. Half of the men who worked at the Leduc mine in the area were also killed (Ruth, 1998; Davis, 2008). A third of the housing was also destroyed with 29 out of 90 homes in the village listed as demolished.


1954 Blons avalanches, Aftermath
Thirty-three victims were able to get to safety by themselves, 31 were rescued by rescue teams and 47 were found dead. One woman who was cooking in her home at the time the avalanche struck died from burns from coals in her oven that hit her on impact. Another man who had been found alive by a rescue crew after 17 hours, later died of shock after finding out how long he had been buried in the snow, as reported by wire service reports. Of the civilians found alive, 8 later died and 2 were not found.


1954 Blons avalanches, Cause
Austrian alps are always susceptible to natural hazards such as avalanches. In the lead up to the avalanches that targeted Blons, a combination of cold weather and a rapid increase in snowfall could not be sustained and was too much to hold. The heavy snowfall resulted in more than 2 meters in depth of snow in less than 24 hours. According to Holler (2009), two days prior to the first avalanche in the winter of January 1954, a "north westerly oriented frontal zone led to high new snow depth" particularly in Vorarlberg. Following the heavy snowfall, temperatures started to rise. After layers of snow accumulate and temperatures rise, snow cohesion can deteriorate and can cause an avalanche to release.


1954 Blons avalanches, Cause
Prior to January 1954, the protection measures against avalanches in Blons were first established between 1906 and 1908. This included support structures of snow fences and walls of approximately 2 – 2.5 meters, which were destroyed during the 1954 avalanches and said to be inadequate. In the mountains above Blons the trees were also spread out resulting in low forest cover and therefore reduced protection coverage for the village. The civilians in the Blons village also took precautions to avoid the risk of an avalanche to surrounding areas.


1954 Blons avalanches, Cause
As winter approached, councilmen in Blons would remove a crucifix that was placed in a high-risk area to avoid any damage to it. At a particular ravine in Blons, the civilians would stop talking and walk in a single line spread apart when crossing a bridge. This was done to avoid their voices causing vibrations in the area that could start an avalanche and if one was to release, they believed being spread apart would reduce the number of them taken by it.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
The Blons avalanches in Austria in 1954 have "heralded modern avalanche protection in the alps." Due to the high impact of these avalanches, along with others in Austria, measures have been put in place to protect the Blons village in Vorarlberg from potential avalanche threat in the future.‘Catastrophic’ level avalanches have since decreased in Austria due to improved protection measures overall.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
Comprehensive investigation into forest cover and tree quality has been undertaken in the mountains above Blons in order to improve its effectiveness in protection against avalanches. The ‘Forest Engineering Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control’ is in charge of enforcing protection measures against natural hazards in Austria. Since the Blons avalanches, there is much more forest cover compared to the coverage in 1954, due to extensive reforestation efforts. In 1971 there was 520 hectares of forest coverage and by 2009 it had increased to 601 hectares of coverage.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
Forest coverage can help improve protection against avalanches as it can slow down the speed of the snow and reduce the runout distance. In the Blons area approximately half a million trees have been planted, four fifths of which are Picea abies. This abies tree species is effective in avalanche protection due its capability in ensuring stabilisation because of its deep root system that can reach a depth of up to 2 metres. At the main starting points of avalanches in Blons, approximately 6.5 kilometres of defence mechanisms have since been put in place including steel snow bridges, hangings and steel-wood construction as well as 315 creeping snow constructions and 745 metres worth of wind drift barriers.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
Studies of the Blons avalanches have helped to improve the knowledge and understanding of avalanche cycles in Austria, which in turn have helped result in more efficient forecasting of avalanches. A study has revealed that of the biggest avalanches in Austrian history "about two-thirds [of the avalanches] occurred as a result of a north-westerly oriented frontal zone." It also found that higher levels of snowfall played a large contributing role in the cause of these ‘catastrophic’ avalanches.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
The study was able to deduce that certain weather situations are related to the avalanche cycles and patterns occurring in Austria and has helped better predict when an avalanche might be expected. Avalanche warning systems are also now available online. The ‘European Avalanche Warning Services’ aims to provide "society with efficient and effective avalanche forecasting and warning services" and can inform and warn people of any potential avalanche risks in areas all across Europe, including Blons. Avalanche detection has been developed which looks at features such as infrasound, seismic and radar signals.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
Modern avalanche simulation technology has also been made, which makes it possible to simulate potential hazardous scenarios in high risk avalanche hazard-zones and detect where there may be protection measures against avalanches. In regard to the Blons avalanches, this technology was able to help highlight the lack of defensive constructions at the starting points of each of the avalanches that released.


1954 Blons avalanches, Response
In terms of avalanche rescue strategies, there has been little change since the Blons avalanches. Approximately 50% of people do not carry avalanche transceivers. If they were to be buried by an avalanche original tools and strategies are still in use to rescue buried victims.


1954 Blons avalanches, In the Media
Several books and films have been produced which have recounted the experience of those involved. The book titled "Avalanche!" written by author Joseph Wechsberg in 1958 provides coverage on the events of the Blons avalanches, civilians stories, the impact it had on the whole community and the rehabilitation efforts the community has adopted. He describes the events as "no other recorded avalanche in modern history has done so much to so many in so short a time and so small a place." The film and novel called "Der Atem des Himmels" is also based on the 1954 avalanches in Blons.


1954 Blons avalanches, In the Media
It depicts the build-up and how the events of the avalanches unfolded. The incident of the avalanches is also featured in the documentary series "Disasters of the Century" in season 4, episode 9 which includes personal recounts from residents of Blons at the time, what they experienced as well as reenactments. An avalanche documentation centre in Blons exhibits facts and photographs about the events that occurred during the 1954 avalanches and what protection measures have been put in place to increase safety to the area.


1954 Bolivian Primera División
The 1954 Bolivian Primera División, the first division of Bolivian football (soccer), was played by 9 teams. The champion was Litoral.


1954 Boston College Eagles football team
The 1954 Boston College Eagles football team represented Boston College as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Mike Holovak, the team compiled an 8-1 record and outscored opponents by a combined total of 196 to 74. The team's sole loss was to Xavier; Xavier broke a 12-game winless streak with the victory over BC.


1954 Boston College Eagles football team
The team played its home games at Fenway Park in Boston.


1954 Boston Red Sox season
The 1954 Boston Red Sox season was the 54th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished fourth in the American League (AL) with a record of 69 wins and 85 losses, 42 games behind the Cleveland Indians.


1954 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1954 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1954 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Boston Red Sox season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Boston University Terriers football team
The 1954 Boston University Terriers football team was an American football team that represented Boston University as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In its eighth season under head coach Aldo Donelli, the team compiled a 7–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 256 to 93.


1954 Bournemouth West by-election
The Bournemouth West by-election was held on 18 February 1954. It was held due to the resignation of the incumbent Conservative MP, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil. It was won by the Conservative candidate, John Eden. When Eden was elected  he was the youngest member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, known as Baby of the House.


1954 Bowling Green Falcons football team
The 1954 Bowling Green Falcons football team was an American football team that represented Bowling Green State University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1954 college football season. In their 14th and final season under head coach Bob Whittaker, the Falcons compiled a 2–7 record (0–6 against MAC opponents), finished in last place in the MAC, and were outscored by all opponents by a combined total of 196 to 125.


1954 Bowling Green Falcons football team
The team's statistical leaders were Bill Bradshaw with 414 passing yards, John Ladd with 266 rushing yards, and Jack Hecker with 274 receiving yards. John Ladd was the team captain. Bill Bradshaw received the team's Most Valuable Player award.


1954 Bowling Green Falcons football team
Bob Whittaker, who had coached the Bowling Green football team since 1941, resigned the post in late February 1955, though he remained with the school as an assistant professor in the department of health and physical education. Whittaker compiled a 66–50–7 record in his 14 seasons at the school's head football coach.


1954 Brazilian legislative election
Parliamentary elections were held in Brazil on 3 October 1954. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest party in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Voter turnout was 65.5%.


1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from 30 July to 7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952.


1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
It was at these games that the "Miracle Mile" took place between Roger Bannister and John Landy at Empire Stadium. This was the first time these two (and at that time the only two) sub-four-minute mile runners appeared in the same race, and also the first time two runners broke four minutes in the same race. On the same afternoon, Jim Peters, the holder of the world best time for the marathon, entered the stadium 17 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, but collapsed on his final lap, and never completed the race.


1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The games were attended by 24 nations and 662 competitors.


1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Participating teams
24 teams were represented at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. (Teams competing for the first time are shown in bold).


1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Medal winners, Cycling, Track
+ Lionel Cox did not receive a silver medal, the Australian cycling team refused to participate in the gold and bronze medal play offs and were subsequently disqualified.


1954 British Grand Prix
The 1954 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Silverstone on 17 July 1954. It was race 5 of 9 in the 1954 World Championship of Drivers. The 90-lap race was won by Ferrari driver José Froilán González after he started from second position. His teammate Mike Hawthorn finished second and Maserati driver Onofre Marimón came in third.


1954 British Grand Prix, Race report
A huge crowd turned out at Silverstone to see if Mercedes could repeat their Reims rout. In the end, just two silver cars arrived (for Fangio and Kling). In contrast, Maserati had nine cars, whilst Ferrari had three for the experienced trio of Hawthorn, Gonzalez and Trintignant. Fangio set Silverstone's fastest ever lap, breaking the 100 mph barrier with a lap of 100.35 mph. It was Gonzalez who led away and held the lead until the flag.


1954 British Grand Prix, Race report
Behind him, Fangio passed Hawthorn for second but after colliding several times with oil drums in a difficult handling car, he dropped to fourth. Moss took over the position but retired with rear axle problems, leaving Hawthorn to follow home for a Ferrari 1–2 and young Onofre Marimón to take his second (and last) podium place.


1954 British Honduras general election
General elections were held in British Honduras on 28 April 1954, the first held under universal suffrage. The new constitution replaced the Legislative Council with a Legislative Assembly, which had nine elected members, three officials and three appointed members. The result was a decisive victory for the pro-independence People's United Party, which won eight of the nine seats in a coalition with the General Workers' Union.


1954 British Honduras general election
The pro-colonial National Party won the remaining seat, with NP candidate Charles Westby prevailing in the Toledo constituency.


1954 British Virgin Islands general election
General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands in 1954 for seats on the Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands.


1954 British Virgin Islands general election
The previous election in 1950 had elected four members to the council on the basis of a Territory-wide vote. The 1954 election was the first election to employ districting. The Territory was divided into five districts, the largest of which (the 2nd District - Road Town) would have two members. All seats were contested.


1954 British Virgin Islands general election, Results
At the time candidates were not affiliated with political parties. Notable candidates who were elected for the first time included Theodolph Faulkner, remembered for his key role in relation to the reintroduction of democracy in the British Virgin Islands.


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season was the first season for new manager Walter Alston, who replaced Chuck Dressen, who had been fired during a contract dispute. Alston led the team to a 92–62 record, finishing five games behind the league champion New York Giants.


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season
In addition to Alston, the 1954 Dodgers had two other future Hall of Fame managers on their roster in pitcher Tommy Lasorda and outfielder Dick Williams. First baseman Gil Hodges and reserve infielder Don Zimmer would also go on to successful managerial careers.


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1954 Brown Bears football team
The 1954 Brown Bears football team was an American football team that represented Brown University as an independent during the 1954 college football season.


1954 Brown Bears football team
In their fourth season under head coach Alva Kelley, the Bears compiled a 3–5–1 record, but outscored their opponents 225 to 120. E. Pearson was the team captain.


1954 Brown Bears football team
Brown played its home games at Brown Stadium in Providence, Rhode Island.


1954 Brownlow Medal
The 1954 Brownlow Medal was the 27th year the award was presented to the player adjudged the fairest and best player during the Victorian Football League (VFL) home and away season. Roy Wright of the Richmond Football Club won the medal by polling twenty-nine votes during the 1954 VFL season.


1954 Bucknell Bison football team
The 1954 Bucknell Bison football team was an American football team that represented Bucknell University as an independent during the 1954 college football season.


1954 Bucknell Bison football team
In its eighth season under head coach Harry Lawrence, the team compiled a 6–3 record. John Chironna was the team captain.


1954 Bucknell Bison football team
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium on the university campus in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.


1954 Buffalo Bulls football team
The 1954 Buffalo Bulls football team was an American football team that represented the University of Buffalo as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In its third and final season under head coach Fritz Febel, the team compiled a 2–7 record. The team played its home games at Civic Stadium in Buffalo, New York.


1954 Bulgarian Cup
The 1954 Bulgarian Cup was the 14th season of the Bulgarian Cup (in this period the tournament was named Cup of the Soviet Army). CSKA Sofia won the competition, beating Slavia Sofia 2–1 in the final at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia.


1954 Bulgarian Cup Final
The 1954 Bulgarian Cup Final was the 14th final of the Bulgarian Cup (in this period the tournament was named Cup of the Soviet Army), and was contested between CSKA Sofia and Slavia Sofia on 7 November 1954 at Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia. CSKA won the final 2–1, claiming their second national cup title.


1954 Burundian parliamentary election, Background
The Decree of 14 July 1952 by the Belgian authorities had introduced an element of democracy to the Burundian political system. A complicated electoral system was created, which involved seven stages of elections to eventually elect the National Superior Council (French: Superieur du Pays).


1954 Burundian parliamentary election, Background
The elections began in the sub-chiefdoms, then were held in the chiefdoms, then the territories, and finally at the national level.


1954 Burundian parliamentary election, Results
The elections in the sub-chiefdoms and chiefdoms were held in 1953, with the elections to the Territorial Councils and the Superior Council following in 1954.


1954 CCCF Youth Championship
The 1954 CCCF Youth Championship was an age restricted association football competition organised by the Football Confederation of Central America and the Caribbean. All games were hosted in San José and took place between 5 and 19 December.


1954 Cal Aggies football team
The 1954 Cal Aggies football team represented the Northern Branch of the College of Agriculture in the 1954 college football season. The team was known as either the Cal Aggies or California Aggies, and competed in the Far Western Conference (FWC).


1954 Cal Aggies football team
The Aggies were led by first-year head coach Will Lotter. They played home games at Aggie Field. The Aggies finished the season with a record of one win and seven losses (1–7, 1–4 FWC). They were outscored by their opponents 47–226 for the 1954 season.


1954 Cal Aggies football team, NFL Draft
No Cal Aggies players were selected in the 1955 NFL Draft.


1954 Cal Poly Mustangs football team
The 1954 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University during the 1954 college football season. Cal Poly competed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).


1954 Cal Poly Mustangs football team
The team was led by fifth-year head coach LeRoy Hughes and played home games at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California. They finished the season with a record of six wins and four losses (6–4, 3–1 CCAA). The Mustangs scored 221 points while giving up 141 in the 1954 season.


1954 Cal Poly San Dimas Broncos football team
The 1954 Cal Poly San Dimas Broncos football team represented Cal Poly Voorhis Unit during the 1954 college football season. Cal Poly played as an independent in 1954.


1954 Cal Poly San Dimas Broncos football team
Cal Poly San Dimas was led by second-year head coach Staley Pitts. The Broncos finished the season with a record of one win and eight losses (1–8). Overall, the team was outscored by its opponents 77–203 for the season.


1954 Cal Poly San Dimas Broncos football team, Team players in the NFL
No Cal Poly San Dimas players were selected in the 1955 NFL Draft.


1954 Calgary Stampeders season
The 1954 Calgary Stampeders finished in 4th place in the W.I.F.U. with an 8–8 record and failed to make the playoffs.


1954 California Golden Bears football team
The 1954 California Golden Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Berkeley during the 1954 college football season. Under head coach Pappy Waldorf, the team compiled an overall record of 5–5 and 4–3 in conference.


1954 California gubernatorial election
The 1954 California gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Republican governor Goodwin Knight, who had ascended to the office after Earl Warren resigned to become Chief Justice of the United States the previous year, won the election to serve his sole term as Governor of California.


1954 California gubernatorial election
Knight remains the last Republican gubernatorial candidate as of 2020 to carry San Francisco.


1954 California gubernatorial election, General election results, Results by county
Knight is the last Republican gubernatorial nominee to have won San Francisco County.


1954 California lieutenant gubernatorial election
The 1954 California lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Republican Harold J. Powers defeated Democratic nominee Edward R. Roybal with 55.34% of the vote.


1954 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby
The 1954 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby was won by the selection of Buenos Aires Province ("Provincia") that beat in the final la Ciudad Eva Peron, selezione della città omonima, secondo la denominazione in vigore tra il 1952 and il 1955 per la città di La Plata.


1954 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby
Per la prima volta una squadra diversa dalla solite Provincia and Capital, raggiunse la finale.


1954 Campeonato Argentino de Rugby, Final
Provincia: R. Frigerio, E. Caffarone, A. Palma, A. Salinas, O. Bernacchi, C. Palacios, G. Ehrman (Cap. ), J. Lourés, M. Sarandón, R. Grosse, O. Martínez, C. Brondstedt, C. Travaglini, V. Christianson, R. Follet. Eva Peron: E. Massone, E. Vergara, D. Montes, C. La Rosa, A. De Cucco, E. Brea, J. Jáuregui, M. Morón, A. Fernández, H. Carnicero, L. Gitard, C. Olivera, R. Gorostiaga (Cap. ), A. Dentone, R. Giner


1954 Campeonato Carioca
The 1954 edition of the Campeonato Carioca kicked off on August 21, 1954 and ended on February 27, 1955. It was organized by FMF (Federação Metropolitana de Futebol, or Metropolitan Football Federation). Twelve teams participated. Flamengo won the title for the 12th time. no teams were relegated.


1954 Campeonato Paulista
The 1954 Campeonato Paulista da Primeira Divisão, organized by the Federação Paulista de Futebol, was the 53rd season of São Paulo's top professional football league. Corinthians won the title for the 15th time. Juventus and Ypiranga  were relegated and the top scorer was Palmeiras's Humberto Tozzi with 36 goals.


1954 Campeonato Paulista, Championship
The championship was disputed in a double-round robin system, with the team with the most points winning the title and the two teams with the fewest points being relegated. In that season, São Bento de São Caetano entered the championship, that team being the product of a merge between Comercial and São Caetano EC.