19 May 1919 (USA) — M/Sgt R. W. Bottriell made first free Back-type parachute jump.

19 May 1928 (USA) — Major Charles A. Lutz wins the Curtiss Marine Trophy Race at Washington, D.C., flying Curtiss “Hawk,” Curtiss D-12 engine, over 100 mile course at 157.6 mph.

19 May 1934 (Russia) — The first flight of the Russian Tupolev Ant-20 “Maxim Gorki,” at this time the largest aircraft in the world. Powered by eight engines, capable of carrying 80 passengers, it is used mainly as a mobile propaganda office.

19 May 1935 (France) — Third annual Deutsch de la Meurthe Cup Race won by Raymond Delmotte at 275.8 mph. (Caudron C.460, Renault engine.)

19 May 1949 (USA) — The United States Navy flying boat “Marshall Mars” lands after flying from Alameda, near San Francisco, with a record 301 passengers.

19 May 1959 (USA) — The first Boeing 707-436 “Intercontinental,” destined for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) makes its maiden flight, landing at Boeing Field, Seattle, after 1 hour, 11 minutes in the air. BOAC ordered 15 “Intercontinentals” in 1956.