6 On July 17, 1453, the Battle of Castillon led to the victory of France. and to England losing control over Gascony, which is known as the end of the Hundred Years War that lasted for 116 years. But this end of the war was overshadowed because just two months before, the Ottomans sacked Constantinople, bringing to an end the 1,500-year-old Roman Empire.

The Battle of Castillon, which is also known as the end of the Hundred Years War which was started in 1337 between France and England due to the dispute over the French throne. The England Royal House of Plantagenet and French Royal House of Valois claimed both claimed the French throne, and this dispute grew into a broader power struggle.

The war lasted for 116 years and came to an end on July 17, 1453, after France marked a victory over England losing control over Gascony, which was its last territory on continental Europe.

The most notable conflict, the Hundred Years War, was overshadowed by a more significant event that happened just two months before – the fall of Constantinople.

On 29 May 1453, the capital of Constantinople fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks after a 53-day siege that began on 6 April 1453. The fall of Constantinople marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the medieval incarnation of the 1,500-year-old Roman Empire. (1, 2)

7 The Tokyo bombing of World War II on March 10, 1945, which killed 100,000 people, went unnoticed by the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively, which had less mortality rate as compared to the Tokyo bombings.

During World War II, on March 9, 1945, US warplanes launched a series of fire-bombings air raids on Tokyo. It was the most destructive bombing raid in history. U.S warplanes dropped 2,000 tons of incendiary bombs over a 48-hour period. Over 38 small bomblets were dropped from 2,000 to 2,500 feet, which ignited five seconds after touching the ground.

Over 16 square miles of the land in Tokyo was destroyed, and around 80,000 to 130,000 civilians were killed in the Tokyo bombing. The growth of small industries slowed down, and people became homeless.

Unfortunately, the Tokyo Bombing went unnoticed because of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that happened on 6 and 9 August 1945 respectively. The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings were undoubtedly destructive but had less death toll compared to the Tokyo bombing. (1, 2)

8 The Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin on October 8, 1871, was one of the worst fires in American history and killed over 2,000 people – yet it was virtually ignored as on the next day, the Great Chicago Fire started, which was smaller and had fewer casualties compared to Peshtigo Fire.

Peshtigo was a small town situated on the Peshtigo River and was 220 miles from Chicago. This small town witnessed one of the deadliest fires in American history.

The Peshtigo Fire which started on October 7, 1871, and reached Peshtigo on October 8, was one of the worst forest fires in the history of the US. It covered the southern half of the Door Peninsula, and also parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The worst affected community was the area of Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

Over 1.2 million acres were burned in the fire with caused high casualties of between 1,500 to 2,500 people. However, the Peshtigo Fire was virtually ignored because of the Great Chicago Fire, which started the very next day on October 8, 1871, and continued until October 10, 1871.

That fire killed 300 people and destroyed 3.3 square miles, which is much less compared to Peshtigo Fire but still got more media coverage. (1, 2)

9 In 1959, the US and Soviets were on brink of war when four US Army trucks drove out of West Berlin. When Americans refused an inspection, their truck was seized and five Americans were held captive. The news of this Soviet provocation would have dominated the news, but on the same day, Buddy Holly’s plane crashed.

On February 3, 1959, the US and Soviets were on the verge of war when four US Army trucks were stopped on a routine check. The trucks had been driven out of West Berlin.

The Americans refused an inspection, which led to the seizure of trucks and five American personnel held captive overnight. A high level of protest from the US embassy in Moscow led to the release of the prisoners.

This Soviet provocation would have been big news, but on the same day, a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson crashed, and all media attention was diverted to this incident. February 3, 1959, is still regarded as “The Day the Music Died,” not as the day when the US and Soviets were on the verge of war. (1, 2)

10 On December 8, 1941, the American military base in the Philippines was attacked by Japanese warplanes, which also bombed Manilla. Over 100 US personnel were killed, but this sneak attack was overshadowed by another sneak attack on the US military base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, in which over 2,400 people died.

On December 8, 1941, Japanese warplanes surprisingly attacked the American military base in the Philippines and bombed the nation’s biggest city, Manila. A US serviceman, Lean Long, who used to work in aircraft maintenance described the event.

He said after returning from his lunch break, he saw 50 warplanes all over their airfield starting to open fire. Most of the American fighter planes and bombers stationed there were damaged after the bombing, which resulted in casualties of 100 US personnel.

The brutal invasion of Japanese warplanes and sneak attack on Manilla was overshadowed by another sneak attack on the US military base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which led to 2,403 casualties. (Source)