Pictures from History

French President Charles de Gaulle's Citroen DS riddled with 14 bullet holes. In 1962 militant French extremists, angry with the decision to grant Algeria independence, attempted to kill de Gaulle in an ambush in south-west Paris. Though two of the car's armoured tyres were punctured, the unique tyre pressure system allowed the driver to maintain control of the car at high speed without losing traction.

Hillary Clinton as a lawyer in 1974 on the Rodino Committee which sought to impeach President Richard Nixon. Later, in the White House, the Clintons would become close friends with Richard Nixon, with Bill likening the death of Nixon in 1994 as similar to the death of his father.

Sir Winston Churchill, as Home Secretary, attends an armed siege in London's Sidney Street, 1911. After an exchange of gunfire lasting a few hours the building in which the gang was hiding out caught fire. When the fire brigade arrived Churchill refused them access to the building and the occupants burned to death.

An image of the disaster at the 1955 24hr Le Mans endurance race where 83 people were killed, 120 injured [600 x 400]

Disaster at the 1955 24hr Le Mans endurance race. 83 people including driver Pierre Levegh died and 120 people injured when Levegh's Mercedes Benz 300 SLR leapt off the track and set fire. The high magnesium content of the 'Elektron' alloy chassis burned white-hot, exploding the fuel tank and sending flaming debris into the crowd.

Deposed King Michael of Romania (b. 1921). Reigned from 1927-1930 and again from 1940-1947. He became a commercial airline pilot before being allowed to return to Romania in 1992. He was immediately banned again because of his popularity. He has been allowed back again since 1997.

Katharine Hepburn in the 1951 film "The African Queen" pours bottles of Gordon's London Dry Gin into the river in the first ever example of product placement in a movie.

A 1983 photo of Ronald and Nancy Reagan with Japanese Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989).

Robert Opel streaks behind David Niven during the 46th Academy Awards, 1974

Diana Barnarto-Walker (1918-2008) first woman to break the sound barrier in 1963.

The deaths of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu and his wife Elena, December 25th 1989. At the height of the Romanian Revolution Nicolae and his wife attempted to flee the country by helicopter, but the Romanian army forced them to land and arrested them on December 22nd. In a show trial lasting just 40 minutes they were both charged with genocide, embezzlement, public destruction of property, and subversion of state power. Even their court appointed defence lawyers gave up defending them and began prosecuting them instead. They were found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. Nicolae's last words were "You could have shot us without this masquerade!" while Elena said "If you want to kill us, you'll have to kill us together." They were taken outside and executed by firing squad, with cameras rolling.