UK, 
US, 
Australia & 
IrelandAt A Glance
15 May 1940 at a glance
- Day of the week
- 15 May 1940 was a Wednesday.
- Top Film of 1940
- The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1940 was Pinocchio.
- Star sign
- The star sign for 15 May is Taurus.
- Chinese zodiac
- In the Chinese zodiac, 15 May 1940 fell in the Year of the Dragon.
- Birthstone
- The birthstone for May is Emerald.
- Moon phase
- The moon phase on 15 May 1940 was First Quarter.
On this day: 15 May
- 1940 USS Sailfish is recommissioned. It was originally the USS Squalus.
- 1940 World War II: The Battle of the Netherlands: After fierce fighting, the poorly trained and equipped Dutch troops surrender to Germany, marking the beginning of five years of occupation.
- 1940 Richard and Maurice McDonald open the first McDonald's restaurant.
- 1941 First flight of the Gloster E.28/39, the first British and Allied jet aircraft.
- 1942 World War II: In the United States, a bill creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is signed into law.
Famous people born on 15 May
- Don Nelson, American basketball player and coach (1940–2026)
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler, American actress and singer (born 1981)
- David Krumholtz, American actor (born 1978)
- Ousmane Dembélé, French footballer (born 1997)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.
Events of 1940 in Australia
A selection from Wikipedia's '1940 in Australia'. Not a complete list.
- 28 February – The Australian 7th Division is formed.
- 16 March – A state election is held in Victoria. The Country Party led by Albert Dunstan is returned to government.
- 14 June – The Volunteer Defence Corps is formed, a militia force based on the British Home Guard.
Life in Australia in 1940
Prime Minister
Robert Menzies
Monarch
King George VI
Petrol (per litre)
$0.01
Loaf of Bread
$0.05
Average House
$1,200
Weekly Wage
$3.00
Or
Browse by Year
Famous Faces Born in the 1940s
Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.
Olivia Newton-John26 September 1948SingerView their day →Angry Anderson5 August 1947Rock singerView their day →Rick Springfield23 August 1949Musician & singer-songwriterView their day →Bon Scott9 July 1946SingerView their day →Miriam Margolyes18 May 1941ActressView their day →John Farnham1 July 1949SingerView their day →Cassandra Harris15 December 1948ActressView their day →Helen Reddy25 October 1941Singer & actressView their day →Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
About The Day You Were Born
Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.
About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →