In the Sunshine State on this day in:

1829  Governor William P. Duval today signed the charter documents for the incorporation of Christ Church Parish, an Episcopal congregation in the City of Pensacola.

1963 Twin “Vela Hotel” satellites were launched by the Department of Defense at Cape Canaveral today.  The satellites were designed to detect nuclear explosions in space at a maximum range of 100,000,000 miles. 

                        

Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton today resigned his commission in the United States Air Force to assume a position as a civilian pilot for NASA.  Slayton was one of the original seven Mercury astronauts and would be eligible for further space flights in his new position.  

                      

On another front, NASA announced its investigation of “possible improprieties” by a contractor that leased automobiles to the Agency.  The contractor, Management Services, Incorporated, was accused of selling automobiles which had been used for only two to three years to NASA employees for as little as $50.00.