series Dragnet first airs in its television version in the United States. December 17 – We Charge Genocide, a petition describing genocide against African Americans, is delivered to the United Nations. December 20 Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-1), the world's first (experimental) nuclear power plant, opens in Idaho. A chartered Curtiss C-46 Commando crash-lands in Cobourg, Ontario Canada; all on board survive. The World Meteorological Organization becomes a specialized agency of the United Nations. December 22 – The Selangor Labour Party is founded in Selangor, Malaya. December 23 – John Huston's drama film The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, premieres in Hollywood. December 24 Libya becomes independent from Italy; Idris I is proclaimed King. Gian Carlo Menotti's 45-minute opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, premieres live on NBC in the United States, becoming the first opera written especially for television. December 31 – The Marshall Plan expires, after distributing more than $13.3 billion US in foreign aid to rebuild Europe. Unknown dates A fourth and final forest fire starts in the Tillamook Burn, Oregon; but unlike earlier fires this one burns only , and within an area already affected by the earlier fires. A research team publishes the Interlingua–English Dictionary. IBM (United Kingdom) is formed. In Munich, Germany, a collection of mementos and personal papers belonging to Adolf Hitler are turned over to Bayerische Landesbank, for authentication and eventual sale. Among the documents are his appointment as Chancellor signed by President Paul von Hindenburg, his Austrian passport, as well as an assortment of swastika insignia pins and medals. An initial offer of $200,000.00 is made for the collection. An 18-year-old sailor is fined for kissing in public in Stockholm, Sweden. The law court calls his actions "obnoxious behavior repulsive to the public morals". The United States becomes malaria-free (excluding territories and possessions) Births January January 1 Dante Garro, Argentine football player and manager (d. 2008) Ashfaq Hussain, Urdu poet Nana Patekar, Indian actor, writer, philanthropist and filmmaker January 2 Jan Fischer, 8th Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Vincenzo Zazzaro, Italian footballer (d. 2019) January 3 – Charles W. Mills, British-born American philosopher (d. 2021) January 5 – Steve Arnold, English footballer January 6 – Kim Wilson, American singer, harmonica player January 8 Kenny Anthony, Lucian politician, 2-time Prime Minister of Saint Lucia John McTiernan, American director, producer and writer January 10 – Tim Seelig, American composer