October 11th is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 81 days remaining until the end of the year. This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday (58 in 400 years each) than on Friday or Saturday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Monday or Wednesday (56).

On this day in history:

1899 – Second Boer War begins: In South Africa, a war between the United Kingdom and the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State erupts.

1910 – Former President Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first U.S. president to fly in an airplane. He flew for four minutes with Arch Hoxsey in a plane built by the Wright brothers at Kinloch Field, St. Louis, Missouri.

1968 – Apollo program: NASA launches Apollo 7, the first successful manned Apollo mission, with astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn F. Eisele and Walter Cunningham aboard.

1975 – The NBC sketch comedy/variety show Saturday Night Live debuts.

1984 – Aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan becomes the first American woman to perform a space walk.

2001 – The Polaroid Corporation files for federal bankruptcy protection.

Celebrity Birthdays:

The Last Tycoon Star Matt Bomer turns 40

Toy Story Actress Joan Cusack turns 55

Bones Star Emily Deschanel turns 41

True Blood Actor Stephen Moyer turns 48

Singer Daryl Hall turns 71

French and Saunders Actress Dawn French turns 60

Happy Birthday to all October 11th babies!