The 1970s

1976 50 years ago

Japan completed its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of…

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands,…

Japan completed its last reparation to the Philippines for war crimes committed during imperial Japan's conquest of…

1976 50 years ago

The orbiting spacecraft Viking 1 took a photograph of an apparent face on Mars in a classic example of pareidolia.

Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft, along with Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, sent to Mars as part of NASA's Viking program. The lander touched down on…

The orbiting spacecraft Viking 1 took a photograph of an apparent face on Mars in a classic example of pareidolia.

1976 50 years ago

An earthquake registering 7.6 Mw, one of the deadliest in history, devastated Tangshan, China, and killed at least…

The 1976 Tangshan earthquake was a Mw 7.6 earthquake that hit the region around Tangshan, Hebei, China, at 19:42:55 UTC on 27 July. The maximum intensity of the earthquake was XI (…

An earthquake registering 7.6 Mw, one of the deadliest in history, devastated Tangshan, China, and killed at least…

1976 50 years ago

Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko landed his MiG-25 in Hakodate, Japan, declaring his intention to defect to the West.

Viktor Ivanovich Belenko was a Soviet-born American aerospace engineer and pilot who defected in 1976 to the West while flying his MiG-25 "Foxbat" jet interceptor and landed in Hak…

Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko landed his MiG-25 in Hakodate, Japan, declaring his intention to defect to the West.

1976 50 years ago

An unidentified flying object over Tehran in Iran was observed by multiple civilians and military personnel, which has…

On 19 September 1976, a radar and visual sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO) occurred over Tehran, the capital of Iran, by civilians and military personnel. In separate…

An unidentified flying object over Tehran in Iran was observed by multiple civilians and military personnel, which has…

1976 50 years ago

Two bombs placed by the CIA-linked Cuban dissident group Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations exploded…

The Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations was a militant group responsible for a number of terrorist activities directed at the Cuban government following the Cuban Re…

Two bombs placed by the CIA-linked Cuban dissident group Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations exploded…

1975

Sony introduces the Betamax videocassette recorder

Sony Group Corporation, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses variou…

Sony introduces the Betamax videocassette recorder

1975

Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest

Junko Tabei was a Japanese mountaineer, author and teacher. She was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on…

Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest

1975

Dibbles Bridge coach crash near Grassington, in North Yorkshire, England, kills 33 – the highest ever death toll in a ro

On 27 May 1975, a coach carrying elderly passengers crashed at the bottom of a steep hill at Dibble's Bridge over the River Dibb, near Hebden in North Yorkshire, England. Thirty-th…

Dibbles Bridge coach crash near Grassington, in North Yorkshire, England, kills 33 – the highest ever death toll in a ro

1975

At Brampton Centennial Secondary School, student Michael Slobodian kills two people and injures 13 others before committ

Brampton Centennial Secondary School (BCSS) is a public high school located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Peel District School Board. In September 2008, BCSS had …

At Brampton Centennial Secondary School, student Michael Slobodian kills two people and injures 13 others before committ

1975

European Space Agency is established

The European Space Agency (ESA), pronounced 'ee-sah', is a 23-member international organisation devoted to space exploration. It has its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around…

European Space Agency is established

1975

Governor of California Jerry Brown signs the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act into law, the first law in the

The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California Sta…

Governor of California Jerry Brown signs the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act into law, the first law in the

1975

The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins

The Cambodian Civil War was a civil war in Cambodia fought between the Khmer Rouge, supported by North Vietnam and China, against the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and, aft…

The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins

1975

India's first satellite Aryabhata launched in orbit from Kapustin Yar, Russia

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area; the most populous country since 2023; and, since its independence in…

India's first satellite Aryabhata launched in orbit from Kapustin Yar, Russia

1975

South Vietnamese forces withdraw from the town of Xuan Loc in the last major battle of the Vietnam War

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam composed the ground forces of the South Vietnamese military from its inception in 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. Its predecessor w…

South Vietnamese forces withdraw from the town of Xuan Loc in the last major battle of the Vietnam War

1975

Vietnam War: President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu flees Saigon, as Xuân Lộc, the last South Vietnamese outpost bl

The Vietnam War was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and their allies. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Unio…

Vietnam War: President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu flees Saigon, as Xuân Lộc, the last South Vietnamese outpost bl

1975

General Cao Văn Viên, chief of the South Vietnamese military, departs for the US as the North Vietnamese Army closes in

Cao Văn Viên was a four-star army general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He rose to the position of Chairman of the South Vietnamese Joint General S…

General Cao Văn Viên, chief of the South Vietnamese military, departs for the US as the North Vietnamese Army closes in

1975

The Suez Canal opens for the first time since the Six-Day War

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. It is the bor…

The Suez Canal opens for the first time since the Six-Day War

1975

British referendum results in continued membership of the European Economic Community, with 67% of votes in favour

A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either binding, resulting in the adoption…

British referendum results in continued membership of the European Economic Community, with 67% of votes in favour

1975

Sony launches Betamax, the first videocassette recorder format

Sony Group Corporation, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses variou…

Sony launches Betamax, the first videocassette recorder format

1975

Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U

Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the Nort…

Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U

1975

Vietnam War: The North Vietnamese Army completes its capture of all parts of South Vietnam-held Trường Sa Islands

The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is the national military force of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the armed wing of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The PAVN …

Vietnam War: The North Vietnamese Army completes its capture of all parts of South Vietnam-held Trường Sa Islands

1975

Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon

Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, was captured by North Vietnam on 30 April 1975. This caused the collapse of South Vietnam to communism and the evacuation of thousands of civi…

Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon

1975

The Särkänniemi Amusement Park opens in Tampere, Finland

Särkänniemi is an amusement park in Tampere, Finland, located in the district by the same name. The park features an aquarium, a planetarium, Doghill Fairytale Farm, an art museum …

The Särkänniemi Amusement Park opens in Tampere, Finland