May 1971
Encyclopedia
January
– February
– March
– April
– May – June
– July
– August
– September
– October
– November
– December
The following events occurred in May
1971.
January 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in January 1971.-January 1, 1971 :*Born: Kalabhavan Mani, Indian actor and singer, in Chalakudy, Kerala...
– February
February 1971
January – February 1971 – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in February 1971.-February 1, 1971 :...
– March
March 1971
January – February – March 1971 – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in March 1971.-March 1, 1971 :*A bomb explodes in the men's room at the United States Capitol...
– April
April 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in April 1971.-April 1, 1971 :*The United Kingdom lifts all restrictions on gold ownership....
– May – June
June 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in June 1971.-June 1, 1971 :...
– July
July 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in July 1971.-July 1, 1971 :...
– August
August 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in August 1971.-August 1, 1971 :*In New York City, 40,000 people attend the Concert for Bangladesh....
– September
September 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in September 1971:-September 1, 1971 :*The 1971 South Pacific Games begin in Tahiti....
– October
October 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in October 1971: -October 1, 1971 :*Walt Disney World opens in Orlando, Florida....
– November
November 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in November 1971. -November 1, 1971 :*The Toronto Sun begins publication...
– December
December 1971
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – DecemberThe following events occurred in December 1971:-December 1, 1971 :...
The following events occurred in May
May
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.May is a month of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and spring in the Northern Hemisphere...
1971.
May 1, 1971 (Saturday)
- AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
begins inter-city rail passenger service in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. - The Ceylonese government promises amnestyAmnestyAmnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
for all guerillas who surrender before April 5. - The Angry BrigadeThe Angry BrigadeThe Angry Brigade was a small British militant group responsible for a series of bomb attacks in Britain between 1970 and 1972.-History:During the summer of 1968 there were a number of demonstrations in London against the American involvement in the Vietnam War, centred on the American Embassy in...
sets off a bomb inside, the BibaBibaBiba was an iconic and popular London fashion store of the 1960s and 1970s. It was started and primarily run by the Polish-born Barbara Hulanicki with help of her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon.-Early years:...
store in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. - Born: Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
, Indian actor, in Secunderabad, Andra Pradesh - Died: Heinrich Meyer-BuerdorfHeinrich Meyer-BuerdorfHeinrich Meyer-Buerdorf was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 82, German World War II general
May 2, 1971 (Sunday)
- In Ceylon, left-wing guerillas launch a series of assaults against public buildings.
- In the UK, the Daily MailDaily MailThe Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, first published in 1896, is relaunched as a tabloid. - Died: Olaf BardaOlaf BardaOlaf Barda , born Olaf M. Olsen, was a Norwegian chess player. He was the first Norwegian awarded the title of International Master, which he received in 1952....
, 61, first Norwegian International Master in chess; John Horne BlackmoreJohn Horne BlackmoreJohn Horne Blackmore , a school teacher and principal by training, was the first leader of what became the Social Credit Party of Canada, a political party in Canada that promoted the social credit theories of monetary reform....
, Canadian teacher, 81, first leader of the Social Credit Party of Canada
May 3, 1971 (Monday)
- The Harris Poll claims that 60% of Americans oppose the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. - East German leader Walter UlbrichtWalter UlbrichtWalter Ulbricht was a German communist politician. As First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party from 1950 to 1971 , he played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany and later in the early development and...
resigns as Communist Party leader but retains the position of head of state. - Anti-war militants attempt to disrupt government business in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; police and military units arrest as many as 12,000, most of whom are later released. - All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, National Public Radio's flagship news program, is broadcast for the first time.
May 4, 1971 (Tuesday)
- Four home-made bombs are found in the vicinity of Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar SchoolChislehurst and Sidcup Grammar SchoolChislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School is a mixed grammar school located in Hurst Road , Sidcup in the London Borough of Bexley, England...
, UK. The authorities at first thought these belonged to the Angry Brigade but were more likely to be the work of students who devised improvised bombs as an experiment on a school trip to Norway in 1970.
May 5, 1971 (Wednesday)
- The US dollar floods the European currency markets and threatens especially the Deutsche Mark; the central banks of AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
stop the currency trading. - Died: Violet JessopViolet JessopViolet Constance Jessop was an ocean liner stewardess and nurse who achieved fame by surviving the disastrous sinkings of sister ships RMS Titanic and HMHS Britannic in 1912 and 1916 respectively...
, 83, English former nurse who survived the sinkings of the sister ships RMS Titanic and HMHS Britannic in 1912 and 1916, respectively; Sir W. D. RossW. D. RossSir David Ross KBE was a Scottish philosopher, known for work in ethics. His best known work is The Right and the Good , and he is perhaps best known for developing a pluralist, deontological form of intuitionist ethics in response to G.E. Moore's intuitionism...
, 94, Scottish philosopher
May 6, 1971 (Thursday)
- The Ceylon government begins a major offensive against the People's Liberation FrontPeople's Liberation FrontThe People's Liberation Front can refer to several political groups:*People's Liberation Front , the World War II Yugoslav coalition of political parties.*Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the Sri Lankan nationalist Marxist political party...
. - Died: Dickie ValentineDickie ValentineDickie Valentine was an English pop singer in the 1950s.-Early life:Valentine was born Richard Maxwell , though Valentine was known as Richard Bryce as his mother later married Bryce and gave her young son the same name. He was born in Marylebone, London...
, 41, English singer, in a car crash at Glangrwyney, near Crickhowell, Wales
May 7, 1971 (Friday)
- The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States)The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade is a United States Marine Corps unit that is the "middleweight" crises response force of choice in the Pacific Area of Operation...
ceases all ground and air operations in Vietnam prior to its deactivation.
May 8, 1971 (Saturday)
- ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
win the FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
final with a 2-1 win over LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Wembley StadiumWembley StadiumThe original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. It is only the second time in the 20th century that an English team has completed the double of the Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and the FA Cup.
May 10, 1971 (Monday)
- Born: Amy MasturaAmy MasturaAmy Mastura is a Malaysian actress and singer who is known for her romantic comedy film roles and contributions to the local pop music industry....
, Malaysian singer and actress; Doris NeunerDoris NeunerDoris Neuner is an Austrian luger who competed during the 1990s. She won the gold medal in the women's singles event at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville...
, Austrian luger and former Olympic champion
May 11, 1971 (Tuesday)
- The Daily SketchDaily SketchThe Daily Sketch was a British national tabloid newspaper, founded in Manchester in 1909 by Sir Edward Hulton.It was bought in 1920 by Lord Rothermere's Daily Mirror Newspapers but in 1925 Rothermere offloaded it to William and Gomer Berry The Daily Sketch was a British national tabloid newspaper,...
, Britain's oldest tabloid newspaper, is withdrawn from circulation after 62 years. - Died: Seán LemassSeán LemassSeán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
, 72, former TaoiseachTaoiseachThe Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
of Ireland - Born: Stefan van Schooten fashion entrepreneur and visionair
May 12, 1971 (Wednesday)
- An earthquakeEarthquakeAn earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
destroys most of the city of BurdurBurdurBurdur , is a city southwestern Turkey and the seat of the Burdur Province of Turkey. It is located at , on the shore of Lake Burdur...
. - Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
marries Bianca de MacíasBianca JaggerBianca Jagger is a Nicaraguan-born social and human rights advocate and a former actress and model...
in Saint-TropezSaint-TropezSaint-Tropez is a town, 104 km to the east of Marseille, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez....
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in a Roman Catholic ceremony. Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, and their wives are among the wedding guests. - The cruise ship, Royal Viking StarBlack Watch (ship)MS Black Watch is a cruise ship, currently owned and operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. She was built by Wärtsilä Helsinki New Shipyard, Finland for Royal Viking Line as Royal Viking Star, entering service in 1972...
, later MS Black Watch, is launched at Helsinki, Finland. - Died: Tor JohnsonTor JohnsonTor Johansson , better known by the stage name Tor Johnson, was a Swedish professional wrestler and actor....
, 67, Swedish professional wrestler and actor
May 13, 1971 (Thursday)
- The state funeral of Former Taoiseach Seán LemassSeán LemassSeán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
takes place at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Churchtown, Dublin. - Karl SchillerKarl SchillerKarl August Fritz Schiller was a German scientist and politician of the Social Democratic Party . From 1966 to 1972, he was Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and from 1971 to 1972 Federal Minister of Finance...
replaces Alex MöllerAlex MöllerAlexander Johann Heinrich Friedrich Möller, known as Alex Möller was a German politician .Möller was born in Dortmund. He was a member of the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg from 1946 to October 5, 1961, when he was elected to the Bundestag. His successor was Walther Wäldele...
as Minister of Finance in the German federal government. - Born: Espen LindEspen LindEspen Lind, , is a Norwegian songwriter, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is one half of the production team Espionage.- Solo records :...
, Norwegian songwriter, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, in Tromsø
May 14, 1971 (Friday)
- Pope Paul VIPope Paul VIPaul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
issues the Apostolic Letter "Octogesima AdveniensOctogesima AdveniensOctogesima adveniens is the incipit of the 14 May 1971 Apostolic Letter addressed by Pope Paul VI to Cardinal Maurice Roy, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's...
" to Cardinal Maurice Roy, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of Pope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIIIPope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
's encyclical Rerum Novarum. - Born: Princess Sumaya bint El HassanPrincess Sumaya bint El HassanPrincess Sumaya bint El Hassan is a member of the Jordanian royal family. She was born in Amman, Jordan. Her father is Prince Hassan bin Talal and her mother is Princess Sarvath El Hassan.-Education:* International Community School...
of Jordan, in Amman - Died: Heinz RichterHeinz Richter (engineer)Heinz Richter was a German radio engineer and one of the most successful authors of introductory-level radio and electronics textbooks in Germany from the 1950s throughout the 1970s.-Biography:...
, German radio engineer, 61
May 15, 1971 (Saturday)
- Efraim Elrom, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i ambassador to Turkey, is kidnapped. - Died: Sir Tyrone GuthrieTyrone GuthrieSir William Tyrone Guthrie was an English theatrical director instrumental in the founding of the Stratford Festival of Canada, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, at his family's home, Annaghmakerrig, in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Life and career:Guthrie...
, 70, Anglo-Irish theatrical director
May 16, 1971 (Sunday)
- A coup attempt is exposed and foiled in EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. - Died: Sir Collier CudmoreCollier CudmoreSir Collier Robert Cudmore was an Australian lawyer, politician and Olympic rower who won the Gold medal in the 1908 Summer Olympics.-Early life and rowing career:...
, 85, Australian lawyer, politician and Olympic champion rower
May 17, 1971 (Monday)
- An early avanproyekt of the Ilyushin Il-86Ilyushin Il-86The Ilyushin Il-86 is a medium-range wide-body jet airliner. It was the USSR's first wide-body and the world's second four-engined wide-body...
is displayed at an exhibition of civil aviation novelties at Vnukovo Airport near Moscow. - The Amarillo Air TerminalRick Husband Amarillo International AirportRick Husband Amarillo International Airport is a public airport located six miles east of the central business district of Amarillo, a city in Potter and Randall Counties, Texas, United States...
opens on part of the Amarillo Air Force BaseAmarillo Air Force BaseAmarillo Air Force Base, originally Amarillo Army Air Field is a former United States Air Force base located in Potter County, Texas, approximately 6 miles East of downtown Amarillo within the easternmost city limits...
. - Born: Princess Máxima of the NetherlandsPrincess Máxima of the NetherlandsPrincess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
, as Máxima Zorreguieta, in Buenos Aires, Argentina
May 18, 1971 (Tuesday)
- The U.S. Congress formally votes to end funding for the American Supersonic Transport program.
- The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup in Chicago with a game 7 victory. It was only the second time in Stanley Cup history that the away team won game 7.
May 19, 1971 (Wednesday)
- Mars probe programMars probe programThe Mars program was a series of unmanned spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union between 1960 and 1973. The spacecraft were intended to explore Mars, and included flyby probes, landers and orbiters....
: Mars 2Mars 2The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned landers and orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s.The Mars 2 and Mars 3 missions consisted of identical spacecraft, each with an orbiter and an attached lander; they were the first human artifacts to impact the surface of Mars...
is launched by the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. - Died: Ogden NashOgden NashFrederic Ogden Nash was an American poet well known for his light verse. At the time of his death in 1971, the New York Times said his "droll verse with its unconventional rhymes made him the country's best-known producer of humorous poetry".-Early life:Nash was born in Rye, New York...
, 68, American poet and humorist
May 21, 1971 (Friday)
- Born: Aditya ChopraAditya ChopraAditya Chopra is an Indian film producer, screenwriter and director. He is most known for directing his only three films Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge , Mohabbatein , and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi...
, Indian film director, son of Yash ChopraYash ChopraYash Raj Chopra is an Indian filmmaker, film director, screenwriter, and a highly successful Bollywood producer. Waqt, Deewar, Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila, Lamhe, Chandni, Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Veer-Zaara are some of his highly popular movies... - Died: Dennis KingDennis KingDennis King was an English actor and singer.Born in Coventry as Dennis Pratt, King had a stage career in both drama and musicals. He emigrated to the USA in 1921 and went on to a successful career on the Broadway stage. He appeared in two musical films and played non-singing roles in two other...
, 73, English singer and actor; Johannes LetzmannJohannes LetzmannJohannes Peter Letzmann was an Estonian meteorologist, and a pioneering tornado researcher. His prolific output related to severe storms concepts included: developing tornado damage studies, atmospheric vortices, theoretical studies and laboratory simulations, tornado case studies, and...
, 85, Estonian meteorologist and tornado researcher
May 22, 1971 (Saturday)
- An earthquakeEarthquakeAn earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
lasting 20 seconds destroys most of BingölBingölBingöl is a city in Eastern Turkey. It is also known as Çabakcur , which means violent water in Armenian. It is surrounded by mountains and a large number of glacier lakes, hence the name . Lately, the town has become a popular tourist destination...
, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
– more than 1,000 are killed, 10,000 made homeless. - Susan Mahon of Philadelphia, PA and Timothy Mackey of Philadelphia, Pa were married at St. Edmonds Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pa.
May 23, 1971 (Sunday)
- An air crash at Rijeka AirportRijeka AirportRijeka Airport is the airport serving Rijeka, Croatia. It is located near the town of Omišalj on the island of Krk, 17 km from the Rijeka railway station....
, YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
kills 78 people, mostly BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
tourists. - Jackie StewartJackie StewartSir John Young Stewart, OBE , better known as Jackie Stewart, and nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, is a Scottish former racing driver and team owner. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships. He also competed in Can-Am...
wins the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix1971 Monaco Grand PrixThe 1971 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monaco on May 23, 1971.- Race report :Qualifying was extremely wet and so it was Friday morning times that really counted for the grid - for Mario Andretti this was particularly unfortunate as his car was stranded out on the track at this...
.
May 24, 1971 (Monday)
- Hurricane Agatha1971 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1971 Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, 1971 in the east Pacific, and on June 1, 1971 in the central Pacific. It ended on November 30, 1971. These dates conventionally delimit the period of time when tropical cyclones form in the east Pacific Ocean....
makes landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scaleSaffir-Simpson Hurricane ScaleThe Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
within 45 miles (75 km) of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The village of Playa Azul is hard-hit by the storm. Up to half of the village's homes are destroyed, along with much of the banana, mango and coconut crop. - Gerhard StoltenbergGerhard StoltenbergGerhard Stoltenberg was a German politician and minister in the cabinets of Ludwig Erhard, Kurt Georg Kiesinger and Helmut Kohl. He served as minister-president of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein from 1971 to 1982 and as such as President of the Bundesrat in 1977/78.-Life:Stoltenberg was...
becomes Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, retaining the position until 1982.
May 25, 1971 (Tuesday)
- The body of Efraim Elrom, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i ambassador to Turkey, is found in IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. - A suitcase containing a blast bomb is thrown into the lobby of Springfield Road RUC station by the Provisional IRA. Sgt Michael Willetts shelters two civilians as 30lbs of explosives detonate, seriously injuring him. Seven RUC officers, two British soldiers and eighteen civilians are injured in the attack.
- Died: Michael WillettsMichael WillettsMichael Willetts, GC was one of the first British soldiers to be killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the recipient of a posthumous George Cross for his heroism in saving lives during the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombing which claimed his own...
, 35, English soldier, one of the first to be killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the recipient of a posthumous George Cross.
May 26, 1971 (Wednesday)
- AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
establish diplomatic relations. - QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
agrees to pay $500,000 to bomb hoaxer-extortionist Mr. Brown (Peter Macari), who is later arrested. - Died: Laurence WildLaurence WildLaurence Wild was a United States Navy Captain, college basketball player and coach, and the 30th Governor of American Samoa from August 8, 1940 to June 5, 1942. Wild was born in Wilber, Nebraska, and lived in the 4th Congressional District of Nebraska for much of his adult life...
, 81, American former basketball player, soldier, and Governor of American Samoa
May 27, 1971 (Thursday)
- Dahlerau train disasterDahlerau train disasterThe Dahlerau train disaster was a severe railway accident that took place on May 27, 1971 in Dahlerau, a small town belonging to Radevormwald in then-West Germany, in which a freight train and a passenger train crashed into each other. 46 people perished in the accident, of whom 41 were senior year...
: 46 people are killed in a collision between two trains in West Germany; 41 of the victims are pupils of the Geschwister-Scholl-Schule in Radevormwald. - Six armed passengers hijack a RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n passenger plane and force it to fly to ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. - Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
auctions a diamond known as Deepdene; it is later found to be artificially colored. - Born: Paul BettanyPaul BettanyPaul Bettany is an English actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of films, including A Knight's Tale, A Beautiful Mind, and The Da Vinci Code...
, English actor, in Shepherd's Bush, London; Lisa "Left Eye" LopesLisa LopesLisa Nicole Lopes better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer, dancer, actress, television host, and songwriter...
, American entertainer, in Philadelphia (d. 2002) - Died: Chips RaffertyChips RaffertyChips Rafferty MBE was an iconic Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the 1940s until his death in 1971, and during this time he performed regularly in major Australian feature films as well as appearing in British and American...
, 62, Australian actor, of a heart attack while walking along a street in Sydney, shortly after being offered a role in The Day the Clown CriedThe Day the Clown CriedThe Day the Clown Cried is an unfinished and unreleased 1972 film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. It is based on a script of the same name by Joan O'Brien, who had co-written the original script with Charles Denton 10 years previously. The film was met with controversy regarding its premise...
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May 28, 1971 (Friday)
- PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
resigns from UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. - A Berlin-based CV-990A operated by Modern Air TransportModern Air TransportModern Air Transport, Inc. was a United States-based non-scheduled and supplemental carrierUS non-scheduled airlines as classified by the United States Congress in 1963 founded in 1946. At different stages in its history it was headquartered in Newark and Trenton, New Jersey, Baltimore, and Miami...
, with 45 passengers on board, is unexpectedly denied permission to enter BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n airspace, as a result of a new policy adopted by that country's then communist government to deny any aircraft whose flight had originated or was going to terminate at a West Berlin airport the right to take off and land at any of its airports. The plane lands safely back at Berlin's Tegel Airport.
- Died: Audie MurphyAudie MurphyAudie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
, 45, American actor, killed when his private plane crashes into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, VirginiaCatawba, VirginiaCatawba is an unincorporated community in the northern section of Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. Catawba occupies the Catawba Valley bound on the south by the north slope of Catawba Mountain and on the north by several mountains which form the border between Roanoke County and Craig...
. The pilot and four other passengers are also killed.
May 29, 1971 (Saturday)
- The 1971 Indianapolis 5001971 Indianapolis 500The 1971 Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 29, 1971. ABC television broadcast the race for the first time in same-day tape delay....
is won by Al UnserAl UnserAlfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....
the second year in a row. The race is marred by a spectacular crash in which a pace car skids into a temporary grandstand packed with photographers. 22 people are injured, some seriously. - Died: Rodd RedwingRodd RedwingRodd Redwing , , was a Native American actor, noted for being the world’s greatest quick-draw artist with six-guns...
, 66, Native American actor and world’s greatest quick-draw artist.
May 30, 1971 (Sunday)
- The Battle of SnuolBattle of SnuolThe Battle of Snuol was a major battle of the Vietnam War, conducted by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam as part of Operation Toàn Thắng TT02...
ends in victory for North VietnamNorth VietnamThe Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
after five months of fighting. - Mariner programMariner programThe Mariner program was a program conducted by the American space agency NASA that launched a series of robotic interplanetary probes designed to investigate Mars, Venus and Mercury from 1963 to 1973...
: Mariner 9Mariner 9Mariner 9 was a NASA space orbiter that helped in the exploration of Mars and was part of the Mariner program. Mariner 9 was launched toward Mars on May 30, 1971 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and reached the planet on November 13 of the same year, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit...
is launched toward MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. - Died: Marcel DupréMarcel DupréMarcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
, 85, French organist, pianist and composer
May 31, 1971 (Monday)
- The birth of BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
is declared by the government in exile, in territory formerly part of PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
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