WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO OCTOBER 1969
Find out what all happened January to October 1969

Venera program: Soviet Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus, sending back atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure. (17. May 1969)

My Lai Massacre: U.S. Army Lt. William Calley is charged with six specifications of premeditated murder for the death of 109 Vietnamese civilians in My Lai. (5. September 1969)

A day after murdering Sharon Tate and four others, members of Charles Manson's cult kill Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. (10. August 1969)

Allende meteorite falls near Pueblito de Allende, Chihuahua, Mexico. (8. February 1969)

In Chicago, the United States National Guard is called in for crowd control as demonstrations continue in connection with the trial of the "Chicago Eight" that began on September 24. (9. October 1969)

Hawthorne Nevada Airlines Flight 708 crashes into Mount Whitney killing all on board. (18. February 1969)

Vietnam War: The Battle of Dong Ap Bia begins with an assault on Hill 937. It will ultimately become known as Hamburger Hill. (10. May 1969)

Woodstock rock and roll concert opens. (15. August 1969)

In Cairo, Yasser Arafat is appointed Palestine Liberation Organization leader at the Palestinian National Congress. (3. February 1969)

Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart. (4. April 1969)

In Memphis, Tennessee, James Earl Ray pleads guilty to assassinating Martin Luther King Jr. He later unsuccessfully attempts to retract his plea. (10. March 1969)

Vietnam War: United States Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announces that the United States will start to "Vietnamize" the war effort. (3. April 1969)

Tran Thien Khiem becomes Prime Minister of South Vietnam under President Nguyen Van Thieu. (1. September 1969)

Apollo program: Apollo 11 successfully makes the first manned landing on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the Moon almost 7 hours later. (US Time) (20. July 1969)

East Pakistani police kill student activist Amanullah Asaduzzaman. The resulting outrage is in part responsible for the Bangladesh Liberation War. (20. January 1969)

The US Selective Service selects September 14 as the First Draft Lottery Date. (14. September 1969)

A coup d'état in Somalia brings Siad Barre to power and establishes a socialist republic in Somalia. (21. October 1969)

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier enters service with the Royal Air Force. (1. April 1969)

Charles de Gaulle resigns as President of France. (28. April 1969)

British yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston wins the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race and completes the first solo non-stop circumnavigation of the world. (22. April 1969)