WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1980
Find out what all happened January to September 1980

Andalusia approves its statute of autonomy through a referendum. (28. February 1980)

Italian Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870 mysteriously explodes in mid air while in route from Bologna to Palermo, killing all 81 on board. Also known in Italy as the Ustica disaster (27. June 1980)

After two weeks of nationwide strikes, the Polish government was forced to sign the Gdańsk Agreement, allowing for the creation of the trade union Solidarity. (31. August 1980)

The government of Suriname is overthrown by a military coup which is initiated by the bombing of the police station from an army ship off the coast of the nation's capital, Paramaribo (25. February 1980)

The 1980 Grand Island tornado outbreak. Seven tornadoes hit Grand Island, Nebraska, which take five lives, 357 single-family homes, 33 mobile homes, 85 apartments, 49 businesses and cause $300 million in damages all told, according to statistics compiled on the deadly storm by the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross. (3. June 1980)

The eradication of smallpox is endorsed by the World Health Organization. (8. May 1980)

The Quietly Confident Quartet of Australia wins the Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay at the Moscow Olympics, the only time the United States has not won the event at Olympic level. (24. July 1980)

During the Lebanese Civil War, 83 Tiger militants are killed during what will be known as the Safra massacre. (7. July 1980)

At the Oktoberfest terror attack in Munich 13 people died and 211 were injured. (26. September 1980)

Azaria Chamberlain disappears, at Ayers Rock, Northern Territory, probably taken by a dingo, leading to what was then the most publicized trial in Australian history. (17. August 1980)

General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea seizes control of the government and declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations. (17. May 1980)

Cable News Network (CNN) begins broadcasting. (1. June 1980)

John Birges plants a bomb at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, US. (26. August 1980)

Madeira School headmistress Jean Harris shoots and kills Scarsdale diet doctor Herman Tarnower (10. March 1980)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini states that Iran's parliament will decide the fate of the American embassy hostages. (23. February 1980)

Soyuz 38 carries 2 cosmonauts (including 1 Cuban) to Salyut 6 space station. (18. September 1980)

An F3 tornado hits Kalamazoo County, Michigan. President Jimmy Carter declares it a federal disaster area. (13. May 1980)

The Montevideo Treaty, establishing the Latin American Integration Association, is signed. (12. August 1980)

Patrick Depailler, French Grand Prix driver was killed in a crash at Hockenheim during a private test session. (1. August 1980)

The Radio Caroline ship, Mi Amigo founders in a gale off the English coast. (20. March 1980)