WHAT ALL HAPPENED AUGUST TO OCTOBER 1972
Find out what all happened August to October 1972

Munich Massacre: 9 Israel athletes taken hostage at the Munich Olympic Games by the Palestinian "Black September" terrorist group died (as did a German policeman) at the hands of the kidnappers during a failed rescue attempt. 2 other Israeli athletes are slain in the initial attack the previous day. (6. September 1972)

Vietnam War: the last United States ground combat unit leaves South Vietnam. (11. August 1972)

A collision between two commuter trains in Chicago kills 45 and injures 332. (30. October 1972)

The three surviving perpetrators of the Munich massacre are released from prison in exchange for the hostages of hijacked Lufthansa Flight 615. (29. October 1972)

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos signs Proclamation № 1081, placing the entire country under martial law and marking the beginning of his authoritarian rule. (21. September 1972)

A parcel bomb sent to Israeli Embassy in London kills one diplomat. (19. September 1972)

Rhodesia is expelled by the IOC for its racist policies. (22. August 1972)

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes mountains, near the border between Argentina and Chile. By December 23, 1972, only 16 out of 45 people lived long enough to be rescued. (13. October 1972)

A Scandinavian Airlines System domestic flight from Gothenburg to Stockholm is hijacked and flown to Malmö-Bulltofta Airport. (15. September 1972)

Roberto Clemente records the 3,000th and final hit of his career. (30. September 1972)

In Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, a Cave Research Foundation exploration and mapping team discovers a link between the Mammoth and Flint Ridge cave systems, making it the longest known cave passageway in the world. (9. September 1972)

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system has its opening day of passenger service. (11. September 1972)

In a referendum, the people of Norway reject membership of the European Community. (25. September 1972)

A race riot occurs on the United States Navy aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk off the coast of Vietnam during Operation Linebacker. (11. October 1972)

An East German Ilyushin Il-62 crashes during takeoff from East Berlin, killing 156. (14. August 1972)

In an unsuccessful coup d'état attempt, the Royal Moroccan Air Force fires upon Hassan II of Morocco's plane while he is traveling back to Rabat. (16. August 1972)

An Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-62 crashes outside Moscow killing 174. (13. October 1972)

Mark Spitz becomes the first competitor to win seven medals at a single Olympic Games. (4. September 1972)

In Reykjavík, Iceland, American Bobby Fischer beats Russian Boris Spassky to become the world chess champion. (1. September 1972)

The United States suffers its first loss of an international basketball game in a disputed match against the Soviet Union at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. (10. September 1972)