WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO AUGUST 1980
Find out what all happened January to August 1980

The Norwegian oil platform Alexander L. Kielland collapses in the North Sea, killing 123 of its crew of 212. (27. March 1980)

At Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia, 50 people were killed by an explosion of a Vostok-2M rocket on its launch pad during a fueling operation. (18. March 1980)

Through cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian governments, six American diplomats secretly escape hostilities in Iran in the culmination of the Canadian Caper. (27. January 1980)

A bomb explodes at the railway station in Bologna, Italy, killing 85 people and wounding more than 200. (2. August 1980)

In a referendum in Quebec, the population rejects by a 60% vote the proposal from its government to move towards independence from Canada. (20. May 1980)

Gordie Howe of the then Hartford Whalers makes NHL history as he scores his 800th goal. (29. February 1980)

U.S. President Jimmy Carter authorizes legislation giving $1.5 billion in loans to bail out the Chrysler Corporation. (7. January 1980)

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad operates its final train after being ordered to liquidate its assets because of bankruptcy and debts owed to creditors. (31. March 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)

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

Mother Teresa is honored with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (25. January 1980)

The Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein kills philosopher Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and his sister Bint al-Huda after three days of torture. (9. April 1980)

On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in the town of Chuschi, Ayacucho, starting the Internal conflict in Peru. (17. May 1980)

Flood in Ibadan after 12 hours of heavy downpour killed over 300 people and properties worth million destroyed. (31. August 1980)

Dallas aired its "A House Divided" episode which led to 8 months of international intrigue regarding Who shot J.R.? (21. March 1980)

The Gwangju Massacre: Airborne and army troops of South Korea retake the city of Gwangju from civil militias, killing at least 207 and possibly many more. (27. May 1980)

Silver Thursday: A steep fall in silver prices, resulting from the Hunt Brothers attempting to corner the market in silver, led to panic on commodity and futures exchanges. (27. March 1980)

Lech Wałęsa leads strikes at the Gdańsk, Poland shipyards. (14. August 1980)

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