WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO JUNE 1959
Find out what all happened February to June 1959

A group of Dominican exiles depart from Cuba and land in the Dominican Republic with the intent of overthrowing the totalitarian government of Rafael Trujillo. All but four are killed or executed. (14. June 1959)

A fire in a resort hotel in Stalheim (Norway) kills 34 people. (23. June 1959)

Launch of the National Liberation Committee of Côte d'Ivoire in Conakry, Guinea. (18. May 1959)

Akihito, future Emperor of Japan, marries Michiko. (10. April 1959)

At Cape Canaveral, Florida, the first successful test firing of a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile is accomplished. (6. February 1959)

Iakovos is enthroned as Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America. (1. April 1959)

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum. (31. March 1959)

Project Mercury: NASA announces the selection of the United States' first seven astronauts, whom the news media quickly dub the "Mercury Seven". (9. April 1959)

The USS Barbero and United States Postal Service attempt the delivery of mail via Missile Mail. (8. June 1959)

The USS George Washington is launched. It is the first submarine to carry ballistic missiles. (9. June 1959)

The Auckland Harbour Bridge, crossing the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand, is officially opened by Governor-General Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham. (30. May 1959)

The North Vietnamese Army establishes Group 559, whose responsibility is to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam; the resulting route is the Ho Chi Minh trail. (19. May 1959)

The first government of the State of Singapore is sworn in. (5. June 1959)

A United States Air Force F-100 Super Sabre from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, crashes into a nearby elementary school, killing 11 students plus six residents from the local neighborhood. (30. June 1959)

Singapore was declared a self-governing state even though it was still a part of the British Empire. (3. June 1959)

The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate. (20. February 1959)

Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500. (22. February 1959)

The Party of the African Federation is launched by Léopold Sédar Senghor and Modibo Keïta. (24. March 1959)

The Barbie doll makes its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York. (9. March 1959)

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, flees Tibet for India. (17. March 1959)