WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1972
Find out what all happened February to September 1972

In Tel Aviv, Israel, members of the Japanese Red Army carry out the Lod Airport massacre, killing 24 people and injuring 78 others. (30. May 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 California Supreme Court in the case of People v. Anderson, (6 Cal.3d 628) invalidates the state's death penalty and commutes the sentences of all death row inmates to life imprisonment. (18. February 1972)

The Universal Postal Union decides to recognize the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate Chinese representative, effectively expelling the Republic of China administering Taiwan. (13. April 1972)

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

The Angry Brigade goes on trial over a series of 25 bombings throughout the United Kingdom. (30. May 1972)

The Eltham Well Hall rail crash, caused by an intoxicated train driver, kills six people and injures 126. (11. June 1972)

The Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the Moon. (21. February 1972)

José María Velasco Ibarra, serving as President of Ecuador for the fifth time, is overthrown by the military for the fourth time. (15. February 1972)

In the early morning hours a fire breaks out at the Sunshine Mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, ID, killing 91 workers. (2. May 1972)

Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan and Hüseyin İnan are executed in Ankara for attempting to overthrow the Constitutional order. (6. May 1972)

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

Sino-American relations: The United States and People's Republic of China sign the Shanghai Communiqué. (28. February 1972)

Vietnam War: Nguyen Hue Offensive – The North Vietnamese 320th Division forces 5,000 South Vietnamese troops to retreat and traps about 2,500 others northwest of Kontum. (25. April 1972)

The Asama-Sansō hostage standoff begins in Japan. (19. February 1972)

The Troubles: Bloody Friday – the Provisional IRA detonate 22 bombs in central Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in the space of 80 minutes, killing 9 and injuring 130. (21. July 1972)

Watergate scandal: An 18½-minute gap appears in the tape recording of the conversations between U.S. President Richard Nixon and his advisers regarding the recent arrests of his operatives while breaking into the Watergate complex. (20. June 1972)

Munich massacre: A Palestinian terrorist group called "Black September" attack and take hostage 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games. 2 die in the attack and 9 die the following day. (5. September 1972)

The Official Irish Republican Army detonates a car bomb at Aldershot barracks, killing seven and injuring nineteen others. (22. February 1972)

Vietnam War: Easter Offensive – American forces begin sustained air strikes and naval bombardments. (6. April 1972)