WHAT ALL HAPPENED APRIL TO MAY 1980
Find out what all happened April to May 1980

Accession of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. (30. April 1980)

Operation Nimrod: The British Special Air Service storms the Iranian embassy in London after a six-day siege. (5. May 1980)

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President. The Zimbabwe Dollar replaces the Rhodesian Dollar as the official currency. (18. April 1980)

In Florida, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 1,400-ft. section of the southbound span collapse. 35 people in six cars and a Greyhound bus fall 150 ft. into the water and die. (9. May 1980)

Terry Fox begins his "Marathon of Hope" at St. John's, Newfoundland. (12. April 1980)

In Norco, California, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out and one of the largest pursuits in California history. Two of the gunmen and one police officer are killed and thirty-three police and civilian vehicles are destroyed in the chase. (9. May 1980)

Climax of Berber Spring in Algeria as hundreds of Berber political activists are arrested. (20. April 1980)

United States President Jimmy Carter signs the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act in an effort to help the U.S. economy rebound. (2. April 1980)

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

1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens: Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage. (18. May 1980)

Samuel Doe takes control of Liberia in a coup d'état, ending over 130 years of minority Americo-Liberian rule over the country. (12. April 1980)

The United States severs relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. (7. April 1980)

Namco releases the highly influential arcade game Pac-Man. (22. May 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)

Gwangju Massacre: students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations calling for 'democratic reforms'. (18. May 1980)

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

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)

Eight U.S. servicemen die in Operation Eagle Claw as they attempt to end the Iran hostage crisis. (24. April 1980)