WHAT ALL HAPPENED AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 1979
Find out what all happened August to September 1979

South Africa grants independence to the "homeland" of Venda (not recognised outside South Africa). (13. September 1979)

Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects to the United States. (21. August 1979)

CompuServe launches the first consumer internet service, which features the first public electronic mail service. (24. September 1979)

An IRA bomb explodes at the Grote Markt in Brussels. (28. August 1979)

Indonesia is hit with an earthquake that measures 8.1 on the Richter scale. (12. September 1979)

The Vela Incident (also known as the South Atlantic Flash) is observed near Bouvet Island, thought to be a nuclear weapons test. (22. September 1979)

The Hong Kong MTR commences service with the opening of its Modified Initial System (aka. Kwun Tong Line). (30. September 1979)

In Afghanistan, Maoists undertake an attempted military uprising. (5. August 1979)

Several tornadoes strike the city of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada and the surrounding communities. (7. August 1979)

The United States Department of Education receives final approval from the U.S. Congress to become the 13th US Cabinet agency. (27. September 1979)

A coup d'état in the Central African Empire overthrows Emperor Bokasa I. (20. September 1979)

Pope John Paul II becomes the first pope to visit Ireland. (29. September 1979)

The American space probe Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi). (1. September 1979)

The Chrysler Corporation asks the United States government for USD $1.5 billion to avoid bankruptcy. (7. September 1979)

The roof of the uncompleted Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, collapses, killing 5 workers and injuring 16. (13. August 1979)

A Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb kills British retired admiral Louis Mountbatten and three others while they are boating on holiday in Sligo, Republic of Ireland. Shortly after, 18 British Army soldiers are killed in an ambush near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland. (27. August 1979)

Afghan President Nur Muhammad Taraki is assassinated upon the order of Hafizullah Amin, who becomes the new president. (14. September 1979)