1979⚡ Event
Vietnamese forces capture Phnom Penh
Vietnamese troops and Cambodian rebels seize Phnom Penh, toppling the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.
warmilitarypolitics
What Happened in 1979?
Browse 25 historical moments from 1979 — 24 events, 0 birthdays, and 1 deaths. These counts describe the current collection, not a complete timeline of the year.
Events in 1979(24)
1979⚡ Event
Tanzanian forces attack Mutukula
Tanzanian forces attacked the Ugandan town of Mutukula on January 22, 1979, causing Ugandan forces to retreat.
war
1979⚡ Event
Varig Flight 967 disappears
Varig Flight 967 disappeared shortly after takeoff from Tokyo's Narita International Airport. The flight was en route to Rio de Janeiro.
disaster
1979⚡ Event
Denis Sassou Nguesso becomes President of Congo
Denis Sassou Nguesso was chosen as the new President of the Republic of the Congo. This followed the forced removal of Joachim Yhombi-Opango from power.
politics
1979⚡ Event
Uganda–Tanzania War
Ugandan government forces fled Masaka as the Tanzania People's Defence Force bombarded and captured the town during the Uganda–Tanzania War.
war
1979⚡ Event
Volcanoes on Io Confirmed
Images taken by Voyager 1 on March 8, 1979, proved the existence of volcanoes on Io, a moon of Jupiter.
sciencespace
1979⚡ Event
Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse
The Penmanshiel Tunnel in Scotland collapsed during construction, killing two workers and leading to its abandonment.
disastertechnology
1979⚡ Event
Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty signed
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sign the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty at the White House.
politics
1979⚡ Event
Callaghan Government Falls
British Prime Minister James Callaghan's government was defeated by one vote in a no-confidence motion. This followed widespread strikes during the Winter of Discontent.
politicseconomics
1979⚡ Event
Margaret Thatcher becomes UK Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom. This event occurred on May 4, 1979.
politics
1979⚡ Event
Uganda War Ends
Tanzanian forces secured Uganda's western border, marking the end of a seven-month war after deposing President Idi Amin.
warpolitics
1979⚡ Event
Journalist Bill Stewart Executed
American journalist Bill Stewart was executed by Nicaraguan Guardia forces.
politicslaw
1979⚡ Event
Jeremy Thorpe acquitted
Former British Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe was acquitted of conspiracy to murder Norman Scott. Scott had accused Thorpe of having a relationship with him.
politicslaw
1979⚡ Event
Sony Introduces the Walkman
Sony introduced the Walkman, a portable audio player that changed listening habits by offering users the ability to play one's own choice of music.
technologymusic
1979⚡ Event
Carter Authorizes Covert Aid to Mujahideen
US president Jimmy Carter signed a presidential finding authorizing covert operations to aid the mujahideen against the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
politicswar
1979⚡ Event
Aeroflot Mid-Air Collision
Two Aeroflot passenger jets collided in mid-air near Dniprodzerzhynsk, killing all 178 people on board.
disaster
1979⚡ Event
Warrenpoint Ambush and Mountbatten Assassination
During The Troubles, the IRA ambushed and killed 18 British soldiers near Warrenpoint and assassinated Lord Mountbatten on his boat at Mullaghmore.
warpolitics
1979⚡ Event
Typhoon Tip
Typhoon Tip, the largest and most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded, reached a worldwide record-low sea-level pressure. It occurred in the western Pacific Ocean.
disaster
1979⚡ Event
Air New Zealand Flight 901 Crash
Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on November 28, 1979, killing all 257 people on board.
disasterexploration
1979⚡ Event
Tellico Dam project completed
The Tellico Dam project by the Tennessee Valley Authority is completed despite a Supreme Court order to shut down.
law
1979⚡ Event
Pink Floyd's The Wall Released
The Wall, a rock opera and concept album by the English band Pink Floyd, was first released.
musicentertainmentliterature
1979⚡ Event
Tumaco earthquake and tsunami
A magnitude-8.2 earthquake struck just off the shore of Tumaco, Colombia, causing at least 300 deaths, mostly by the resulting tsunami.
disasterscience
1979⚡ Event
Assassination of Mohammad Mofatteh
Mohammad Mofatteh, an Iranian philosopher, was assassinated by the Furqan Group on December 18, 1979.
politicsreligionphilosophy
1979⚡ Event
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet government deployed troops in Afghanistan, starting the Soviet–Afghan War.
warpolitics
Deaths in 1979(1)
1979🕊️ Death
Death of Blair Peach
Blair Peach, a New Zealand teacher, was fatally injured during a demonstration against a National Front election meeting in London.
politicslaw
Dates in 1979
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 1979?
- The DayFacts collection currently has 25 entries from 1979: 24 events, 0 births, and 1 deaths.
- Which events from 1979 are included?
- Examples currently recorded for 1979 include: Vietnamese forces capture Phnom Penh, Tanzanian forces attack Mutukula, Varig Flight 967 disappears.