What happened in March 1975?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1975, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1🚀 Soviet Rocket Launches Satellites – The Soviet Union successfully launched eight unmanned satellites with a single carrier rocket.
- Mar 2🌍 London Subway Deaths – A subway train crash in London resulted in at least 34 deaths, with rescue efforts ongoing to recover bodies from the wreckage.
- Mar 3🔬 Genetic Engineering Advances – Scientists are developing safer microorganisms for genetic engineering to reduce laboratory hazards and improve safety protocols.
- Mar 4🌍 Ethiopia Abolishes Feudalism – Ethiopia's government abolished the feudal land-tenure system, limiting private land holdings to 10 hectares.
- Mar 5🛰️ Salyut-4 Space Station – The Soviet Union's Salyut-4 space station completed its 1,077th orbit, housing two astronauts for 30 days this year.
- Mar 6🌍 Ali Aids African Drought – Muhammad Ali skipped meals to focus on raising awareness and support for drought victims in Africa's Sahel region.
- Mar 7🌍 100,000 March in New Delhi – At least 100,000 people marched in New Delhi against the government, marking the largest protest in years.
- Mar 8🌍 International Women's Year – International Women's Year gains momentum as UN seeks to shape its goals through member governments' decisions.
- Mar 9🌍 Thousands March in Selma – Thousands of civil rights marchers commemorated a historic day in Selma, Alabama, marking ongoing struggles for liberation.
- Mar 10🚢 Drake's Voyage Re‐enacted – A replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship, the Golden Hind, anchored in San Francisco after a six-month journey from England.
- Mar 11♟️ Chess Title Play in Peril – World chess championship match between Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov faces uncertainty, says Max Euwe, president of the International Chess Federation.
- Mar 12🦖 Giant Winged Reptile Found – Fossil hunters in Texas discovered the largest known flying creature, an extinct reptile with a wingspan of 51 feet.
- Mar 13🚀 Cosmos 719 Launched – The Soviet Union launched the 719th Cosmos satellite to continue research in space, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Mar 14🧑⚕️ Siamese Twins Separated – French doctors successfully performed the world's first operation to separate Siamese twins joined at the skull.
- Mar 15🏫 School Integration Enforced – A federal judge ordered the U.S. government to expedite school desegregation in 125 districts across 16 states.
- Mar 16🎶 Berkshire Trio Concert – The Berkshire Chamber Ensemble performed a pleasant concert at Carnegie Recital Hall, featuring two local musicians and a Dutch guitarist.
- Mar 17🌍 Mariner 10 Mercury Flyby – Mariner 10 completed its third flyby of Mercury, capturing unprecedented images of the planet's surface.
- Mar 18🌍 German Spacecraft Rounds Sun – A German spacecraft named Helios made a record-breaking approach to the sun, providing detailed measurements of its surface.
- Mar 19🔬 Aspartame Sweetener Developed – A scientist at Searle Laboratories discovered aspartame, a new sweetener, after a lab accident involving ulcer therapy compounds.
- Mar 20🔬 Vaccines for Hepatitis B – Scientists developed experimental vaccines against hepatitis B, showing promise in preventing widespread liver disease.
- Mar 21🔬 Fuel-Saving Device Developed – A new electronic device is reported to significantly reduce gasoline consumption in cars, aiding energy conservation efforts.
- Mar 22🏗️ Alaska Pipeline Installation – The first pipe installation along the trans-Alaska oil pipeline route is set to begin, marking a significant step in the project.
- Mar 23🌍 U.N. Disaster Relief Program – The United Nations approved a $33-million disaster relief program to coordinate assistance for countries affected by calamities.
- Mar 24🚀 Space Vehicle Move – The Saturn-Apollo vehicle for a joint US-Soviet space mission is set to be transported to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.
- Mar 25🚀 Spacecraft Launch Prep – A Saturn rocket moved to the launching pad at Cape Canaveral, marking a significant step in space exploration efforts.
- Mar 26🕌 King Faisal Assassinated – King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was assassinated in Riyadh, causing global shock and concern over the future of the Middle East.
- Mar 27🎨 Show of Life and Art – An exhibition explores perennial questions of life and death during societal transitions, emphasizing the need for guidance.
- Mar 28🌪️ Texas Tornado Strikes – A tornado in Lefors, Texas, killed a three-year-old girl and left at least 200 people homeless, causing significant destruction in the area.
- Mar 29🌍 Pope Names Philadelphia – Pope Paul VI designates Philadelphia as the site for the Roman Catholic Church's 41st International Eucharistic Congress in 1976.
- Mar 30🛳️ Evacuation Efforts Begin – Australia sends seven Hercules transports to assist in the evacuation of refugees from Da Nang, South Vietnam amid escalating tensions.
- Mar 31🏴☠️ Hillary's Family Dies – Sir Edmund Hillary's wife and daughter were killed in an air crash in Nepal, marking a tragic loss for the famed mountaineer.
Happy Birthday! 1975 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1975 in real headlines. See the 1975 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: