What happened in May 1981?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1981, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1🚄 Swiss Complete Long Tunnel – The world's longest narrow-gauge tunnel, a 9.5-mile stretch beneath the Furka pass, was completed after eight years of drilling.
- May 2🏥 Heart-Lung Transplant – A Binghamton man underwent a heart-lung transplant at Stanford University Medical Center, marking the fifth such operation performed.
- May 3🏇 Pleasant Colony Wins Derby – Pleasant Colony triumphed in the 107th Kentucky Derby, securing victory at Churchill Downs after a strong performance.
- May 4🐼 Pandas' Mating Chances Dim – Chia-Chia and Ling-Ling, two giant pandas at the National Zoo, failed to mate after 90 minutes and are unlikely to meet again.
- May 5🚢 U.S. Ship Saves Refugees – A U.S. Navy vessel rescued 55 Vietnamese refugees from boats in the South China Sea, bringing them to safety in Hong Kong.
- May 6❤️ Artificial Heart Success – An artificial heart implanted in a brain-dead patient sustained body functions for two hours before removal, marking a significant medical milestone.
- May 7🌧️ 40 Killed in Storm – A severe rainstorm in the Persian Gulf killed 40 people, including 33 in Oman, described as the worst in living memory.
- May 8✈️ 30 Die in Plane Crash – An Argentine jetliner crashed into the Rio de la Plata after two failed landing attempts, killing all 30 aboard.
- May 9🏛️ Swedish Government Resigns – Sweden's coalition government led by Prime Minister Thorbjorn Falldin fell due to disputes over income tax rate reductions.
- May 10🌍 Gandhi's Confidence Vote – Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government won a crucial vote of confidence, marking a significant moment in Indian politics.
- May 11🇫🇷 Socialist Victory in France – Francois Mitterrand elected President of France, marking a significant political shift after 23 years of conservative rule.
- May 12🌾 Record Wheat Harvest – The Agriculture Department estimates the 1981 winter wheat harvest at a record 2.08 billion bushels, a 10% increase from last year's harvest.
- May 13💰 Gold Strike Estimate Increased – Homestake Mining Company announced its gold find in California is three times larger than previously estimated.
- May 14🙏 Pope Shot in Vatican – Pope John Paul II was shot and seriously wounded while greeting worshipers in St. Peter's Square, prompting global shock and prayers for his recovery.
- May 15🕊️ Pope's Assassination Attempt – Pope John Paul II underwent surgery after being shot in an assassination attempt, with his condition critical but stable.
- May 16🚀 Rumanian Astronaut Docks – Rumanian astronaut docks Soyuz 40 with an orbiting space station, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- May 17🌋 Mount St. Helens Erupts – A year after the eruption, Mount St. Helens remains a devastated landscape, resembling the moon's surface.
- May 18🕊️ Pope's Recovery Progress – Pope John Paul II shows signs of recovery and is expected to be moved from intensive care to a private room soon.
- May 19🏛️ Pope's Health Update – Pope John Paul II has been moved out of intensive care following surgery, but doctors remain cautious about his recovery.
- May 20🚀 Astronauts Salute Columbia – Famous astronauts joined President Reagan to honor the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, celebrating their achievement for the American spirit.
- May 21🕊️ Egypt Reports Peace Accord – Egypt's Foreign Minister announced an agreement on a multinational force to patrol Sinai after Israel's withdrawal.
- May 22🎨 Picasso Painting Auctioned – A Pablo Picasso 'Self Portrait: Yo' sold for $5.3 million, setting a record for the highest price paid for a Picasso at auction.
- May 23🏆 Islanders Win Stanley Cup – The New York Islanders celebrated their second consecutive NHL championship with a parade attended by 30,000 fans after defeating the Minnesota North Stars.
- May 24🎭 Pope's Recovery Progress – Pope John Paul II is recovering well from an assassination attempt, with doctors optimistic about his full recovery in 60 days.
- May 25🏁 Bobby Unser Wins Indy 500 – Bobby Unser claimed victory at the Indianapolis 500, a race marked by crashes and fires, reigniting concerns over safety.
- May 26🌊 Texas Floods Devastate Area – Flash floods in Texas's capital resulted in 10 deaths and 8 missing, causing widespread destruction likened to a week of hurricanes.
- May 27🚀 Soviet Space Mission Ends – Two Soviet astronauts successfully concluded their mission aboard the Soyuz-T 4 spacecraft, marking the end of the Salyut 6 space station program.
- May 28⚽ Liverpool Wins Cup – Liverpool triumphed 1-0 over Real Madrid in the European Cup final, with Alan Kennedy scoring the decisive goal.
- May 29📚 Timerman's Cause Supported – Jacobo Timerman, author of 'Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number,' receives personal support from Robert L. Bernstein of Random House.
- May 30🎨 Record U.S. Impressionist – William Merritt Chase's 'Gravesend Bay' sold for $820,000, setting an auction record for American Impressionist art.
- May 31⚖️ Bangladesh Leader Assassinated – President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh was shot and killed in Chittagong, leading to a state of emergency and a power struggle.
Happy Birthday! 1981 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1981 in real headlines. See the 1981 book →