What happened in May 1982?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1982, 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🔥 Hotel Fire Tragedy – A deadly hotel fire in Hoboken claimed 16 lives, including seven children, with officials suspecting arson as the cause.
- May 2🚀 Challenger Launch Planned – NASA plans for the space shuttle Challenger to lift off from Cape Canaveral, marking America's seventh shuttle flight.
- May 3🌍 U.N. Environmental Parley – United Nations members will gather in Nairobi to re-examine the state of the world's environment and plan future actions.
- May 4🌍 Argentina Cruiser Sinks – Argentina reported that its cruiser sank after being torpedoed by a British submarine, with 123 survivors rescued from 1,042 aboard.
- May 5🏔️ Russians Climb Everest – Eduard Myslovsky and Vladimir Balyberdin became the first Russians to reach the summit of Mount Everest, staying for 30 minutes before descending.
- May 6🌊 Soviet Compensates Sweden – The Soviet Union agreed to pay compensation for a submarine incident near Sweden's Karlskrona naval base last October.
- May 7🌋 Java Volcano Erupts – The Galunggung volcano in West Java erupted for the fifth time since April 4, spewing lava and smoke, darkening skies 70 miles away.
- May 8🏛️ Mitterrand to Visit Britain – French President Francois Mitterrand will visit Britain on May 17 for talks with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ahead of the Versailles economic meeting.
- May 9🏎️ Villeneuve Fatally Injured – Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve suffered fatal injuries in a crash during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.
- May 10🏆 Watson Wins Belgian GP – John Watson of Britain won the Belgian Grand Prix, concluding an emotional weekend of Formula One racing.
- May 11🌍 U.N. Ecology Conference – The second United Nations conference on the global environment opened amid concerns about ecological crises worldwide.
- May 12🔬 Undersea Artifacts Found – Archaeologists recovered five tons of artifacts, including cannons and an anchor, from a 16th-century shipwreck in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- May 13❤️ Artificial Heart Success – An artificial heart sustained normal bodily functions for 42 hours in a patient considered brain dead, marking a medical milestone.
- May 14🌪️ Tornadoes and Floods – Tornadoes and heavy rains struck the Southwest, displacing hundreds in Texas and Oklahoma, with one fatality reported.
- May 15🌍 World Trade Outlook – The International Monetary Fund forecasts a 2% growth in world trade volume for 1982, following a year of stagnation.
- May 16🚀 Soviet Space Lab Activated – Soviet astronauts activated systems aboard the new Salyut-7 space station, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- May 17🌍 Yugoslav Parliament Elects – Milka Planinc becomes Yugoslavia's first female Prime Minister, marking a significant milestone in the country's political history.
- May 18🌍 Falkland Crisis Talks Resume – Negotiations to resolve the Falkland Islands conflict resumed today, showing signs of flexibility in the British position.
- May 19🗽 Statue Restoration Fund – President Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to lead a $100 million campaign to restore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
- May 20🔬 CAT Scan Limitations – Studies show CAT scans cannot diagnose schizophrenia, presented at the American Psychiatric Association meeting in Toronto.
- May 21🌍 Gandhi's Party Wins – Indira Gandhi's Congress Party and allies achieved a significant victory over leftist challengers in Kerala's State Legislature elections.
- May 22🌍 Mitterrand Visits Ivory Coast – French President Francois Mitterrand began a three-day visit to Ivory Coast as part of his first African tour since taking office.
- May 23🐋 Whale Washes Ashore – A 24-foot Minke whale, the first of its species seen in Long Island Sound in 40 years, washed ashore, exciting marine experts.
- May 24🌋 Two Volcanoes Discovered – Two active volcanoes found in Antarctica, increasing the total known on the continent to five, with recent eruptions affecting the Larsen Ice Shelf.
- May 25🚀 Cargo Ship Links Salyut – A cargo spaceship is set to link up with the Soviet Union's Salyut 7 space platform, delivering supplies to cosmonauts aboard.
- May 26🎭 Theater Row Completed – Forty-second Street's $9 million Theater Row officially opened, transforming derelict buildings into theaters and businesses.
- May 27🏆 Aston Villa Wins Cup – Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions Cup final, thanks to a goal by Peter Withe.
- May 28🎉 Sequoia Returns to Service – The Presidential yacht Sequoia has been refurbished and returned to service, ready for official functions and receptions.
- May 29🕊️ Pope Visits Britain – Pope John Paul II began a historic six-day visit to Britain, appealing for peace in the Falklands conflict.
- May 30🌪️ Tornadoes Kill 10 – At least 10 people were killed and over 100 injured when tornadoes struck three southern Illinois counties.
- May 31🏁 Johncock Wins Indy 500 – Johncock triumphed in a thrilling Indy 500 race, showcasing a dramatic wheel-to-wheel chase after a delayed start.
Happy Birthday! 1982 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1982 in real headlines. See the 1982 book →