1978 - What happened in 1978 ?

January 1978

Sunday 01:

Air India Flight 855 Boeing 747 explodes and crashes into the sea off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.

Friday 06:

The Hungarian Holy crown (also known as Stephen_I_of_Hungary crown) returned to Hungary from the United_States, where was held after the WW_II.

Wednesday 18:

The European Court of Human Rights finds the United Kingdom government guilty of mistreating prisoners in Northern Ireland, but not guilty of torture.

Monday 23:

Sweden becomes the first nation to ban aerosol sprays that are thought to damage earth's protective ozone layer.

Friday 27:

Lt Marilyn R. Koon, 161st Aerial Refueling Squadron, Arizona Air National Guard, becomes first female Air National Guard Pilot.

February 1978

Wednesday 01:

Director Roman Polanski skips bail and flees to France after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Sunday 05:

The Blizzard of 1978, one of the worst Nor'easters ever to hit New England, forms.

Wednesday 08:

Proceedings of the United States Senate are broadcasted on radio for the first time.

Monday 13:

Hilton bombing: a bomb explodes in a refuse truck outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia, killing two refuse collectors and a policeman.

Thursday 16:

The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago, Illinois).

March 1978

Saturday 11:

Nine Palestinian Al Fatah guerillas hijack a bus in Israel, killing 34 civilians and wounding 70 before being killed by security forces. The Israelis retaliate by invading southern Lebanon three days later, under codename Operation Litani.

Thursday 16:

Aldo Moro is kidnapped by left-wing urban guerrillas in Italy and is later killed by his captors.

Sunday 19:

UN Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 were passed, calling upon Israel immediately to cease its military action and withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory (Operation Litani), and established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Wednesday 22:

Karl Wallenda of the Flying Wallendas dies after falling off a tight-rope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Thursday 23:

The first UNIFIL troops arrived in Lebanon for peacekeeping mission along the Blue Line.

April 1978

Wednesday 19:

Lagumot Harris is elected President of Nauru.

Thursday 20:

Korean Air Flight 902 shot down by Soviets.

Saturday 22:

The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live.

Friday 28:

President of Afghanistan Mohammed Daoud Khan is overthrown and assassinated in a coup led by pro-communist rebels.

May 1978

Friday 05:

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds hits his 3000th major league hit.

Friday 12:

In Zaire, rebels occupy the city of Kolwezi, the mining center of the province of Shaba. The government of Zaire asks the U.S., France and Belgium to restore order.

Sunday 14:

First round of the presidential elections in Upper Volta.

Friday 26:

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, Resorts International, the first legal casino in the eastern United States, opens.

Sunday 28:

Second round of the presidential elections in Upper Volta. Elections wonm by incumbent Sangoulé Lamizana.

June 1978

Thursday 01:

The first international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty are filed.

Friday 09:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens the priesthood to "all worthy men,"ending a 148-year-old policy excluding black men.

Thursday 15:

King Hussein of Jordan marries 26-year-old Lisa Halaby.

Monday 19:

First appearance of the comic strip Garfield.

Friday 30:

Willie McCovey becomes the 12th member of the 500 home run club with a home run at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

July 1978

Friday 07:

The Solomon Islands become independent from the United Kingdom.

Monday 10:

ABC News World News Tonight premieres.

Thursday 13:

Ford Motor Company President Lee Iacocca is fired by chairman Henry Ford II, ending a long dispute between the men.

Tuesday 25:

The first so-called test-tube baby, Louise Brown, is born.

August 1978

Tuesday 08:

Odie makes his first appearance in the cartoon strip Garfield

Tuesday 15:

The City of Peace and Future Man

Thursday 17:

Double Eagle II becomes first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it lands in Miserey near Paris, 137 hours after leaving Presque Isle, Maine.

Saturday 26:

Sigmund Jähn becomes first German cosmonaut on board of the Soyuz 31 spacecraft.

Thursday 31:

William and Emily Harris, founders of the Symbionese Liberation Army, plead guilty to the 1974 kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst.

September 1978

Tuesday 05:

Camp David Accords: Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat begin peace process at Camp David, Maryland.

Friday 15:

Muhammad Ali beats Leon Spinks for the world heavyweight boxing title.

Sunday 17:

The Camp David Accords were signed by Israel and Egypt.

Tuesday 19:

Newspaper boy Carl Bridgewater is shot dead after disturbing burglars at a farm, leading to famous murder trial.

Monday 25:

PSA Flight 182, a Boeing 727, collides in mid-air with a Cessna 172 and crashes in San Diego, California, resulting in the deaths of 144 people.

October 1978

Friday 06:

Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad and Benny Andersson, members of the Swedish pop group ABBA, are married.

Sunday 08:

Australia's Ken Warby sets the current world water speed record of 317.60mph at Blowering Dam, Australia.

Tuesday 10:

US President Jimmy Carter signs a bill into law that authorizes the minting of the Susan B. Anthony dollar.

Monday 16:

Karol Józef Wojtyła becomes Pope John Paul II

Thursday 26:

Independent Counsel Act signed into law

November 1978

Friday 03:

1978 The sitcom Diff'rent Strokes premieres on NBC.

Saturday 11:

A renovated Hollywood Sign is unveiled, replacing the older version that was built in 1923.

Wednesday 15:

A chartered DC-8 crashes near Colombo, Sri Lanka, killing 183.

Saturday 18:

Jonestown mass suicide: In Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones leads his People's Temple in a mass murder-suicide; 913 die, including 276 children.

Monday 27:

In San Francisco, California, city mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk are assassinated by former supervisor Dan White.

December 1978

Tuesday 05:

The Soviet Union signs a 'friendship treaty' with the communist government of Afghanistan.

Wednesday 06:

Spain approves its latest constitution in a referendum.

Wednesday 13:

The first Susan B. Anthony dollar enters circulation

Sunday 17:

The Workers Party of Jamaica is founded by Trevor Munroe.

Tuesday 19:

John Wayne Gacy is arrested for the killings of 33 boys and young men