April 1961

Tuesday 11:

Bob Dylan makes his singing début in New York City

Wednesday 12:

Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to fly in space.

Monday 17:

Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of CIA-financed and -trained Cuban refugees lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.

Tuesday 18:

CONCP is founded in Casablanca as a united front of African movements opposing Portuguese colonial rule.

Wednesday 19:

The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba ends in failure.

Monday 24:

The 17th century Swedish ship Vasa is salvaged.

Thursday 27:

Sierra Leone is granted its independence from the United Kingdom, with Milton Margai as the first Prime Minister.