May 1969

Friday 02:

The British ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 departs on her maiden voyage to New York City.

Saturday 10:

The first "Zip to Zap" rural outdoor rock concert at Zap, North Dakota, is ended prematurely as North Dakota National Guard is ordered to disperse the unruly crowd.

Sunday 11:

Vietnam War: Operation Apache Snow – Near the Laos border, American and South Vietnamese forces fight North Vietnamese troops for Ap Bia Mountain (aka Hill 937 or "Hamburger Hill").

Tuesday 13:

Race riots in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, later known as the 13 May Incident.

Friday 16:

Venera program: Venera 5, a Soviet spaceprobe, lands on Venus.

Saturday 17:

Venera program: Soviet Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus, sending back atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure.

Sunday 18:

Apollo program: Apollo 10 launches.

Tuesday 20:

The Battle of Hamburger Hill in Vietnam ends.

Thursday 22:

Apollo 10's lunar module flies within 8.4 nautical miles (16 km) of the moon's surface.

Friday 23:

Rock band The Who release Tommy, the first rock opera.

Monday 26:

John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their second Bed-In for Peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Wednesday 28:

Sound engineer Glyn Johns mixes the second of the Beatles Bootlegs.