October 1983

Tuesday 04:

Richard Noble sets a new land speed record of 633.468 mph, driving Thrust 2 at the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, United States.

Wednesday 12:

Japan's ex Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei is found guilty of taking a $2 million bribe from Lockheed and is sentenced to 4 years in jail

Thursday 13:

Ameritech Mobile Communications (now Cingular) launched the first US cellular network in Chicago.

Wednesday 19:

Maurice Bishop, Prime Minister of Grenada, is overthrown and executed in a military coup d'état led by Bernard Coard.

Sunday 23:

Lebanon Civil War: U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut hit by truck bomb, killing 241 US Servicemen. French barracks also hit the same morning, killing 58. The US responds by withdrawing its troops from the region.

Tuesday 25:

Operation Urgent Fury: The United States and Caribbean allies invade Grenada, six days after Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several of his supporters were executed in a coup d'état.

Sunday 30:

The first democratic elections in Argentina after seven years of military rule are held.