May 1961 calendar

May 1961
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in May 1961.
The US president was John F. Kennedy (Democrat), the UK Prime Minister was Harold Macmillan (Conservative), Pope John XXIII was leading the Catholic Church.

But much more happened on May 1961: find out below

Historical Events

Which were the important events of May 1961?

Events

01 May 1961 1st US airplane hijacked to Cuba
03 May 1961 Warren Spahn pitches a two hitter after pitching a no hitter.
04 May 1961 1st on-the-road Spacemobile lecture given.
05 May 1961 Alan Shepard becomes first American in space (aboard Freedom 7).
06 May 1961 Omer Vanaudenhove chosen chairman of Belgium Liberal Party.
07 May 1961 Ruth Jessen wins LPGA Peach Blossom Golf Open.
08 May 1961 First practical sea water conversion plant-Freeport, Texas, USA.
09 May 1961 FCC Chairman Newton N Minow criticizes TV as a vast wasteland
10 May 1961 Beyond the Fringe, premieres in London
12 May 1961 Botvinnik wins world chess championship for third time.
14 May 1961 Bus with first group of Freedom Riders bombed and burned in Alabama, USA.
15 May 1961 Bonanza by Al Caiola Orchestra hits #19
16 May 1961 13rd Emmy Awards: Jack Benny Show, Raymond Burr and Barbara Stanwyck
17 May 1961 Fidel Castro offers to exchange Bay of Pigs prisoners for 500 bulldozers.
18 May 1961 Donnybrook! opens at 46th St. Theater NYC for 68 performances
19 May 1961 New pier opens in Scheveningen
20 May 1961 Henzes opera Elegy for Young Lovers, premieres in Schwetzingen
21 May 1961 Governor Patterson declares martial law in Montgomery, Alabama, USA.
22 May 1961 Mother-In-Law by Ernie K-Doe hits #1
24 May 1961 American civil rights movement: Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, Mississippi for ''disturbing the peace'' after disembarking from their bus.
25 May 1961 JFK sets goal of putting a man on Moon before the end of decade
26 May 1961 US Air Force bomber flies the Atlantic in a record of just over three hours.
27 May 1961 President Kennedy announces US goal to reach Moon
28 May 1961 Amnesty International founded
29 May 1961 The US Department of Agriculture officially begins its Food Stamp program.
30 May 1961 Maris hits his 10th and 11th of 61 HRs
31 May 1961 JFK visits Charles de Gaulle in Paris
05 May 1961 Project Mercury: Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into outer space, on a sub-orbital flight.