Major Events of May 1962: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 1962 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of May 1962: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 May 1962 JFK Authorizes Area Redevelopment Act: President John F. Kennedy signed the Area Redevelopment Act (ARA), a landmark economic policy aimed at supporting economic development in economically distressed regions of the United States, providing federal assistance for infrastructure and job creation.
02 May 1962 OAS Car Bomb Explosion in Algiers: A devastating terrorist attack by the Organization of the Secret Army (OAS) resulted in a car bomb explosion at the docks of Algiers, killing 96 people and injuring 147, marking one of the most violent incidents during the Algerian War of Independence.
03 May 1962 Mikawashima Train Disaster: A catastrophic railway accident near Mikawashima Station in Tokyo, Japan, involving three separate trains resulted in a devastating loss of life. The sequence of events began when engineer Norifumi Minakami drove a freight train through a red signal, causing a collision with a commuter train. In a horrific turn of events, as survivors from the initial crash attempted to escape, a third train plowed through the wreckage and survivors, ultimately derailing and plunging over an embankment.
04 May 1962 Diplomatic Tension Between US and Canada: U.S. Ambassador to Canada Livingston Merchant made a final diplomatic visit to Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in Ottawa. During the meeting, a tense exchange occurred regarding a memorandum from President Kennedy. Diefenbaker misinterpreted Kennedy's handwritten notes, believing they referred to him as a 'son of a bitch'. The ambassador carefully managed the potential diplomatic incident, advising against publicizing the memo.
05 May 1962 East German Tunnel Escape from Berlin Wall: Twelve East Germans successfully escape to West Berlin by using a secret tunnel underneath the Berlin Wall, demonstrating the ongoing human desire for freedom during the Cold War.
06 May 1962 First Nuclear Warhead Launched from Polaris Submarine: The USS Ethan Allen, a Polaris-class submarine, successfully fired the first nuclear warhead, demonstrating the United States' advanced nuclear submarine capabilities during the Cold War arms race.
07 May 1962 CIA-Mafia Collaboration Revelation: A shocking meeting reveals the CIA's covert attempts to collaborate with organized crime, where three agency officials met with Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to discuss a $150,000 contract offered to Mafia criminals to assassinate Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, exposing the complex and controversial Cold War-era intelligence tactics.
08 May 1962 Schindlers Honored in Jerusalem: Oskar and Emilie Schindler are officially recognized at a ceremony on the Avenue of the Righteous in Jerusalem for their heroic actions in saving 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.
09 May 1962 Beatles Sign with EMI Parlophone: The Beatles signed their first recording contract with EMI Parlophone, a pivotal moment that would launch the career of one of the most influential rock bands in music history.
10 May 1962 First Publication of The Incredible Hulk: Marvel Comics published the first issue of The Incredible Hulk, introducing the iconic muscle-bound antihero created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. This groundbreaking comic book character would go on to become one of Marvel's most recognizable and enduring superheroes.
11 May 1962 US Deploys Troops to Thailand: The United States sent troops to Thailand, likely as part of its Cold War strategy to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. This deployment was consistent with the US policy of containment during the Vietnam War era.
12 May 1962 End of Berlin Blockade: The Soviet Union officially ended the Berlin Blockade, though the Allied airlift continued until September 30, symbolizing the complex geopolitical tensions of the early Cold War period.
13 May 1962 Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Becomes President of India: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the second President of India, succeeding Rajendra Prasad. A renowned philosopher and scholar, Radhakrishnan brought significant intellectual depth to the presidential role and was known for his contributions to education and international diplomacy.
14 May 1962 US Nuclear Test at Christmas Island: The United States conducted an atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island, contributing to the ongoing Cold War nuclear arms race and testing program.
15 May 1962 US Atmospheric Nuclear Test at Christmas Island: The United States performs an atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island, continuing its nuclear weapons testing program during the height of the Cold War nuclear arms race.
16 May 1962 US Marines Deployment and Gemini Project Advancement: On May 16, 1962, a significant military and technological milestone occurred: the first 1,800 United States Marines were deployed, while simultaneously, representatives from McDonnell Aircraft and the Gemini Project Office made strategic decisions to develop more advanced spacecraft, marking an important moment in Cold War-era military and space exploration efforts.
17 May 1962 Martin Luther King Jr.'s White House Draft Submission: On May 17, 1962, which marked the eighth anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. formally presented a comprehensive 50-page draft to the White House, highlighting ongoing civil rights concerns and proposed strategies for racial equality.
18 May 1962 First Kmart Store Opens: The S. S. Kresge Company launches its first Kmart discount store, marking a significant moment in American retail history. This event would eventually lead to Kmart becoming a major discount retail chain across the United States.
19 May 1962 Ho Chi Minh Trail Organization Begins: The North Vietnamese Army initiates the organization of the Ho Chi Minh trail, a critical supply route that would play a pivotal role in the Vietnam War, running through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam.
20 May 1962 Patty Berg Wins LPGA Muskogee Civitan Golf Open: Professional golfer Patty Berg secured victory at the LPGA Muskogee Civitan Golf Open, showcasing her exceptional skill and contributing to her impressive career in women's professional golf. Berg was a pioneering figure in women's golf, helping to establish the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and inspiring future generations of female athletes.
21 May 1962 Nasser Unveils Arab Socialist Union National Charter: Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser publicly presented the 'National Charter of the Arab Socialist Union' on May 21, 1962, outlining a vision of pan-Arab socialism and unity. This significant political declaration aimed to create a unified ideological and political movement across Arab nations during the era of decolonization and emerging national identities.
22 May 1962 Raoul Salan Sentenced: Raoul Salan, founder of the French terrorist organization Organisation armée secrète (OAS), is sentenced to life imprisonment in France, marking a significant moment in the aftermath of the Algerian War.
23 May 1962 First Successful Human Limb Reattachment: A groundbreaking medical achievement occurred at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where twelve doctors successfully reattached a human arm that had been severed in an accident, marking a significant milestone in surgical techniques.
24 May 1962 Scott Carpenter's Aurora 7 Space Mission: On May 24, 1962, NASA astronaut M. Scott Carpenter launched into Earth's orbit aboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft as part of Project Mercury. During this historic mission, Carpenter became the second American to orbit the Earth, completing three full orbits in a flight lasting just under five hours. This mission was a critical milestone in the United States' early space exploration efforts during the Cold War-era Space Race.
25 May 1962 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Negotiations: The United States and the Soviet Union reach a significant diplomatic agreement to ban nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, in space, and underwater, marking a crucial step towards reducing Cold War tensions and nuclear proliferation risks.
26 May 1962 British Music Milestone in US Charts: Acker Bilk's instrumental 'Stranger On The Shore' becomes the first British recording to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant moment in transatlantic music history.
27 May 1962 Centralia Mine Fire Ignition: The Centralia mine fire was ignited in the town's landfill above a coal mine in Pennsylvania, marking the beginning of a long-lasting and devastating underground coal fire that would eventually lead to the near-total abandonment of the town.
28 May 1962 Rochester School Segregation Lawsuit: A landmark lawsuit is filed in Rochester, New York, challenging de facto school segregation, which was a critical moment in the ongoing civil rights struggle for educational equality in the United States.
29 May 1962 Algerian Armistice Negotiations: Significant negotiations between the Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS) and the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) result in a crucial armistice agreement, marking a pivotal moment in the Algerian War of Independence.
30 May 1962 Benjamin Britten's War Requiem Premiered: Benjamin Britten's powerful War Requiem was premiered during the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral, symbolically marking the rebuilding and healing process after the destruction of World War II. The composition is a profound musical statement about the horrors of war and the hope for peace.
31 May 1962 Execution of Adolf Eichmann: Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is executed by hanging at a prison in Ramla, Israel. Following his execution, his body is cremated and his ashes are scattered in the Mediterranean Sea. Eichmann was a key architect of the Holocaust and was responsible for organizing the deportation and murder of millions of Jews during World War II.