previous year1969
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
1980next year

Major Events of February 1970: 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 February 1970 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of February 1970: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1970 Argentina's Worst Railroad Disaster: A catastrophic train collision near Buenos Aires, Argentina resulted in 236 fatalities and 360 injuries. The high-speed luxury train 'La Mixta' collided with a stalled commuter train 25 miles north of Buenos Aires. The accident occurred due to a lack of warning signals, with the luxury train traveling at 65 miles per hour and striking a crowded commuter train with approximately 1,000 passengers.
  • 02 Feb 1970 Pete Maravich becomes first to score 3,000 college basketball points.
  • 04 Feb 1970 Patton Film Premiere: The critically acclaimed war film 'Patton', directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring George C. Scott, premiered in New York, later winning multiple Academy Awards.
  • 05 Feb 1970 United States Conducts Nuclear Test: The United States performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site, continuing its Cold War-era nuclear weapons development and testing program.
  • 06 Feb 1970 Graeme Pollock completes 274 versus Australia at Durban.
  • 07 Feb 1970 Poet Louise Bogan Passes Away: Louise Bogan, a distinguished American poet and former United States Poet Laureate (1945-1946), died at the age of 72, leaving behind a significant literary legacy.
  • 08 Feb 1970 Nova Scotia Oil Spill Disaster: On February 8, 1970, the SS Arrow oil tanker catastrophically broke apart off the coast of Nova Scotia, causing a massive petroleum spill that contaminated approximately 300 kilometers of coastline. This environmental disaster had significant ecological and economic impacts on the region's marine ecosystem and local communities.
  • 09 Feb 1970 Glenn McGrath: Australian Cricket Legend: Glenn McGrath, a renowned Australian fast bowler, emerged as one of the most successful and iconic cricket players representing New South Wales and the Australian national team. His exceptional bowling skills and career spanning from 1993 onwards significantly contributed to Australian cricket's global reputation.
  • 10 Feb 1970 Munich-Riem Airport Terrorist Attack: A terrorist attack occurred at Munich-Riem Airport targeting an El Al flight to London. Terrorists launched a violent assault, firing weapons and throwing explosive devices at passengers and security personnel during check-in. Arie Katzenstein, a heroic passenger, sacrificed his life to protect others, while nine individuals were injured in the incident.
  • 11 Feb 1970 Japan Launches First Satellite Ōsumi: Japan successfully launched the Ōsumi satellite using a Lambda-4 rocket, becoming the fourth nation in the world to independently place a satellite into orbit. This milestone marked a significant achievement in Japan's space exploration and technological capabilities.
  • 12 Feb 1970 Pathet Lao Attacks in Laos Escalate Vietnam War Tensions: Communist Pathet Lao guerrillas launched attacks on Laotian Army units in the 'Plain of Jars' within the Xiangkhoang Plateau. This prompted Laotian Prime Minister Prince Souvanna Phouma to request U.S. aid. In response, the United States escalated its involvement in the Vietnam War by deploying three B-52 bombers to strike Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese Army troops in Laos.
  • 13 Feb 1970 Black Sabbath Debut Album Release: Black Sabbath releases their self-titled debut album, which is widely considered a groundbreaking moment in the history of heavy metal music, fundamentally defining the genre's sound and aesthetic.
  • 14 Feb 1970 MacDonald Family Massacre: Jeffrey R. MacDonald murders his wife and children at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, falsely claiming that 'hippies' were responsible for the brutal crime. This shocking case would later become a subject of extensive legal and forensic investigation.
  • 15 Feb 1970 Dominicana Airlines DC-9 Crash in Caribbean Sea: A tragic aviation disaster occurred when a Dominicana Airlines DC-9 crashed into the Caribbean Sea shortly after takeoff from Santo Domingo, resulting in the death of all 102 passengers and crew. The crash was caused by catastrophic engine failures, later determined to be due to water contamination in the aviation fuel. Notable victims included the entire Puerto Rican women's volleyball team and Carlos Cruz, the first Dominican world champion boxer.
  • 16 Feb 1970 Joe Frazier Wins Undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Championship: Joe Frazier defeated Jimmy Ellis in a decisive boxing match, knocking him out in the fifth round to claim the undisputed heavyweight boxing crown. This victory solidified Frazier's status as one of the most dominant boxers of his era.
  • 17 Feb 1970 Jeffrey R. MacDonald Murder Charges: United States Army captain Jeffrey R. MacDonald was formally charged with the murder of his pregnant wife and two daughters in a shocking case of domestic violence that would become a notorious criminal investigation.
  • 18 Feb 1970 Chicago Eight Trial Verdict: A landmark legal case where the Chicago Eight (later known as the Chicago Seven) were found not guilty of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic Party national convention. While they were acquitted of the conspiracy charges, five defendants were found guilty of crossing state lines to incite a riot.
  • 19 Feb 1970 USSR Launches Satellites: The Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik 52 and the Molniya 1-13 communications satellite, continuing their space exploration and telecommunications technological advancements during the Cold War era.
  • 20 Feb 1970 Georgia Legislature Reaffirms Historical Stance Against Ratification: On February 20, 1970, the Georgia state legislature reiterated its historical opposition to a previous legislative matter, echoing its earlier vote against ratification from July 24, 1919. This event underscores the state's consistent political positioning and potential resistance to national legislative changes.
  • 21 Feb 1970 Jackson 5 Television Debut: The Jackson 5, featuring young Michael Jackson, made their groundbreaking television debut on 'American Bandstand', launching their path to becoming one of the most iconic musical groups in pop culture history.
  • 22 Feb 1970 Guyana Becomes a Republic: On February 22, 1970, Guyana officially transitioned from a British colony to a sovereign republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, marking a significant milestone in its post-colonial history. This event symbolized Guyana's political independence and self-governance after years of British colonial rule.
  • 23 Feb 1970 Holy Eucharist given by women for first time in Roman Catholic service.
  • 24 Feb 1970 49th Street Elementary School Shooting: Tyrone Mitchell commits a tragic school shooting in Los Angeles, killing two children and injuring 12 more, marking an early and horrific instance of school violence in the United States.
  • 25 Feb 1970 Death of Mark Rothko: Mark Rothko, a prominent Latvian-American abstract expressionist painter known for his color field paintings, passed away on February 25, 1970. Rothko was a pivotal figure in the mid-20th century art world, whose work profoundly influenced modern art and abstract expressionism.
  • 26 Feb 1970 National Public Radio Incorporation: National Public Radio (NPR) officially incorporates as a non-profit media organization, marking a significant milestone in American public broadcasting history.
  • 27 Feb 1970 American Indian Movement Occupies Wounded Knee: Members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) strategically occupied a trading post and church in Wounded Knee, South Dakota, a historically significant site of the 1890 Sioux Massacre. This protest was designed to draw national attention to ongoing Native American grievances, systemic oppression, and unresolved historical injustices.
  • 28 Feb 1970 Caroline Walker's Marathon Record: Caroline Walker set a remarkable world record for female marathoners, completing the race in an impressive time of 3 hours, 2 minutes, and 53 seconds, highlighting women's growing achievements in long-distance running.