Major Events of August 1985: 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 August 1985 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1985: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1985 Cheyenne Flood of 1985: A devastating hailstorm struck the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, leading to catastrophic flash flooding across multiple city sectors. Crow Creek, Dry Creek, and the downtown area were inundated with rapidly rising waters from an intense storm. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Cheyenne officially measured 6.06 inches of rainfall, with some areas experiencing up to 7.87 inches within a mere 3-hour period. This unprecedented meteorological event resulted in 12 fatalities, 70 injuries, and total damages exceeding $61 million, marking it as one of Wyoming's most significant natural disasters.
02 Aug 1985 Delta Flight 191 Crash at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport: A Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-1011 TriStar crashed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport during a severe thunderstorm, resulting in 137 fatalities. The crash is considered one of the most significant aviation disasters of the 1980s, highlighting critical issues in aviation safety and weather-related flight risks.
03 Aug 1985 Deadly Train Crash in Flaujac, France: A catastrophic train collision occurred in Flaujac, France, resulting in 35 tragic fatalities. The accident highlighted significant railway safety concerns and prompted investigations into potential infrastructure or operational failures.
04 Aug 1985 Historic Day in Baseball: Seaver and Carew Reach Major Milestones: On August 4, 1985, two legendary baseball players achieved remarkable career milestones on the same day. Tom Seaver of the Chicago White Sox became the 17th pitcher to win his 300th career game, pitching a six-hit 4-1 victory at Yankee Stadium during Phil Rizzuto Day. Simultaneously, Rod Carew of the California Angels became the 16th player in MLB history to collect 3,000 career hits, achieving this feat with a bloop single to left field in a 6-5 win over the Twins.
05 Aug 1985 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Establishment Announced: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation officially announced its establishment, marking a significant moment in recognizing and preserving the cultural legacy of rock music in the United States.
06 Aug 1985 Hiroshima Atomic Bombing 40th Anniversary Commemoration: Tens of thousands gathered in Hiroshima to solemnly mark the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing, remembering the tragic event and its victims.
07 Aug 1985 Japan Selects First Astronauts: Japan announces its first group of astronauts: Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri, and Chiaki Mukai, marking a significant milestone in the country's space exploration program.
08 Aug 1985 Japan Selects First National Astronauts: On August 8, 1985, Japan made a historic stride in its space exploration efforts by selecting Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri, and Chiaki Mukai as the country's first official astronauts. This momentous decision marked Japan's serious commitment to space research and international space exploration programs.
09 Aug 1985 Aretha Franklin's R&B Hit: "Freeway Of Love" by the legendary Aretha Franklin topped the R&B music charts during the week of August 5-11, 1985, showcasing her continued musical influence and popularity in the mid-1980s.
10 Aug 1985 Michael Jackson Acquires Beatles Music Catalog: Pop icon Michael Jackson purchases ATV Music Publishing for US$47.5 million, acquiring the entire Beatles song catalog in a landmark music business transaction that would significantly impact music publishing rights.
11 Aug 1985 Space Shuttle Challenger Transportation: The Space Shuttle Challenger was transported to Kennedy Space Center, making a strategic stop at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, highlighting the complex logistics of space mission preparations.
12 Aug 1985 Japan Airlines Flight 123 Disaster: On August 12, 1985, Japan Airlines Flight 123, a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, crashed into Mount Ogura in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, resulting in the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident. Of the 524 passengers and crew on board, only four miraculously survived. The catastrophic crash was caused by a critical failure in the aircraft's rear pressure bulkhead, leading to explosive decompression and subsequent loss of hydraulic controls.
13 Aug 1985 Live Aid Concerts Global Fundraising Event: Two historic Live Aid Concerts were organized to raise critical funds for Ethiopian famine relief. The concerts simultaneously took place in Wembley Stadium, London, and John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, bringing together global musical talent to address a humanitarian crisis. This unprecedented global music event united artists and audiences worldwide in a massive charitable effort to support starving populations in Ethiopia.
14 Aug 1985 Political Violence Erupts in South Africa: Following the assassination of Victoria Mxenge, a prominent civil rights lawyer and respected activist, political violence broke out among South African youth. Mxenge's funeral became a catalyst for heightened tensions, with the Congress of South African Students playing a significant role in the emerging protests. This event marked a critical moment in the escalating resistance against apartheid, highlighting the growing frustration and militant response of younger generations to systemic oppression.
15 Aug 1985 P.W. Botha's Rubicon Speech: South African President P.W. Botha delivered a controversial speech in Durban, refusing to consider immediate and substantial reforms to the apartheid system. This speech was a pivotal moment in South African political history, signaling the government's continued resistance to meaningful change and further isolating the country on the international stage.
16 Aug 1985 Madonna Marries Sean Penn: Pop icon Madonna married actor Sean Penn in a high-profile celebrity wedding on her 27th birthday. The union between two prominent entertainment figures captured significant media attention, symbolizing the glamorous and tumultuous Hollywood romance of the mid-1980s.
17 Aug 1985 Rajiv Gandhi Announces Punjab State Elections: Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announced state elections for Punjab, a politically significant moment during a period of regional tension and potential electoral transformation in India.
18 Aug 1985 Japan Launches Suisei Probe to Study Halley's Comet: The Japanese Space Agency successfully launched the Suisei space probe as part of an international mission to study Halley's Comet. This was Japan's second probe dedicated to investigating the celestial phenomenon, demonstrating the country's growing capabilities in space exploration and scientific research.
19 Aug 1985 Japan's Suisei Halley's Comet Mission: On August 19, 1985, Japan launched the Suisei space probe as part of an international effort to study Halley's Comet during its periodic approach to Earth. The Suisei probe, whose name means 'Comet' in Japanese, was one of the first Japanese interplanetary missions and represented a significant milestone in the country's space exploration capabilities.
20 Aug 1985 Israel Facilitates US Arms Transfer to Iran: Israel shipped 96 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided) missiles to Iran on behalf of the United States, a covert arms transaction during a complex geopolitical period.
21 Aug 1985 Mary Decker Slaney Sets Mile World Record: American athlete Mary Decker Slaney set a remarkable world record in the mile, completing the distance in an impressive 4:16.71 time.
22 Aug 1985 Microsoft and IBM Strategic Partnership: A pivotal moment in computing history: Microsoft and IBM signed a joint-development agreement to collaborate on future operating systems and technological environments, setting the stage for significant advancements in personal computing.
23 Aug 1985 Dullah Omar Arrested in South Africa: On August 23, 1985, Dullah Omar, a prominent South African attorney and leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF), was arrested during the apartheid era. Omar was a key anti-apartheid activist who played a significant role in the resistance movement against racial segregation.
24 Aug 1985 NASA Space Shuttle STS 51-I Mission Scrubbed: The Space Shuttle Discovery's STS 51-I mission was postponed at T-5 minutes before launch due to unfavorable weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center. This pre-launch cancellation is a standard safety protocol to ensure crew and vehicle protection during space missions.
25 Aug 1985 Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 Tragedy: Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 crashes near Auburn, Maine, resulting in the death of all eight people on board, including the notable young peace activist and child actress Samantha Smith. The crash occurred in a devastating incident that shocked the nation and cut short the life of a promising young diplomat who had gained international recognition for her efforts to bridge Cold War tensions.
26 Aug 1985 Ryan White's Educational Rights Milestone: Ryan White, a young hemophiliac who contracted HIV and faced significant social discrimination, was allowed to attend his first day of classes via telephone after being expelled from Western High School in Indiana, marking an important moment in HIV/AIDS awareness and patient rights.
27 Aug 1985 Nigerian Military Coup of 1985: Major General Muhammadu Buhari was ousted from power in a bloodless coup d'état led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida, the Army Chief of Staff. The coup occurred while Buhari was away from Lagos and his chief aide, Major General Tunde Idiagbon, was on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, allowing for a relatively smooth transition of power.
29 Aug 1985 Space Shuttle Atlantis Prepares for 51-J Mission: The Space Shuttle Atlantis was moved to the launch pad in preparation for its 51-J mission, a significant step in NASA's space exploration program during the mid-1980s. This mission represented another milestone in the Space Shuttle program's ongoing efforts to advance space research and technology.
30 Aug 1985 Uneventful Day in Global History: On August 30, 1985, no major historical events were recorded or documented. While this day might seem unremarkable, it represents a moment of relative global stability and routine during the mid-1980s.
31 Aug 1985 Discovery of the Titanic Wreckage: A groundbreaking joint American-French expedition led by Dr. Robert Ballard (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) and Jean-Louis Michel (Ifremer) successfully locates the wreck of the RMS Titanic in the North Atlantic using advanced side-scan sonar technology from the research vessel RV Knorr. This historic discovery resolves decades of mystery surrounding the precise location of the famous shipwreck that sank in 1912.