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

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

  • 01 Jun 1985 Battle of the Beanfield: A significant confrontation occurred between Wiltshire Police and New Age travellers attempting to set up the 1985 Stonehenge Free Festival. Approximately 1,300 police officers prevented around 600 travellers from establishing the festival, enforcing a High Court injunction. This event became a symbolic moment of tension between alternative lifestyle groups and British authorities.
  • 02 Jun 1985 Serial Killer Leonard Lake Arrested: Leonard Lake, a notorious serial killer, is apprehended near San Francisco, California after being caught shoplifting, marking a significant breakthrough in law enforcement efforts.
  • 03 Jun 1985 First World Bicycle Day: The United Nations officially designated June 3 as World Bicycle Day, promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation.
  • 04 Jun 1985 Supreme Court Moment of Silence Ruling: The US Supreme Court struck down Alabama's 'moment of silence' law, reinforcing the constitutional separation of church and state by ruling that mandatory moments of silence in public schools were unconstitutional.
  • 05 Jun 1985 Steve Cauthen Wins The Derby: Steve Cauthen rode Slip Anchor to victory at the Epsom Downs, becoming the first and only jockey to win both the Kentucky Derby (1978) and The Derby (UK), showcasing his exceptional international horse racing prowess.
  • 06 Jun 1985 Josef Mengele's Remains Exhumed: The remains of Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi war criminal known as the 'Angel of Death' for his horrific medical experiments at Auschwitz, are exhumed from a grave in Brazil to confirm his identity and final fate.
  • 07 Jun 1985 Tears For Fears Top Billboard Chart: On June 7, 1985, the iconic song "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears For Fears was the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track, from their album 'Songs from the Big Chair', represented the band's peak commercial success during the mid-1980s new wave and pop rock era.
  • 08 Jun 1985 French Open Women's Tennis Final: In the French Open Women's Tennis Championship, Chris Evert defeated Martina Navratilova in a highly anticipated match, adding another chapter to their legendary rivalry.
  • 09 Jun 1985 Thomas Sutherland Kidnapped in Lebanon: American academic Thomas Sutherland was kidnapped in Lebanon by militant groups, beginning a harrowing six-year hostage ordeal that would highlight the complex geopolitical tensions in the Middle East during the 1980s.
  • 10 Jun 1985 Coca-Cola Announces Return to Original Formula: The Coca-Cola Company made a landmark announcement to revert to their original 99-year-old formula, responding to consumer backlash following the controversial 'New Coke' introduction in April 1985. This decision would later be known as the return of 'Coca-Cola Classic'.
  • 11 Jun 1985 Soviet Space Probe Lands on Venus: The Soviet space probe Vega 1 successfully landed on Venus, marking a significant milestone in planetary exploration and Soviet space technology during the Cold War era.
  • 12 Jun 1985 Death of Hua Luogeng, Prominent Chinese Mathematician: Hua Luogeng, a significant Chinese mathematician who made substantial contributions to number theory and mathematical research, passed away. Born in 1910, he was a key figure in advancing mathematical sciences in China during the mid-20th century.
  • 13 Jun 1985 Live Aid Benefit Concerts: The historic Live Aid benefit concerts held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia raised over £50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. Organized by Bob Geldof, these concerts featured numerous global music icons and represented a landmark moment in humanitarian fundraising and global awareness.
  • 14 Jun 1985 TWA Flight 847 Hijacking: Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists hijacked TWA Flight 847, marking a significant terrorist incident that highlighted international tensions and airline security vulnerabilities.
  • 15 Jun 1985 Studio Ghibli Founded: Renowned Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli was established in Tokyo, marking the beginning of a legendary animation production company that would later create world-famous films like 'My Neighbor Totoro' and 'Spirited Away'.
  • 16 Jun 1985 Andy North Wins 85th US Open Golf Championship: Andy North won the 85th US Open Men's Golf Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan, securing victory by a narrow one-stroke margin over runners-up Dave Barr, T.C. Chen, and Denis Watson. In a dramatic turn of events, T.C. Chen, who was leading by four strokes in the final round, ultimately lost the tournament.
  • 17 Jun 1985 First Arab and Muslim in Space: Space Shuttle program's STS-51-G mission launched, with Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud becoming the first Arab and first Muslim astronaut to travel to space as a payload specialist. This historic mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration and international representation in aerospace.
  • 18 Jun 1985 Fred Lynn's Historic RBI Performance: On June 18, 1985, Boston Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn achieved a remarkable feat by driving in 10 runs in a single game, which is an exceptional performance in Major League Baseball. This extraordinary achievement highlights Lynn's offensive prowess and represents one of the most impressive individual batting performances of the 1985 MLB season.
  • 19 Jun 1985 Revolutionary Party Attack in San Salvador: Members of the Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers, disguised as Salvadoran soldiers, launched an attack on the Zona Rosa area of San Salvador, escalating political tensions in El Salvador during the ongoing civil conflict.
  • 20 Jun 1985 1985 Nepal Bombings: On June 20, 1985, a coordinated series of bomb blasts struck multiple cities in Nepal, including the capital Kathmandu. These terrorist attacks caused significant disruption and raised serious concerns about national security. The bombings targeted various urban centers, creating widespread fear and uncertainty among the civilian population.
  • 21 Jun 1985 Confirmation of Josef Mengele's Death: Forensic pathologists from the United States, Germany, and Brazil officially confirmed that the skeletal remains exhumed on June 6, 1985, in Brazil were definitively those of Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor known for his horrific medical experiments during the Holocaust. This confirmation provided closure to decades of speculation about the fate of one of World War II's most infamous war criminals who had been hiding in South America.
  • 22 Jun 1985 IRA Bombing Campaign Foiled: British and Irish law enforcement successfully prevent a planned 'mainland bombing campaign' by the Provisional Irish Republican Army, which was targeting luxury vacation resorts. This operation represents a significant counter-terrorism effort during the Northern Ireland conflict.
  • 23 Jun 1985 Air India Flight 182 Terrorist Bombing: A devastating terrorist bomb was planted on Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747, which exploded at 31,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, south of Ireland. The explosion destroyed the aircraft, killing all 329 passengers and crew members. This was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in aviation history, primarily targeting Canadian citizens.
  • 24 Jun 1985 Air India Flight 182 Bombing: A terrorist bomb destroys Air India Boeing 747 flight 182 over the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland, resulting in the tragic loss of all 329 passengers and crew. This devastating terrorist attack is considered one of the deadliest aviation bombings in history.
  • 25 Jun 1985 Landmark Civil Rights Legal Victory: Tracey Thurman wins a groundbreaking civil rights case against the City of Torrington, becoming the first woman to successfully sue a police department for failing to protect her from domestic violence.
  • 26 Jun 1985 UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: The United Nations General Assembly officially established this global observance day to raise critical awareness about the societal challenges posed by illicit drugs, and to promote comprehensive strategies for preventing drug abuse and combating drug trafficking worldwide.
  • 27 Jun 1985 Route 66 Decommissioning: Route 66, the iconic highway connecting Chicago to Santa Monica, was officially decommissioned after 59 years of service. This historic road, symbolizing American mobility and freedom, was removed from the official U.S. highway system.
  • 28 Jun 1985 Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Kennedy Space Center: The Space Shuttle Discovery was ferried back to the Kennedy Space Center from Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas, completing a significant logistical transport of the spacecraft.
  • 29 Jun 1985 NASA Launches Intelsat VA Communication Satellite: NASA successfully launched the Intelsat VA communication satellite, a significant milestone in global telecommunications infrastructure. This satellite was part of the Intelsat series designed to improve international communication networks and provide enhanced satellite transmission capabilities.
  • 30 Jun 1985 TWA Flight 847 Hostage Crisis Ends: Thirty-nine American hostages from the hijacked TWA Flight 847 are freed in Beirut after being held for 17 days, marking the conclusion of a tense international hostage situation.