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Major Events of May 1987: 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 1987 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of May 1987: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 1987 Pope John Paul II Beatifies Edith Stein: Pope John Paul II officially beatified Edith Stein, a remarkable Jewish-born Carmelite nun who was tragically murdered in the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Her beatification recognized her profound spiritual journey and martyrdom, symbolizing resilience and faith in the face of extreme persecution.
  • 02 May 1987 113th Kentucky Derby: Alysheba's Victory: Chris McCarron rode Alysheba to a remarkable victory in the 113th Kentucky Derby, completing the race in an impressive time of 2:03.4, showcasing exceptional horse racing skill and strategy.
  • 03 May 1987 NASCAR Safety Innovation After Bobby Allison's Crash: A significant crash by Bobby Allison at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, where he hit the fencing at the start-finish line, prompted NASCAR to develop the restrictor plate for safety purposes. This innovation would be implemented at both Daytona International Speedway and Talladega in the following season.
  • 04 May 1987 Cesc Fàbregas Birth: Cesc Fàbregas, a prominent Spanish footballer, was born on May 4, 1987. He is known for his exceptional midfield skills and has played for top clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea, representing both Spain's national team and various prestigious club teams.
  • 05 May 1987 Iran-Contra Congressional Hearings Begin: The United States Congress initiates televised hearings into the Iran-Contra affair, a significant political scandal involving secret arms sales to Iran and illegal funding of Nicaraguan Contras.
  • 06 May 1987 Gary Hart Affair Controversy: U.S. presidential candidate Gary Hart publicly denied allegations of an extramarital affair with model Donna Rice, a scandal that would ultimately derail his 1988 presidential campaign.
  • 07 May 1987 Shelley Long Departs 'Cheers': Actress Shelley Long aired her final episode as Diane Chambers in the iconic TV comedy 'Cheers', marking a significant moment in 1980s television history.
  • 08 May 1987 Loughgall Ambush: SAS Operation in Northern Ireland: On May 8, 1987, a significant counterterrorism operation occurred in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, where a 24-man Special Air Service (SAS) unit ambushed a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit planning an attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) barracks. In a highly coordinated military action, all eight IRA volunteers and one civilian were killed during the confrontation.
  • 09 May 1987 LOT Polish Airlines Flight 5055 Crash: A Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-62 airliner, operated by LOT Polish Airlines, crashed near the Kabacki forest in Warsaw, Poland, resulting in a tragic loss of all 183 passengers and crew on board. The aircraft, named 'Tadeusz Kosciuszko', experienced a catastrophic failure shortly after takeoff, marking one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Polish history.
  • 10 May 1987 Klaus Barbie War Crimes Trial Begins: The trial of Klaus Barbie, a notorious former Gestapo commandant, commenced in France. Barbie, known as the 'Butcher of Lyon', was charged with war crimes committed during World War II, including the deportation of Jews and the torture of resistance fighters.
  • 11 May 1987 First Heart-Lung Transplant in Medical History: Dr. Bruce Reitz of Stanford University School of Medicine successfully performed the first heart-lung transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. This groundbreaking surgical procedure represented a major milestone in medical science and organ transplantation techniques.
  • 12 May 1987 U2's 'With Or Without You' Tops US Charts: U2's iconic song 'With Or Without You' from their critically acclaimed album 'The Joshua Tree' reached number 1 on the US Billboard charts, marking a significant moment in the band's international success.
  • 13 May 1987 Ajax Wins European Cup Winners' Cup: Ajax, the renowned Dutch football club, secured their 27th European Cup Winners' Cup victory on May 13, 1987. This triumph represented another significant milestone in the club's illustrious European football history, showcasing their continued dominance in international competitions.
  • 14 May 1987 Gutenberg Bible Auction: A rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the world's first major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type, is sold at auction in New York City for an impressive $4.9 million, highlighting its immense historical and cultural significance.
  • 15 May 1987 Soviet Union Launches Polyus Orbital Weapons Platform: The Soviet Union attempted to launch the Polyus prototype orbital weapons platform, which ultimately failed to reach orbit. This was a significant moment in the Cold War-era space and military technology development.
  • 16 May 1987 113th Preakness Stakes: Chris McCarron rode Alysheba to victory in the 113th Preakness Stakes, completing the race in an impressive time of 1:55.8.
  • 17 May 1987 Hashimpura Massacre: The Hashimpura massacre occurred in Meerut, India, a tragic event involving extrajudicial killings that highlighted communal tensions and human rights violations.
  • 18 May 1987 Birth of Luisana Lopilato: Luisana Lopilato, a prominent Argentine actress and singer, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She would later gain international recognition for her roles in television and music, becoming a notable figure in Latin American entertainment.
  • 19 May 1987 40th Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Award: The prestigious 40th Cannes Film Festival concluded with Maurice Pialat's 'Sous le soleil de Satan' winning the coveted Palme d'Or, marking a significant moment in international cinema.
  • 20 May 1987 Göteborg Wins UEFA Cup in Dundee: Swedish football club Göteborg wins the 16th UEFA Cup in a match held in Dundee, Scotland, marking a significant achievement in European club football.
  • 21 May 1987 Fiji Military Coup: Lieutenant Colonel Sitivani Rabuka led a military coup in the Fiji Islands, marking a significant political disruption in the Pacific region.
  • 22 May 1987 Hashimpura Massacre: The Hashimpura massacre occurs in Meerut, India, where members of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) extrajudicially killed Muslim civilians during communal tensions, representing a dark moment in Indian civil rights history.
  • 23 May 1987 Doobie Brothers Charity Concert in Los Angeles: Twelve former members of the legendary rock band Doobie Brothers came together for a remarkable charity concert in Los Angeles. The reunion performance not only showcased their musical solidarity but also demonstrated their commitment to social causes by raising an impressive $360,000 for charitable purposes. This event highlighted the band's enduring legacy and their ability to unite for a meaningful cause.
  • 24 May 1987 U2's 'With Or Without You' Tops US Charts: U2's iconic song 'With Or Without You' from their critically acclaimed album 'The Joshua Tree' was the number 1 song in the United States on this date, representing a significant moment in 1980s rock music.
  • 25 May 1987 Polish Jetliner Crash in Warsaw: On May 25, 1987, a Polish jetliner crashed in Warsaw, resulting in a tragic loss of 183 lives. The accident was one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Polish history, highlighting the significant safety challenges in civil aviation during the late 1980s.
  • 26 May 1987 US Supreme Court Bail Ruling: The United States Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling allowing courts to detain potentially dangerous defendants without bail, significantly impacting criminal justice procedures and defendant rights.
  • 27 May 1987 FC Porto Wins European Cup: FC Porto of Portugal won its first European Cup (now UEFA Champions League) by defeating Bayern München of West Germany 2-1 in a thrilling match at Vienna's Prater Stadion, marking a historic moment for Portuguese football.
  • 28 May 1987 Mathias Rust's Daring Flight into Moscow: A 19-year-old German pilot, Mathias Rust, dramatically flew a small private plane through Soviet air defenses and landed directly in Moscow's Red Square, creating an international incident. He was immediately detained by Soviet authorities and held until August 3, 1988, in an event that symbolized the growing cracks in Soviet military security during the late Cold War period.
  • 29 May 1987 John Landis Acquitted in Twilight Zone Tragedy: Director John Landis was found not guilty in the legal proceedings related to the tragic helicopter accident that resulted in the deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two child actors during the filming of the Twilight Zone movie.
  • 30 May 1987 West German Pilot's Daring Landing in Moscow: Eighteen-year-old West German pilot Mathias Rust dramatically landed his small Cessna aircraft on Red Square in Moscow, bypassing Soviet air defense systems. This audacious act was a symbolic challenge to Cold War tensions and Soviet military preparedness, causing significant political embarrassment for the Soviet leadership.
  • 31 May 1987 Edmonton Oilers Win Stanley Cup: The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4 games to 3 in the Stanley Cup Finals, clinching the championship at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. This victory marked another significant moment in the Oilers' dynasty of the 1980s.