January 6
January 6
Phuoc Binh falls to the North Vietnamese
Phuoc Binh, the capital of Phuoc Long Province, about 60 miles north of Saigon, falls to the North Vietnamese. Phuoc Binh was the first provincial capital taken by the communists…
A Year In History: 1975
This Year in History:
1975
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 6
January 6
“Wheel of Fortune” premieres
Wheel of Fortune, one of the the longest‑running syndicated game shows in American television, premieres on NBC on January 6, 1975. Created by television legend Merv Griffin and hosted since…
January 6
January 6
More than 2,000 Led Zeppelin fans trash the Boston Garden
On January 6, 1975, a freezing cold day, a crowd of 2,000‑plus lines up outside Boston Garden to buy tickets to the rock band Led Zeppelin. Some in the crowd…
January 18
January 18
“Mandy” is Barry Manilow’s first #1 pop hit
Barry Manilow’s scores his first #1 single with “Mandy” on January 18, 1975. He would go on to sell more than 75 millions records over the course of his career.…
January 27
January 27
Senate investigation of FBI and CIA activities begins
A bipartisan Senate investigation of activities by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is launched by a special congressional committee headed by Senator Frank…
January 28
January 28
Ford asks for additional aid
President Gerald Ford asks Congress for an additional $522 million in military aid for South Vietnam and Cambodia. He revealed that North Vietnam now had 289,000 troops in South Vietnam,…
February 5
February 5
North Vietnamese begin preparations for offensive
North Vietnamese Gen. Van Tien Dung departs for South Vietnam to take command of communist forces in preparation for a new offensive. In December 1974, the North Vietnamese 7th Division…
February 22
February 22
Actress Drew Barrymore born
On this day in 1975, Drew Barrymore, who will shoot to stardom as a child after appearing in “ET: The Extra‑Terrestrial” then later build a successful career as a leading…
February 28
February 28
Subway crash in London kills 43
On this day in 1975, a subway crash in London kills 43 people. The driver of the train apparently made no effort to brake as the train headed toward a…
March 8
March 8
Thieu orders force withdrawal
South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu orders the withdrawal of South Vietnamese forces from the Central Highlands. In late January 1975, just two years after the cease‑fire had been established…
March 10
March 10
Communists surround Ban Me Thuot
The North Vietnamese surround and attack the city of Ban Me Thuot, as heavy fighting erupts in the Central Highlands. This action, initiated in late January 1975, just two years…
March 13
March 13
Ban Me Thuot falls
Ban Me Thuot, capital of Darlac Province in the Central Highlands, falls to North Vietnamese troops. In late January 1975, just two years after the cease‑fire established by the Paris…
March 16
March 16
South Vietnamese flee Pleiku and Kontum
The withdrawal from Pleiku and Kontum begins, as thousands of civilians join the soldiers streaming down Route 7B toward the sea. In late January 1975, just two years after the…
March 24
March 24
North Vietnamese launch ‘Ho Chi Minh Campaign’
On March 24, 1975, the North Vietnamese launch the “Ho Chi Minh Campaign.” Despite the 1973 Paris Peace Accords ceasefire, the fighting had continued between South Vietnamese forces and the…
March 25
March 25
King Faisal of Saudi Arabia assassinated
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Faisal is shot to death by his nephew, Prince Faisal. King Faisal, son of King Ibn Saud, fought in the military campaigns in the 1920s…
March 26
March 26
South Vietnamese city of Hue falls to communists
The city of Hue, in northernmost South Vietnam, falls to the North Vietnamese. Hue was the most recent major city in South Vietnam to fall to the communists during their…
March 31
March 31
Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden wins 10th national title
On this day in 1975, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins basketball team wins its 10th NCAA championship title under coach John Wooden. Following the game, in which…
April 2
April 2
South Vietnamese evacuation begins at Qui Nhon
As North Vietnamese tanks and infantry continue to push the remnants of South Vietnam’s 22nd Division and waves of civilian refugees from the Quang Ngai Province, the South Vietnamese Navy…
April 4
April 4
Operation Baby Lift aircraft crashes, killing dozens of rescued orphans
A major U.S. airlift of South Vietnamese orphans begins with disaster when an Air Force cargo jet crashes shortly after departing from Tan Son Nhut airbase in Saigon. More than…
April 4
April 4
Microsoft founded
On April 4, 1975, at a time when most Americans used typewriters, childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft, a company that makes computer software. Originally based in…
