The following events occurred in September 1979:
September 1, 1979 (Saturday) The U.S. interplanetary probe Pioneer 11 became the first Earth spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passed the planet at a distance of less than ."Spacecraft Takes First Close Look At Saturn, Slipping Through Rings; Pioneer 11, After 4 Hours Near Second Largest Planet, Then Veers Off Toward Titan, the Largest Moon", by John Noble Wilford, The New York Times, September 2, 1979, p. A1 At 16:29:34 UTC it came within of Saturn. Less than two hours earlier, it had come within of the moon Epimethus. Hurricane David swept through the Dominican Republic as a Category 5 storm,"Dominicans Report 400 Killed by Hurricane and Flooding; Residents Flee Keys", The New York Times, September 3, 1979, p. A1 devastating much of the western side of the island of Hispaniola and killing at least 2,000 people there. Neighboring Haiti, on the eastern side of Hispaniola, was not affected. A 33-year old woman, Jessie Thomas, became the first person to receive an artificial spine, following a successful 19-hour surgery at the University of Maryland in Baltimore during which a metal device took the place of four vertebrae of her lower back. Dr. Charles Edwards designed the metal spinal prosthesis and led the surgical team in performing the surgery."World's First Surgery to Replace Vertebrae Is Termed Successful", The New York Times, September 2, 1979, p. A18"Spine device patient goes off the respirator", Daily News (New York), September 5, 1979, p. 10 Color television was introduced to Indonesia as the TVRI (Televisi Republik Indonesia) network began color broadcasting. The Australian rock band INXS performed its first concert under that name, after having been formed on August 16, 1977 by Andrew, Jon and Tim Farriss as "The Farriss Brothers". After briefly performing as "The Vegetables" in 1978, the group adopted its current name shortly before playing at the Ocean Beach Hotel in Umina, New South Wales.Ed St John, Burn : The life and times of Michael Hutchence and INXS (Bantam Books, 1998) Died: Doris Kenyon, 81, American film and TV actress Aaron Rosenberg, 67, American college athlete and film producer
September 2, 1979 (Sunday) The Transglobe Expedition, the first trip around the world from south to north to both poles, began as Ranulph Fiennes, Charles R. Burton, and Oliver Shepard departed London."12 Britons Set Off to Circle Globe Via the North and South Poles", by R. W. Apple Jr., The New York Times, September 3, 1979, p. A1 They would reach the South Pole on December 15, 1980 and the North Pole on April 11, 1982, before returning to London on August 29, 1982.Ranulph Fiennes, To the Ends of the Earth : The Transglobe Expedition, the First Pole-to Pole Circumnavigation of the Globe (Gage Learning, 1983) p. 290 The championship game of the Gaelic Athletic Association's hurling competition was played at Croke Park in Dublin before a crowd of over 53,000 between Kilkenny GAA of Leinster, and Galway GAA of Connacht. Kilkenny won 2-12 (two three-point goals and 12 points) to 1-8, equivalent to an 18 to 11 win.
The first, and only, flag of Zimbabwe Rhodesia was approved by the transitional government of the southern African nation."Zimbabwe Rhodesia Holds Ceremony for New Flag", The New York Times, September 3, 1979, p. A2 The Palace of Gold of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was dedicated in the relatively new, unincorporated community of New Vrindaban, West Virginia, near Moundsville in Marshall County."Krishna Palace Amazes West Virginia— Sect's New Temple, on a Mountaintop, Cost Half a Million", by Edward Schumacher, The New York Times, September 3, 1979, p. A6 Born: Ron Ng (Ron Ng Cheuk-hei), Hong Kong TV actor Iten, Kenya Died: Felix Aylmer, 90, English character actor
September 3, 1979 (Monday) The U.S. Navy combat supply ship USS White Plains rescued 154 Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea, the largest number saved by the U.S. since it had started its search for "boat people" in July. A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion patrol plane had spotted two overloaded boats from the Philippines."U.S. Warship Saves 154, Largest Refugee Total Yet", The New York Times, September 4, 1979, p. A13 Aeroflot Flight 513 crashed in the Soviet Union as it was approaching the airport in Amderma, after having taken off from Arkhangelsk on a trip. Only three of the 43 people on board survived when the plane crashed on a hillside.Aviation Safety Network Born: Júlio César (Júlio César Soares de Espíndola), Brazilian soccer football goalkeeper with 87 caps for the Brazil national football team; in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro
September 4, 1979 (Tuesday) The United States banned the importation of tuna from Canada in retaliation for the seizure of 19 American tuna fishing boats by the Canadian Coast Guard on charges of fishing in Canada's territorial waters, defined by Canadian law as within of Canada's coastline."The great tuna tussle— U.S., Canada swap charges, threats as fish fray continues to boil", The Ottawa Citizen, September 5, 1979, p. 1 The cargo of each of the 19 boats had been confiscated, and a company was required to post a $5,000 bond for the release of a boat pending criminal action. At the time, the amount of Canada's exports of tuna to the U.S. was worth only $130,000. Died: Alberto di Jorio, 95, Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal and Vatican Bank advisor"Alberto Di Jorio, Oldest Cardina, Dies at 95 at His Home in Rome", The New York Times, September 6, 1979, p. D21 Guy Bolton, 96, English screenwriter and playwright"Guy Bolton, One of the Originators of the Broadway Musical, 96, Dies", The New York Times, September 6, 1979, p. D21
September 5, 1979 (Wednesday) Ann Meyers became the first woman to be signed to a National Basketball Association (NBA) player's contract, receiving $50,000 by the Indiana Pacers and an opportunity to try to make the team. "Change of Pace in NBA: Ann Meyers Signs to Play", The Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1979, p.III-1 At 5'9" (1.75 m) and weighing , Meyers had led the U.S. national team in the 1979 FIBA women's basketball world championship and had chosen not to play in the first season of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WPBL). While she would be cut from the Pacers on September 12,"Pacers Close Book On The Ann Meyers Story", by Dick Mittman, Indianapolis News, September 13, 1979, p.30 Meyers would sign with the WPBL's New Jersey Gems and become that league's most valuable player. She would later be inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Computer manufacturer International Business Machines (IBM) and recorded music manufacturer MCA announced a joint venture, Disco-Vision Associates, to manufacture a less expensive system for videodiscs and players, a forerunner of the smaller-diameter and larger capacity DVD."I.B.M. and MCA Form Video-Disk Joint Venture", The New York Times, September 6, 1979, p. D4 Born: John Carew, Norwegian soccer football striker with 91 caps for the Norway national team; in Lørenskog
September 6, 1979 (Thursday) U.S. President Jimmy Carter commuted the long prison sentences given to four Puerto Rican nationalists in the 1950s who had been convicted of attempted assassinations, including that of Oscar Collazo, who had attempted to kill U.S. President Harry S Truman. Collazo had been incarcerated for almost 29 years, since his attempt to kill President Truman on November 1, 1950. Clemency was also granted to three nationalists who had wounded five U.S. Representatives on March 1, 1954, when they shot from the gallery during an attack on the U.S. Capitol. Lolita Lebrón, Irvin Flores Rodriguez and Rafael Cancel Miranda had served 25 years of sentences of up to 75 years. Carter had previously freed a fourth defendant from the 1954 attack, Andres Figueroa Cordero, in 1977."President to Free 4 Puerto Ricans In Washington Shootings of 1950's— Nationalists Tried to Kill Truman and Shot Five Congressment in House", by Martin Tolchin, The New York Times, September 7, 1979, p. A3
September 7, 1979 (Friday)
The first cable sports channel, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (better known as ESPN), was launched in the United States at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on participating cable television systems. The first program was a half-hour segment called "ESPN Premiere", followed by a preview of the 1979 college football season."24-Hour Sports Channel Starts Tonight on Cable", Wichita (KS) Eagle, September 7, 1979, p. 4D Diosdado Macapagal, the former President of the Philippines, was charged with sedition and arrested in Manila by the government of his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos. The charges arose from Macapagal's criticism of martial law while at a birthday dinner. In 1976, Macapagal had published a book, Democracy in the Philippines, which called upon the nation's armed forces to overthrow the Marcos government "to free the people from dictatorship"."Ex-President Arrested by Manila for Rumormongering and Sedition", The New York Times, September 8, 1979, p. A3 Born: Nathan Hindmarsh, Australian National Rugby League player and five-time winner of the Provan-Summons Medal; in Bowral, New South Wales
September 8, 1979 (Saturday) Soccer Bowl '79, the championship game of the North American Soccer League (NASL) was played before a crowd of 50,699 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey."Whitecaps Set Back Rowdies for Title, 2-1", by Alex Yannis, The New York Times, September 9, 1979, p. 5-1 The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2 to 1, with both goals scored by Trevor Whymark of England. Born: P!nk (stage name for Alecia Beth Moore), American R&B singer; in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
September 9, 1979 (Sunday) As part of its campaign to eliminate the Baháʼí Faith in Iran, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran demolished the House of the Báb in Shiraz, the 19th century home of the founder of Bábism, Sayyed `Alí Muḥammad Shírází."A Faith Denied: The Persecution of the Bahais of Iran" (Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, 2006) p. 41 Tracy Austin, a 16-year old professional tennis star, became the youngest person to win the U.S. Open when she defeated Chris Evert Lloyd in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-3. 20-year old John McEnroe then became the youngest man to win the tournament when he beat Vitas Gerulaitis in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3 and 6-3."McEnroe and Miss Austin Win U.S. Open Titles", by Neil Amdur, The New York Times, September 10, 1979, p. C1 Died: Norrie Paramor, 65, British record producer Mahmoud Taleghani, 68, Iranian Shi'a Muslim theologian and member of the Council of the Islamic Revolution"Iran Says a Key Religious Leader, Ayatollah Taleghani, Dies in Sleep", The New York Times, September 10, 1979, p. A4
September 10, 1979 (Monday)
Agostinho Neto, President of Angola since its independence in 1975, died while undergoing surgery for cancer at a hospital in Moscow."Agostinho Neto, 56, Angola's Leader, Dies in Moscow After Surgery", by Thomas A. Johnson, The New York Times, September 12, 1979, p. A6 Lúcio Lara, the General Secretary for the ruling MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola), took over briefly as acting president until Vice President José Eduardo dos Santos could be approved to take over from Neto. The long-running comic strip For Better or For Worse, by Canadian cartoonist Lynn Johnston, made its first appearance in newspapers in the United States and Canada."2 new comic strips take a look at coping", Chicago Tribune, September 10, 1979, p.2-6"New comic starts today in Gazette", The Gazette (Montreal), September 10, 1979, p.1 Died: Stanyslav Lyudkevych, 100, Ukrainian composer and musicologist named People's Artist of the USSR
September 11, 1979 (Tuesday)