Major Events of September 1982: 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 September 1982 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of September 1982: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Sep 1982 PLO completes withdrawal from Beirut under multinational protection: On September 1, 1982, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) completed its evacuation from Beirut, Lebanon, under the protection of a multinational peacekeeping force comprising U.S., French, and Italian troops. This withdrawal marked the end of the PLO's military presence in Lebanon, following intense Israeli military pressure and a U.S.-mediated agreement. The PLO fighters were relocated to various Arab countries, including Tunisia, where the organization established its new headquarters. source: washingtonpost.com
03 Sep 1982 Assassination of Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa by Mafia: On September 3, 1982, General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, appointed as prefect of Palermo to combat the Mafia, was assassinated in a drive-by shooting in Palermo, Italy. He was accompanied by his wife, Emanuela Setti Carraro, and their police escort, Domenico Russo, who was also killed. The attack was orchestrated by the Sicilian Mafia, led by Salvatore 'the Beast' Riina, as a response to Dalla Chiesa's efforts against organized crime. source: ansa.it
04 Sep 1982 Soviet Union conducts underground nuclear test: On September 4, 1982, the Soviet Union conducted an underground nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. This test was part of a series of nuclear detonations carried out by the USSR during the Cold War, contributing to ongoing tensions between nuclear powers. The test was not publicly acknowledged until years later, reflecting the secretive nature of Soviet nuclear activities at the time. source: britannica.com
05 Sep 1982 Disappearance of Johnny Gosch: On September 5, 1982, 12-year-old Johnny Gosch vanished while delivering newspapers in West Des Moines, Iowa. Witnesses reported seeing him speaking with a man in a blue two-toned car near the paper drop. Despite extensive investigations, the case remains unsolved, and Gosch's fate is still unknown. source: crimemuseum.org
06 Sep 1982 Polish dissidents seize Polish Embassy in Bern, Switzerland: On September 6, 1982, four Polish exiles, led by Florian Kruszyk, seized the Polish Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, taking 14 hostages. They demanded the abolition of martial law in Poland, the release of political prisoners, and threatened to destroy the embassy if their demands were not met. After 36 hours, Swiss special forces stormed the embassy, freeing the hostages without any shots fired. The gunmen were later sentenced to imprisonment in Switzerland. source: washingtonpost.com
07 Sep 1982 George Bailey, Australian cricketer, born in Launceston, Tasmania: George John Bailey, born on September 7, 1982, in Launceston, Tasmania, is a former Australian cricketer who played all formats for the national team and captained the team in limited-over formats. Domestically, he represented the Tasmanian cricket team in all three domestic state competitions and played for the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. He has also played in the Indian Premier League and T20 Blast, and in Scotland with Grange Cricket Club. source: cricket.com.au
08 Sep 1982 Dutch general election results in 1982: In the 1982 Dutch general election held on September 8, the Labour Party (PvdA) emerged as the largest party, winning 47 seats. The Centre Party (CP), a right-wing extremist party, secured one seat, marking the first time since World War II that such a party entered the Dutch parliament. The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) formed a coalition government with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), with CDA's Ruud Lubbers becoming prime minister. source: en.wikipedia.org
09 Sep 1982 First private commercial rocket launch occurred: On September 9, 1982, the first private commercial rocket, the Conestoga 1, was launched by the private company Space Services Inc. This marked a significant milestone in the history of space exploration, demonstrating the potential for private enterprises to engage in space activities. The launch took place from a site in Texas and aimed to pave the way for future commercial space ventures. source: nasa.gov
10 Sep 1982 Decca releases "The Complete Silver Beatles" album: On September 10, 1982, Decca Records released "The Complete Silver Beatles," an album featuring 12 of the 15 songs recorded by the Beatles during their audition on January 1, 1962. This release marked the first official publication of these recordings, which had been previously bootlegged. The album includes tracks such as "Like Dreamers Do," "Money (That's What I Want)," and "Hello Little Girl." source: jpgr.co.uk
11 Sep 1982 Withdrawal of International Forces from Beirut and Sabra and Shatila Massacre: On September 11, 1982, the multinational peacekeeping forces, comprising American, French, and Italian troops, withdrew from Beirut, Lebanon, after overseeing the evacuation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters. This withdrawal left Palestinian civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps vulnerable. Shortly after, Israeli forces, along with allied Lebanese Christian militias, entered the camps, leading to the Sabra and Shatila massacre from September 16 to 18, 1982, during which thousands of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians were killed. source: aljazeera.com
12 Sep 1982 Jimmy Connors wins 1982 US Open Men's Singles Title: On September 12, 1982, Jimmy Connors defeated Ivan Lendl in the US Open Men's Singles final with a score of 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–4. This victory marked Connors' fourth US Open singles title and his seventh major singles title overall. It was also the first of eight consecutive US Open finals for Lendl. source: en.wikipedia.org
13 Sep 1982 Spantax Flight 995 DC-10 crash in Málaga, Spain: On September 13, 1982, Spantax Flight 995, a chartered McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF, crashed during an aborted takeoff at Málaga Airport in Spain. The aircraft, en route from Madrid to New York with a stopover in Málaga, experienced a strong vibration during takeoff, leading the pilot to abort the procedure. The plane overran the runway, collided with vehicles on the Málaga–Torremolinos Highway, and caught fire, resulting in 50 fatalities and 110 injuries among the 394 occupants. source: en.wikipedia.org
14 Sep 1982 Assassination of Lebanese President-elect Bachir Gemayel: On September 14, 1982, a bomb exploded at the Kataeb Party headquarters in Beirut, killing President-elect Bachir Gemayel and 23 others. The attack was carried out by Habib Shartouni, a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, who was convicted in absentia in 2017. The assassination led to significant political upheaval in Lebanon. source: washingtonpost.com
15 Sep 1982 Israeli forces enter West Beirut following assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel: On September 15, 1982, Israeli troops and tanks advanced into West Beirut, aiming to prevent potential unrest after the assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel. The operation encountered minimal resistance from Lebanese leftist militias and Palestinian guerrillas who had remained in the city after the Palestine Liberation Organization's evacuation. The Israeli forces' entry into West Beirut marked a significant escalation in the 1982 Lebanon War. source: washingtonpost.com
16 Sep 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre: Between September 16 and 18, 1982, Lebanese Christian Phalangist militias, supported by Israeli forces, killed between 1,300 and 3,500 Palestinian and Lebanese Shia civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon. The massacre occurred after the assassination of Lebanese president-elect Bashir Gemayel on September 14, 1982, which led to Israeli forces occupying West Beirut and facilitating the entry of the Phalangist militias into the camps. The victims were predominantly unarmed civilians, including women and children. The massacre has been widely condemned as a war crime and remains a significant event in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. source: aljazeera.com
17 Sep 1982 New Jersey Devils' first exhibition game, beating Washington Capitals 3-1 in Hershey, Pennsylvania: On September 17, 1982, the New Jersey Devils played their inaugural exhibition game, defeating the Washington Capitals 3-1 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. source: brainyhistory.com
19 Sep 1982 First documented emoticons created by computer scientist Scott Fahlman: On September 19, 1982, computer scientist Scott Fahlman proposed the use of emoticons in an online post to distinguish between serious and joking messages. He suggested using the symbols :) for a smile and :( for a frown, marking the beginning of a new form of digital communication. This innovation has since evolved into a vast array of emojis used in modern digital interactions. source: bbc.com
20 Sep 1982 NFL players strike of 1982 begins: The NFL players strike of 1982 commenced on September 20, 1982, primarily over issues related to player salaries and benefits. This strike lasted for 57 days, leading to the cancellation of a significant portion of the season, including the Super Bowl. The strike ultimately resulted in changes to the collective bargaining agreement, impacting player rights and league operations. source: nytimes.com
21 Sep 1982 First International Day of Peace observed on September 21, 1982: The United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981, designating it to coincide with the opening of its annual session, which was held on the third Tuesday of September. The first observance took place on September 21, 1982. In 2001, the General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 55/282, establishing September 21 as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire. source: un.org
22 Sep 1982 San Francisco cable car system shuts down for extensive renovation: On September 22, 1982, San Francisco's cable car system ceased operations for a comprehensive 21-month rehabilitation. The $58 million project aimed to replace deteriorated tracks, cables, and machinery, and to rebuild the Washington-Mason car barn and powerhouse. The system reopened on June 21, 1984, in time for the Democratic National Convention. source: upi.com
23 Sep 1982 Amine Gemayel elected President of Lebanon: Amine Gemayel was elected as the eighth President of Lebanon on September 21, 1982, following the assassination of his brother, Bachir Gemayel, who had been elected president but was killed before taking office. Gemayel was sworn in on September 23, 1982, at the age of 40, becoming the youngest president in Lebanese history at that time. source: washingtonpost.com
24 Sep 1982 French troops arrive in Beirut as part of multinational peacekeeping force: On September 24, 1982, French paratroopers spearheading a multinational peacekeeping force arrived in Beirut, Lebanon. They immediately took up positions at the port and near the 'Green Line' dividing the Christian and Muslim sectors. This deployment was part of a broader international effort to stabilize Lebanon following the assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel and the subsequent massacre of Palestinian civilians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. source: upi.com
25 Sep 1982 Keke Rosberg becomes first Finnish Formula 1 World Champion: Keke Rosberg secured the Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship in 1982, becoming the first Finnish driver to achieve this feat. Despite winning only one race that season, the Swiss Grand Prix, Rosberg's consistent performance throughout the year earned him the championship title. source: formula1.com
26 Sep 1982 Patty Sheehan wins inaugural Safeco Classic: Patty Sheehan secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the inaugural Safeco Classic, held from September 23 to 26, 1982, at Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Washington. She finished with a score of 276, 12 under par, edging out JoAnne Carner by one stroke. source: en.wikipedia.org
27 Sep 1982 Lil Wayne's birth date confirmed: Lil Wayne, the American rapper, was born on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is known for his influential contributions to hip-hop and has received numerous awards throughout his career. His real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. source: biography.com
28 Sep 1982 NASA launches Intelsat V F-5 communications satellite: On September 28, 1982, NASA successfully launched the Intelsat V F-5 communications satellite into geostationary orbit. The satellite, built by Ford Aerospace, was designed to enhance global telecommunications capacity and operated for approximately 17 years before being deactivated in August 1999. source: en.wikipedia.org
29 Sep 1982 Tylenol Murders: A Public Health Crisis: In late September 1982, seven individuals in the Chicago area died after ingesting Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. The first victim, 12-year-old Mary Kellerman, died on September 29, 1982. This series of poisonings led to widespread public panic and prompted significant changes in medication packaging and federal anti-tampering laws. source: history.com
30 Sep 1982 First helicopter circumnavigation of the globe completed: On September 30, 1982, H. Ross Perot Jr. and Jay W. Coburn completed the first helicopter circumnavigation of the globe. They flew the Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II, named 'Spirit of Texas,' covering 26,000 miles in 29 days, 3 hours, and 8 minutes, crossing 26 countries and 22 seas and oceans. source: guinnessworldrecords.com