Category Archives: 1970s

‘Christmas Bombings’ halted for holiday 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Christmas bombing halt (9:14)

(Sunday, December 24, 1972, Christmas Eve; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War) — U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam was temporarily halted today for 36 hours starting at 8:00 a.m. local time, although Radio Hanoi reported that raids had continued as late as 7:30 p.m. Continue reading ‘Christmas Bombings’ halted for holiday 40 years ago today (1972)

‘Christmas Bombings’ shift to Haiphong, hospital near Hanoi hit 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Dec. 22, 1972 (6:47)

(Friday, December 22, 1972; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War) — The target area of “The Christmas Bombings” of North Vietnam today shifted away from Hanoi to the port city of Haiphong and its petroleum storage areas. Continue reading ‘Christmas Bombings’ shift to Haiphong, hospital near Hanoi hit 40 years ago today (1972)

Seven B-52 bombers shot down over North Vietnam 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Dec. 20, 1972 (3:38)

(Monday, December 20, 1972; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War) — Four American B-52Gs and three B-52Ds were lost today in the first and third waves of “The Christmas Bombings” of the Hanoi area of North Vietnam. A fourth D model, returning to Thailand, crashed in Laos. Only two of the eight downed crews were recovered by search and rescue aircraft. Continue reading Seven B-52 bombers shot down over North Vietnam 40 years ago today (1972)

Last Apollo astronauts to walk on moon return to earth 40 years ago this hour (1972)


Video: 'Apollo 17 "On The Shoulders of Giants" - NASA Space Program &' (Dec. 19, 1972 at 25:17)

(Tuesday, December 19, 1972, 2:25 p.m. EST) — The Apollo 17 spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and landed safely today in the Pacific Ocean four miles from the recovery ship, the USS Ticonderoga. Continue reading Last Apollo astronauts to walk on moon return to earth 40 years ago this hour (1972)

Astronaut Ron Evans steps outside Apollo 17 spacecraft 40 years ago this hour (1972)


Video: 'Apollo 17 "On The Shoulders of Giants" - NASA Space Program &' (Dec. 17, 1972 at 24:20)

(Sunday, December 17, 1972, 3:27 p.m. EST) — During the trip back to Earth from man’s last (to date) visit to the Moon, Apollo 17 astronaut Ron Evans successfully conducted a one hour and seven minute spacewalk to retrieve exposed film from the instrument bay on the exterior of the Command/Service Module (CSM).

‘The Heartbreak Kid’ opens in New York City 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: 'The Heartbreak Kid'

(Sunday, December 17, 1972)The Heartbreak Kid, a black comedy film about love and hypocrisy, opened today at the Sutton in New York City.

Directed by Elaine May, the film starred Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd, Jeannie Berlin, Eddie Albert and Audra Lindley.

Kissinger blames Hanoi for breakdown in Vietnam peace talks 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Dec. 16, 1972 (at 10:36; labeled as Dec. 15)

(Saturday, December 16, 1972, during the Vietnam War) — Henry A. Kissinger said in Washington today the Vietnam peace talks have not yet produced an agreement “that the president considers just and fair” and blamed Hanoi, which he portrayed as pursuing tactics of delay and sudden, inexplicable changes during secret bargaining in Paris that broke off Dec. 13.

Lennon, Ono’s ‘One to One’ benefit concert on ABC-TV 40 years ago this hour (1972)


Video: Aug. 30, 1972 (only 'Imagine' missing from ABC-TV broadcast of Dec. 15, 1972)

(Friday, December 15, 1972, 10 p.m. EST) — An Aug. 30, 1972, performance by ex-Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono with The Plastic Ono Elephant’s Memory band at Madison Square Garden in New York City to benefit the Willowbrook School for Children, a home for retarded children, was televised tonight on ABC.

‘The Poseidon Adventure’ premiered in New York City 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: 'The Poseidon Adventure'

(Tuesday, December 12, 1972)The Poseidon Adventure, an action-adventure disaster film about a priest who takes a mixed band of survivors on a journey through the bowels of a ship turned upside down by a tidal wave, premiered today in New York City.

Directed by Ronald Neame, the film stars Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, Arthur O’Connell, Eric Shea and Leslie Nielsen.

Thieu proposes temporary Christmas truce in Vietnam 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: Dec. 12, 1972 (10:11)

(Tuesday, December 12, 1972, during the Vietnam War) — South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu proposed today a Christmas peace package providing for a cease-fire and release of all U.S. and Vietnamese prisoners of war, but the Viet Cong quickly rejected it. Continue reading Thieu proposes temporary Christmas truce in Vietnam 40 years ago today (1972)