HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

On This Day in History

Discover key historical events within the Genesis range (1950–2049) that occurred on this calendar day, and claim their commemorative registry plaques.

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Historical chronology for December 8

December 8

11 historical milestones registered between 1950 and 2049

December 8, 1963 AVAILABLE

After being struck by lightning while in a holding pattern, Pan Am Flight 214 crashed near Elkton, Maryland, U.S., killing all 81 people on board.

Wikipedia: Holding (aeronautics)
Holding (aeronautics)
December 8, 1980 AVAILABLE

English musician John Lennon was murdered at the entrance of the Dakota, where he resided in New York City.

Wikipedia: John Lennon
John Lennon
December 8, 1987 AVAILABLE

Arab–Israeli conflict: An Israeli army tank transporter killed four Palestinian refugees and injured seven others during a traffic accident at the Erez Crossing on the Israel–Gaza Strip border, sparking the First Intifada.

Wikipedia: Arab–Israeli conflict
Arab–Israeli conflict
December 8, 1987 AVAILABLE

A man shot and killed eight people at the Australia Post building in Melbourne, before jumping to his death.

Wikipedia: Queen Street massacre
Queen Street massacre
December 8, 1991 AVAILABLE

Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian leaders signed the Belovezh Accords, agreeing to dissolve the Soviet Union and establish the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Wikipedia: Belovezha Accords
Belovezha Accords
December 8, 1998 AVAILABLE

The Australian Cricket Board's cover-up of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh's involvement with bookmakers was revealed.

Wikipedia: Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia
December 8, 2009 AVAILABLE

Bombings in Baghdad carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq killed at least 127 people and injured at least 448 others.

Wikipedia: December 2009 Baghdad bombings
December 8, 2010 AVAILABLE

The Japanese experimental spacecraft IKAROS flew by Venus at a distance of 80,800 km (50,200 mi), completing its planned mission to demonstrate solar-sail technology.

Wikipedia: IKAROS
IKAROS
December 8, 2013 AVAILABLE

After a fatal bus accident in the Little India subzone of Singapore, angry mobs of workers attacked the bus involved and emergency vehicles, the first riot in the country in over 40 years.

Wikipedia: Little India, Singapore
Little India, Singapore
December 8, 2013 AVAILABLE

Metallica (pictured) played a concert in Antarctica, becoming the first band to perform on all seven continents.

Wikipedia: Metallica
Metallica
December 8, 2024 AVAILABLE

The Syrian civil war ended when Bashar al-Assad's party, the Syrian Ba'ath Party, surrendered to the Syrian opposition.

Wikipedia: Syrian civil war
Syrian civil war