The temperature on February 2, 1961 was between 0.6 °C and 4.4 °C and averaged 2.7 °C. There was 5.2 mm of rain during 6.1 hours. The heavily clouded was. The average windspeed was 2 Bft (weak wind) and was prevailing from the west-southwest. Source: KNMI
February 12 » The Soviet Union launches Venera 1 towards Venus.
March 15 » At the 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, South Africa announces that it will withdraw from the Commonwealth when the South African Constitution of 1961 comes into effect.
May 5 » Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into outer space, on a sub-orbital flight.
May 21 » American civil rights movement: Alabama Governor John Malcolm Patterson declares martial law in an attempt to restore order after race riots break out.
September 1 » The Eritrean War of Independence officially begins with the shooting of Ethiopian police by Hamid Idris Awate.
December 17 » Niterói circus fire: Fire breaks out during a performance by the Gran Circus Norte-Americano in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, killing more than 500.
Day of death February 5, 1961
The temperature on February 5, 1961 was between -3.1 °C and 8.3 °C and averaged 1.7 °C. There was 1.2 mm of rain during 2.4 hours. The partly or heavily clouded was. The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the south. Source: KNMI
January 3 » The SL-1 nuclear reactor is destroyed by a steam explosion in the only reactor incident in the United States to cause immediate fatalities.
January 11 » Throgs Neck Bridge over the East River, linking New York City's boroughs of The Bronx and Queens, opens to road traffic.
January 24 » Goldsboro B-52 crash: A bomber carrying two H-bombs breaks up in mid-air over North Carolina. The uranium core of one weapon remains lost.
May 9 » FCC Chairman Newton N. Minow gives his Wasteland Speech.
May 31 » The South African Constitution of 1961 becomes effective, thus creating the Republic of South Africa, which remains outside the Commonwealth of Nations until 1 June 1994, when South Africa is returned to Commonwealth membership.
November 21 » The "La Ronde" opens in Honolulu, first revolving restaurant in the United States.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: P. Heres, "Family tree Eilander", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-eilander/I1099494641.php : accessed January 12, 2026), "Wijke van Olst (1961-1961)".
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