The temperature on December 24, 1961 was between -8.6 °C and -3.6 °C and averaged -6.6 °C. There was 0.1 mm of rain. There was 6.6 hours of sunshine (85%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the east-northeast. Source: KNMI
January 23 » The Portuguese luxury cruise ship Santa Maria is hijacked by opponents of the Estado Novo regime with the intention of waging war until dictator António de Oliveira Salazar is overthrown.
April 9 » The Pacific Electric Railway in Los Angeles, once the largest electric railway in the world, ends operations.
April 20 » Cold War: Failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of US-backed Cuban exiles against Cuba.
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.
August 1 » U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara orders the creation of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the nation's first centralized military espionage organization.
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.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Gijsbertus Cornelis (Bert) Severijn, "Family tree Severijn", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-severijn/I13761.php : accessed February 21, 2026), "James Allen hamstra (1961-)".
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