3rd » A core explosion and meltdown at the SL-1, a government-run reactor near Idaho Falls, Idaho, kills three workers.
17th » Former Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) called Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba is murdered in circumstances suggesting the support and complicity of the governments of Belgium and the United States.
21st » 435 workers are buried alive when a mine in Coalbrook, Free State collapses.
23rd » The Portugal Portuguese luxury cruise ship 'Santa Maria' is Santa Maria hijacking hijacked by opponents of the Estado Novo (Portugal) Estado Novo regime with the intention of waging war until dictator António de Oliveira Salazar is overthrown.
24th » 1961 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.
25th » In Washington, D.C. John F. Kennedy delivers the first live President of the United States e.g presidential television news conference.
26th » John F. Kennedy appoints Janet G. Travell to be his physician. This is the first time a woman holds the appointment of Physician to the President.
27th » Soviet Union called Soviet submarine 'Soviet submarine S-80 e.g S-80' sinks with all hands lost.
31st » Project Mercury: Mercury-Redstone 2 Ham the Chimp travels into space science named outer space.
15th » Yves Pelletier, Canadian actor and director
16th » Ronnie Lee Gardner, American criminal (d. 2010)
16th » Paul Raven (musician) Paul Raven, English bass player (Killing Joke, Prong (band) Prong, Godflesh, Zilch (band) Zilch, Society 1, and Ministry (band) Ministry) (d. 2007)