On March 5

The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, was launched by Sinclair Research, and went on to sell more than 1.5 million units around the world.

BOAC Flight 911 disintegrated and crashed near Mount Fuji shortly after departure from Tokyo International Airport, killing all 113 passengers and 11 crew members on board.

American country-music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed when their PA-24 crashed shortly after takeoff in Camden, Tennessee.

Cuban photographer Alberto Korda took his iconic photograph Guerrillero Heroico of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.

World War II: The Gloster Meteor, the Allies' only operational jet aircraft, made its maiden flight.

The prototype (pictured) of the Supermarine Spitfire flew for the first time.

Roberto Cofresí, one of the last Caribbean pirates, was apprehended after his flagship sloop Anne was captured by authorities.

The First Anglo-Burmese War began.

Peninsular War: At the Battle of Barrosa, Anglo-Iberian forces trying to lift the Siege of Cádiz defeated a French attack but could not break the siege itself.

American Revolution: British soldiers fired into a crowd in Boston, killing five people.

The Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order suffered a great loss when 71 knights died in the Battle of Aizkraukle.

Roman–Persian Wars: Roman emperor Julian and his army set out from Antioch to attack the Sasanian Empire.