What Happened on June 5?

June 5 is World Environment Day — a UN call to protect the planet — on the same date the Montgolfiers flew history's first hot air balloon in 1783, George Marshall proposed rebuilding Europe in 1947, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.

• 1783 — The Montgolfier brothers fly the first public hot air balloon

  On June 5, 1783, Joseph and Étienne Montgolfier launched a hot air balloon at Annonay, France — the first public demonstration of human flight. Read the full story →

• 1947 — George Marshall proposes the plan to rebuild Europe

  At Harvard on June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George Marshall outlined aid to rebuild war-shattered Europe — the Marshall Plan. Read the full story →

• 1967 — The Six-Day War begins in the Middle East

  On June 5, 1967, Israel launched preemptive airstrikes against Egypt — opening the Six-Day War that reshaped the Middle East. Read the full story →

• 1968 — Senator Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated in Los Angeles

  Minutes after winning the California primary on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel — he died the next day. Read the full story →

• 1972 — The UN establishes World Environment Day at the Stockholm Conference

  At the 1972 Stockholm Conference, the United Nations declared June 5 World Environment Day — urging global action for clean air, water, and land. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Mark Wahlberg (1971) · Pancho Villa (1878–1923) · Bill Moyers (1934) · Ken Follett (1949)

Days & observances

World Environment Day · National Gingerbread Day · National Veggie Burger Day · Constitution Day (Denmark)