Timeline July 1988

Events in July 1988 6

• 1909 – 1988 Andrei Gromyko (1909-1988) Died 2 July 1988, aged 78 Andrei Gromyko served as the Soviet Union's foreign minister for nearly three decades and later as its head of state. He was a central figure in Soviet diplomacy throughout the Cold War, including arms control negotiations with the United States. He died in Moscow shortly after retiring from politics.
• 1988 Debut album "Kylie" released Debut studio album tops UK charts Her debut studio album, Kylie, was released in July 1988 and topped the UK Albums Chart, spawning further hits including "Got to Be Certain" and "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi." The album's bubblegum pop sound, crafted by Stock Aitken Waterman, defined her early "Singing Budgie" era.
• 1988 Wimbledon 1988 Men: Stefan Edberg · Women: Steffi Graf Steffi Graf won Wimbledon as part of her calendar Grand Slam.
• 1988 USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 US Navy cruiser kills 290 civilians in the Persian Gulf The USS Vincennes mistook an Iran Air passenger jet for an attacking fighter and shot it down over the Strait of Hormuz, killing all 290 people aboard. The incident heightened tensions during the Iran-Iraq War. The US later paid compensation without admitting liability.
• 1988 Piper Alpha oil rig disaster Explosion and fire kill 167 workers in the North Sea A gas leak triggered an explosion and fire aboard the Piper Alpha oil platform in the North Sea, killing 167 of the 226 men aboard. It remains the world's deadliest offshore oil disaster. The disaster led to a major overhaul of North Sea safety regulations.
• 1988 Bruce Springsteen plays East Berlin Weissensee A huge concert in East Berlin, a year before the Wall falls.