Tragedy behind hit movie's stunning action scenes
The hit movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, shown right, was released to American cinemas on May 16, 1986.
Depicting the flying training of elite US Navy pilots, the film, directed by Tony Scott, was packed with thrilling aerial sequences and pulsating action scenes.
But tragedy struck during the filming of Top Gun, when aerobatic pilot Art Scholl, shown here, died after his camera plane never recovered from a spin and plunged into the Pacific Ocean off California.
His last words on the radio were: "I have a problem‚ I have a real problem."
Japanese climber Junko Tabei became the first woman to ascend Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, on May 16, 1975.
In 1992, she became the first woman to ascend the highest peaks on all seven continents.
Australian world champion boxer Jimmy Carruthers retired on May 16, 1954, the first world title holder in any division to retire without a loss or draw.
The bantamweight fighter, who was aged 24 when he stepped down, held a perfect record of 19 victories in 19 bouts.
A torrent of water was unleashed when the bombs breached the Mohne and Eder dams in Nazi Germany's industrial Ruhr region. The water engulfed power stations, factories, mines, rail lines and roads.
But the mission's success came at a heavy cost. Eight aircraft were lost and 55 airmen were killed, including two Australians.
The hole in the ozone layer was first discovered on May 16, 1985, by scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, who described how ozone levels above the Antarctic were steadily dropping compared to the previous decade.
This was quickly recognised as a severe environmental problem – and the culprit was identified as the unchecked use of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs.
The Beach Boys, the American band that gave the world surf music, released their revolutionary album, Pet Sounds, on May 16, 1966.
Written and produced by Brian Wilson, it featured a wide range of instruments, such as a synthesizer, bike bells, and even soda cans. Pet Sounds, which included hits such as Wouldn't It Be Nice, is considered one of the greatest albums of all time.
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