Oldie Genius 268

[Bogtrotter]

Has anyone got the linking theme? We're looking for something that happened in 1961, the only likely event I've found is the Bay of Pigs, but that doesn't fit the positions given in the preamble. Any suggestions appreciated (as long as they're clean!).

[mac44]

Yuri Gagarin first man in space?
Building of the Berlin Wall?
Tanganyika independent from Britain?
Formation of the World Wildlife Fund.?

[phebe]

first manned space flight...9d cosmonaut.. i'm stuck on 37a ma???r and think 28d is motor which would give an o as the 4th letter, . yuri a gagarin is only 12 letters so i'm still trying to work out that...hope this helps

[Ruthrobin]

Phoebe, I think it's MARTYR T and R are the extremes of terror, MAR is harm and the Y is extra.