Consultative Assembly is held. Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either was known to science. Nazi criminal Josef Mengele suffers a stroke and drowns while swimming in Bertioga, Brazil. His remains are found in 1985. February 10–11 – The Iranian Revolution ends with the Iranian army withdrawing to its barracks leaving power in the hands of Ayatollah Khomeini, ending the Pahlavi dynasty. February 11 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Simba Hills: The Tanzanian military began its assault on the Simba Hills near the town of Kakuuto. February 12 – Prime Minister Hissène Habré starts the Battle of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chad's President Félix Malloum. February 13 An intense windstorm strikes western Washington and sinks a long section of the Hood Canal Bridge. The Guardian Angels are formed in New York City as an unarmed organization of young crime fighters. February 14 – In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police. February 15 – A suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank kills 49. February 17 – The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War. February 18 The 1979 Daytona 500 is televised on CBS, the first ever full airing of a 500-mile race on US television, Richard Petty wins after Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle for first place on the final lap and crash out, leading to a fist fight. This race brought NASCAR to a wider audience. The Khomeini government in Iran cuts diplomatic relations with Israel. February 21 – Uganda–Tanzania War: Battle of Gayaza Hills: A Tanzanian brigade successfully dislodged Ugandan forces from the Gayaza Hills. The battle is hard-fought, and the Tanzanians suffer their largest number of casualties in a single engagement of the war. February 22 – Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom. February 26 A total solar eclipse, the last visible from the continental United States until 2017, arcs over northwestern conterminous USA and central Canada ending in Greenland. A partial solar eclipse is visible over almost all of North America and Central America including the eastern half of Alaska and the western half of the UK. The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak. February 27 The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is cancelled due to a strike called by the New Orleans