On October 9, 1980, Yoko Ono arranged for a plane to skywrite a message celebrating John Lennon’s 40th birthday and his son Sean’s 5th birthday, as they shared the same birthday. The message, ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN & SEAN’ followed by ‘LOVE, YOKO,’ was written nine times over Manhattan and Central Park, visible across much of New York City. The pilot, Wayne Mansfield, completed the nine repetitions, a number significant to Lennon due to its numerological importance. The skywriting began around 5:00 PM, following John and Yoko’s return from the Hit Factory recording studio where they were finishing their album Double Fantasy. Fans had gathered outside their Dakota apartment building, and the gesture captured the attention of thousands of New Yorkers that evening, becoming a major news feature on U.S. television networks. Tragically, this would be Lennon’s final birthday celebration before his assassination on December 8, 1980. The event remains a poignant moment in music history, highlighting the personal connection between Lennon, Ono, and their family, as well as the public’s deep affection for the iconic musician.