Today in U.S. Naval history: August 29
Today in U.S. Naval history - August 29 1861 - U.S. squadron captures forts at Hatteras Inlet, N.C. 1862 - Union gunboat Pittsburgh support Army troops in landing at Eunice, Arkansas 1915 - Navy salvage divers raise F-4, first U.S. submarine sunk in accident 1916 - Congress passes act for expansion of Navy but most ships not completed until after World War I. 1964 - USS Boxer and two LSDs arrive off coast of Hispaniola to give medical aid to Haiti and Dominican Republic which were badly damaged by Hurricane Cleo. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 28
Today in U.S. 1867 - Captain William Reynolds of Lackawanna raises U.S. flag over Midway Island and took formal possession of these islands for the U.S. 1942 - 120 women, commissioned directly as ENS or LTJG, reported to USS Northampton, Smith College for training. 1952 - Units on USS Boxer (CV-21) launch explosive-filled drone which explodes against railroad bridge near Hungnam, Korea. First guided missile launched from ship during Korean Conflict. 1965 - Cdr. Scott Carpenter and nine aquanauts enter SeaLab II, 205 ft. 1991 - A helicopter from USS America (CV-66) rescues three civilian sailors who spent 10 days in a lifeboat 80 miles off Capt May, N.J.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 27
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 27 1917 - Squadron of minesweepers departs U.S. for service off France 1944 - USS Stingray (SS-186) lands men and supplies on Luzon, Philippines to support guerilla operations against the Japanese. 1945 - Pacific Fleet ships enter Sagami Bay, near Tokyo, Japan. 1959 - Off Cape Canaveral, Fla., USS Observation Island (EAG-154) makes first shipboard launching of a Polaris missile. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 26
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 26 1775 - Rhode Island Resolve: Rhode Island delegates to Continental Congress press for creation of Continental Navy to protect the colonies 1839 - Brig Washington seizes Spanish slaver, Amistad near Montauk Point, N.Y. 1861 - Union amphibious force lands near Hatteras, N.C. 1865 - Civil War ends with Naval strength over 58,500 men and 600 ships For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 23
Today in U.S. 1958 - Massive concentration of Pacific Fleet in Quemoy-Matsu area prevents invasion of islands by China. 1958 - In Taiwan Straits Crisis, Units of 7th Fleet move into Taiwan area to support Taiwan against Chinese Communists. 1963 - The first satellite communications ship, USNS Kingsport (T-AG-164) in Lagos, Nigeria, connected President John F. Kennedy with Nigerian Prime Minister Balewa who was aboard for the first satellite (Syncom II) relayed telephone conversation between heads of state. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 22
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 22 1912 - Birthday of Dental Corps 1945 - First surrender of Japanese garrison at end of World War II; USS Levy receives surrender of Mille Atoll in Marshall Islands 1980 - USS Passumpsic rescues 28 Vietnamese refugees For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 21
Today in U.S. 1800 - U.S. Marine Corps Band gave its first concert in Washington, D.C. 1883 - Installation of the first electric lighting on a U.S. Navy Ship completed on USS Trenton. 1920 - Radio station built by U.S. Navy and French Government transmits first wireless message heard around the world. At time it was the most powerful radio station in the world. 1951 - First contract for nuclear-powered submarine awarded. 1965 - Launch of Gemini 5, piloted by LCDR Charles Conrad Jr., USN, who completed 120 orbits in almost eight days at an altitude of 349.8 km. Recovery was by helicopter from USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39).
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 20
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 20 1952 - In interservice air operation at Chang Pyong-ni, Korea, U.S. Navy, Marine and Air Force aircraft destroy 80% of assigned area. 1959 - USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6) completes six-day humanitarian operation after floods in Taiwan. 1969 - Navy Seabees and sailors from Helicopter Training Squadron Eight (HT-8) evacuated 820 people from Pass Christian, MS after Hurricane Camille. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval history: August 19
Today in U.S. Naval history - August 19 1812 - USS Constitution captures HMS Guerriere. 1812- Devastating hurricane struck the Navy's New Orleans station, delaying military preparations in the War of 1812 1818 - Captain James Biddle takes possession of Oregon Territory for U.S. 1967 - Operation Coronado IV begins in Mekong Delta 1981 - Two VF-41 aircraft from USS Nimitz shoot down two Libyan aircraft which fired on them over international waters For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 16
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 16 1812 - USS Constitution recaptures American merchant brig Adeline 1954 - Beginning of Operation Passage to Freedom, transport of refugees from Haiphong to Saigon, Vietnam For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 15
Today in U.S. 1845 - U.S. Naval Academy established at Annapolis, Md. on former site of Fort Severn. 1895 - Commissioning of Texas, the first American steel-hulled battleship. Texas served off Cuba during the Spanish-American War and took part in the naval battle of Santiago. Under the name of San Marcos, she was sunk in weapon effects tests in Chesapeake Bay in 1911. Her hulk continued in use as a gunnery target through World War II. 1953 - First naval officer appointed Chairman, Joints Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William Radford. He served from August 15, 1953 until August 15, 1957.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 14
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 14 1813 - HMS Pelican captures USS Argus 1886 - SECNAV establishes Naval Gun Factory at Washington Navy Yard 1945 - Japan agrees to surrender; last Japanese ships sunk during World War II (August 15 in DC) For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 13
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 13 1777 - American explosive device made by David Bushnell explodes near British vessel off New London, Conn. 1846 - Joint expedition led by Commodore Robert Stockton seizes Los Angeles, Calif. 1870 - Armed tug Palos becomes first U.S. Navy ship to transit Suez Canal For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 12
Today in U.S. 1918 - SECNAV approves acceptance of women as yeoman in U.S. 1942 - USS Cleveland (CL-55) demonstrates effectiveness of radio-proximity fuze (VT-fuze) against aircraft by successfully destroying three drones with proximity bursts fired by her five-inch guns. 1944 - LT Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., USNR, the older brother of John F. Kennedy, was killed with his copilot in a midair explosion after taking off from England in a PB4Y from Special Attack Unit One (SAU-1). Following manual takeoff, they were supposed to parachute…
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 9
Today in U.S. 1815 - Capt. Stephen Decatur concludes treaty for U.S. 1842 - Signing of Webster-Ashburton Treaty under which U.S. and Great Britain agreed to cooperate in suppressing the slave trade. 1865 - Return of Naval Academy to Annapolis after four years at Newport, R.I. 1945 - Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Navy weaponeer arms the atomic bomb. 1949 - First use of pilot-ejection seat for emergency escape in U.S. made by LT Jack I. Fruin of VF-171 near Walterboro, S.C. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 8
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 8 1813- U.S. Schooners Hamilton and Scourge founder in storm on Lake Ontario 1959 - Announcement of Project Teepee, electronic system to monitor 95% of earth's atmosphere for missile launchings or nuclear explosions. System developed by William Thaler, Office of Naval Research physicist. 1972 - Women authorized for sea duty as regular ship's company For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 7
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 7 1782 - Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart) established 1942 - Navy Amphibious Task Force lands Marines on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands in first U.S. land offensive of World War II 1964 - Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed by Congress For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 6
Today in U.S. 1862 - CSS Arkansas destroyed by her commanding officer to prevent capture by USS Essex. 1943 - Battle of Vella Gulf begins. U.S. destroyers sink three of four Japanese destroyers. 1945 - Atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima, Japan. Navy weaponeer, Captain W.S. Parsons, USN, armed the atomic bomb on the B-29 bomber, Enola Gay. 1990 - President George Bush orders Operation Desert Shield, largest overseas deployment since Vietnam, to protect Saudi Arabia after Iraqi's invasion of Kuwait. 1997 - Naval Forces on Guam help rescue and begin providing medical care to survivors of Korean Airlines Flight 801 that crashed on Guam.
Today in U.S. Naval history: August 5
Today in U.S. 1832 - Frigate Potomac is first U.S. 1882 - Authorizing of first steel warships, beginning of the modern Navy. 1915 - First air spotting for shore batteries at Fort Monroe, Va. 1921 - Yangtze River Patrol Force established as command under Asiatic Fleet. 1990 - Navy and Marine Task Force (USS Saipan, USS Ponce, and USS Sumter) begin evacuation of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals from Liberia during civil war. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Today in U.S. Naval History: August 1
Today in U.S. Naval History - August 1 1801 - U.S. schooner Enterprise captures Tripolitan ship Tripoli 1921 - Successful tests of gyroscopic high level bombsight (Norden Bombsight) at Torpedo Station, Yorktown, Va. Carl Norden developed the bombsight for the Bureau of Ordnance. 1946 - Office of Naval Research established 1950 - Control of Guam transferred to Department of Interior 1958 - USS Nautilus (SSN-571) submerges under Arctic ice cap near Point Barrow For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
