Naval History and Heritage Command

During the American Revolution, the Continental sloop Providence, commanded by Capt. J. P. Rathbun, attacks New Providence Island, spikes the guns of the fort, captures small arms, holds off the sloop of war Grayton, and captures a privateer and five other vessels, while freeing 20 released American prisoners.

Submarine USS Gudgeon (SS-211) becomes the first US Navy submarine to sink an enemy Japanese submarine in action during World War II.

Destroyer USS Higbee (DD-806) is commissioned. She is the first U.S. Navy combat ship to bear the name of a female member of the naval service.

US Navy carrier aircraft cut the Korean railroad, a constant target during the Korean War, in 165 places, a record for a single days aircraft operations by Fast Carrier Task Force (TF 77).

Tragedy strikes the Apollo space program when a flash fire occurs in command module 012 during a launch pad test of the Apollo/Saturn space vehicle being prepared for the first piloted flight, the AS-204 mission. Three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, a veteran of Mercury and Gemini missions; Lt. Col. Edward H. White, the astronaut who had performed the first United States extravehicular activity during the Gemini program; and (Navy LCDR) Roger B. Chaffee, an astronaut preparing for his first space flight, die in this tragic accident.

The Paris Peace Accords are signed, ending U.S. participation in the Vietnam War.