Naval History and Heritage Command

Midshipman Philip Spence, Boatswains Mate Samuel Cromwell, and Seaman Elisha Small of the Bainbridge-class brig Somers are executed for mutiny. Spencer was the son of then-Secretary of War, John Canfield Spencer.

Rear Adm. Alfred Thayer Mahan dies. A graduate of the Naval Academy and a veteran of the Civil War, he served two tours as President of the Naval War College. He is also known for his numerous naval publications, notably The Influence of Sea Power upon History.

The first flight of an airship filled with helium, the C-7, leaves Norfolk, Va., and arrives later that day in Washington, D.C. The airship is commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Lansdowne and piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Ralph F. Wood.

USS Bonefish (SS 223) sinks Japanese transport Nichiryo Maru in the Celebes Sea while USS Pargo (SS 264) sinks the Japanese transport Shoko Maru north of Ulithi. Also on this date, USS Peto (SS 265) sinks Japanese transport Tonei Maru.

Capt. Sue S. Dauser, Navy Nurse Corps, receives the first Distinguished Service Medal awarded to a nurse for her leadership of Navy nurses during World War II.

USS Taylor (FFG 50) is commissioned. The ship is named after the late Jesse Junior Taylor, who gave his life attempting to save the life of a downed pilot during an attack on the key bridge near the North Vietnamese port of Haiphong, and consequently awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism.

Pilots and Sailors of VP-16 arrive on station at Kadena Air Base Okinawa for the first deployment of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The P-8A will eventually replace the venerable P-3 Orion.