Naval History and Heritage Command

During the Civil War, the side-wheel steam cruiser Augusta, commanded by Cmdr. Enoch G. Parrott, captures British blockade runner Cheshire off South Carolina.

During World War I, German submarine U-53 torpedoes and sinks USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) off England with the loss of 64 lives. U-53s commanding officer, Hans Rose, in a rare gesture, reports the 38 survivors drift location to the American base in Queenstown, Ireland.

USS Decatur (DD 341), in Task Unit 4.1.4, while on escort duty with convoy ONS 39, carries out a depth charge attack on a suspicious contact in the North Atlantic.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends a letter to the Japanese emperor reminding the Japanese leader of their country's long-standing relationship and his concern about developments occurring in the Pacific area.

USS Raven (AM 55) rescues 16 survivors from U.S. tanker Touchet, which was sunk by German submarine U 193 three days earlier. The entire merchant complement of 50 men survive but 10 of the 30-man armed guard are lost with the ship.

Cmdr. Lawrence E. Flint, Jr., piloting a McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II powered by two GE J-79 engines, betters the existing world altitude record by reaching 98,560 feet above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The previous record of 94,658 feet was reached in the USSR by a TU-431 jet.