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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Today in Naval History
July 1
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1972 - Rear Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. becomes the first African-American to achieve flag rank in the U.S. Navy.
On This Day

1801

Commodore Richard Dale's squadron arrives at Gibraltar for the protection of American interests and to strike at the Barbary Pirates in the Mediterranean. Squadron ships were USS President, USS Philadelphia, USS Essex, and USS Enterprise.

1850

The Naval School at Annapolis, Md., is renamed the U.S. Naval Academy and adopts a four-year course of study. Also on this date, Commander Cornelius K. Stribling becomes the first Superintendent of the Naval Academy and serves until the fall of 1853.

1911

Designer Glenn Curtiss makes the first flight in the Navys first aircraft, Curtiss A 1, at Lake Keuka, NY, and prepares Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson, the first Naval Aviator, for his two A 1 solo flights.

1918

USS Covington (No. 1409), is torpedoed by German submarine (U 86) and sinks the next day while in tow. Of the 776 onboard, all but six are saved.

1931

USS Constitution is re-commissioned after a four-year, nearly $1 million restoration. The next day, the ship and crew began a three-year, three-coast tour of the U.S., visiting 76 ports and hosting 4.6 million people; the tour, known as the “National Cruise”, was intended to thank U.S. citizens who had supported “Old Ironsides’” restoration.

1946

The atmospheric nuclear weapon test, Able, is detonated during Operation Crossroads at the Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.

1972

Rear Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. becomes the first African-American to achieve flag rank in the U.S. Navy.

1995

USS Whirlwind (PC 11) is commissioned in Memphis, TN. The 11th Cyclone-class patrol craft is currently homeported in Manama, Bahrain.