Naval History and Heritage Command

In the largest prize value of the American Revolution, Commodore Abraham Whipples squadron consisting of Continental frigates Providence, Queen of France and sloop Ranger, captures 11 British prizes off the Newfoundland Banks sailing from Jamaica. The cargoes are worth more than $1 million.

Continental Navy Capt. John Paul Jones dies in Paris, France. A legend during the American Revolution, Jones argues for Congress establishing a United States Navy. When it fails to do so, the unemployed captain found work as a rear admiral in the Russian navy for a couple of years, but eventually returns to France, where he dies. More than a century later, his body is discovered, exhumed, brought back to the United States under huge fanfare and reburied in a magnificent sarcophagus at the United States Naval Academy.

During the War of 1812, the frigate, USS President, commanded by John Rodgers, sinks the British brig, HMS Daphne, off the Irish coast. In the next few weeks, she engages three more vessels. USS President captures the ship, HMS Eliza Swan July 24, burns the brig, HMS Alert, on July 29, and captures the bark Lion on Aug. 2.

U.S. Army and U.S.  Navy aircraft sink the ex-German cruiser, Frankfurt, in target practice as part of General Billy Mitchell’s aerial bombing demonstration. 

German submarine (U 134) shoots down (K 47), the first and only U.S. airship lost during WW II, in the Fla. straits. In Aug. 1943, (U 134) is sunk by British aircraft near Vigo, Spain.

Gemini 10 is launched with Lt. Cmdr. John L. Young as command pilot and Michael Collins is the pilot. The mission entails 43 orbits at an altitude of 412.2 nautical miles and lasts two days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes.

USS Dallas (SSN 700) is commissioned at Groton, Conn., her first homeport. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is the first to be built with an all-digital fire control and sonar system.

USS Shiloh (CG 67) is commissioned at Bath, Maine. The 21st Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser is the named after the Civil War Battle of Shiloh.