Naval History and Heritage Command

Congress votes to raise two battalions of Continental Marines, establishing the Marine Corps.

During the Civil War, CSS Alabama captures and burns clipper ship Winged Racer carrying a cargo of sugar, hides, and jute in the Straits of Sunda off Java.

PB4Y-1 patrol bombers from VB-103, VB-105, and VB-110, along with British aircraft, sink the German submarine U-966 in the Bay of Biscay off northwest Spain. Spanish fishing trawlers rescue the survivors.

The first permanent Marine aviation detachment afloat is activated aboard USS Boxer (CVS 21) to provide supply, maintenance, and flight deck control functions necessary to support the operations of Marine helicopter squadrons.

USS Triton (SSRN 586) is commissioned as a nuclear-powered radar picket submarine.