April 18
1906 – Navy assists in relief operations during San Francisco earthquake and fire
1942 - USS Hornet launches Doolittle’s Army bombers for first attack on Japan
USS Hornet (CV-8) launches Army Air Force B-25B bombers, at the start of the first U.S. air raid on the Japanese home islands, 18 April 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
1988 – Navy destroys 2 Iranian surveillance platforms, sinks one frigate and one patrol ships, and severely damages a second frigate in retaliation for attack on USS Samuel B. Roberts
April 19
1955 – USS Albany and USS William Wood begin to provide disaster relief to citizens of Volos, Greece, ending 21 April
1989 – an explosion occurred in turret 2 of the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) as the ship conducted gunnery practice near Puerto Rico. The explosion, which began in the gunpowder charge of the center gun, spread through the three gun rooms and much of the lower levels of the turret. Forty-seven Sailors died. RIP Shipmates. You Stand Relieved. We have the watch.
April 20
1914 – In first call to action of naval aviators, detachment on USS Birmingham sailed to Tampico, Mexico.
1942 – USS Wasp (CV-7) launches 47 British aircraft to reinforce Malta
British Royal Air Force Spitfire V fighter takes off from the carrier, after a 200-foot run, May 1942. Probably taken during Wasp's second Malta aircraft ferry mission. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
1953 – USS New Jersey shells Wonsan, Korea from inside the harbor.
1964 – USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) launches a Polaris A-2 missile from the surface in first demonstration that Polaris submarines could launch missiles from the surface as well as from beneath the ocean. 30 minutes later the submarine launched another Polaris missile while submerged.
April 21
1861 – USS Saratoga captures slaver, Nightingale.
1898 – U.S. at war against Spain
April 22
1778 – Captain John Paul Jones of Ranger led landing party raid on Whitehaven, England
1898 – U.S. warships begin blockade of Cuba
April 23
1918 – USS Stewart destroys German submarine off France
1945 – In only U.S. use of guided missiles in WW II, 2 BAT missiles release at Balikiapan, Borneo
April 24
1778 – Continental Navy sloop Ranger captures HMS Drake
1862 – Battle of New Orleans; Union Navy under David Farragut runs past forts into Mississippi River
1917 – Destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service
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