This Day in Naval History – 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

1884 - USS Thetis, Bear, and Alert sailed from New York to search for Greeley expedition lost in Arctic

1906- Ceremonies at Naval Academy commemorate John Paul Jones; President Theodore Roosevelt delivers speech

1917 - Destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service

1959 - Organization of American States asks U.S. to establish naval patrols off east coast of Panama to prevent invasion of Cuban forces

1974 - Naval forces begin minesweeping operations in the Suez Canal Zone

1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite.

(Source: Navy News Service)