This Day in Naval History – Nov. 17
1776 - First salute to an American flag (Grand Union flag) flying from Continental Navy ship Andrew Doria, by Dutch fort at St. Eustatius, West Indies.
1856 - Barrier Forts reduction began at Canton China.
1942 - Navy's first Night Fighter squadron (VMF(N)-531) established at Cherry Point, NC.
1963 - President John F. Kennedy on USS Observation Island witnesses launch of Polaris A-2 missile by USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619).
1968 - Operation Tran Hung Dao began in Mekong Delta.
1973 - Launch of Skylab 4 under command of LTC Gerald P. Carr, USMC. The missions lasted 84 days and included 1,214 Earth orbits. Recovery by USS New Orleans (LPH-11).
(Source: Navy News Service)