This Day in Coast Guard History – May 24

1830-Navy officers, under furlough from the Navy until April 1832, were given commissions in the Revenue Service.

1941-CGC Modoc sighted the German battleship Bismarck while the cutter searched for survivors of a convoy southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland.  British Swordfish torpedo planes from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Victorious circled Modoc as they flew towards the German battleship's position.  The Modoc's crew then spotted the flashes caused by anti-aircraft fire from the Bismarck and then sighted British warships on the opposite horizon.  The cutter then maneuvered to avoid contact with any of the warships and managed to steam out of the area unscathed.

(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)