This Day in Naval History - April 24

From the Navy News Service

1778 - The 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 - A destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service.
1959 - The Organization of American States asks the United States to establish naval patrols off the 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.