This Day in Naval History - Oct. 26

1921 - In first successful test, a compressed-air, turntable catapult, launches a N-9 seaplane.

1922 - Lt. Cmdr. Godfrey de Chevalier makes fhe first landing aboard a carrier, USS Langley (CV 1), while underway off Cape Henry, Va.

1942 - USS Hornet (CV 8) was lost and USS Enterprise (CV 6) was badly damaged during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Island.

1944 - Battle of Leyte Gulf ends with Navy carrier and U.S. Army Air Forces aircraft attacks on the retreating Japanese ships. U.S. forces sink many Japanese ships, including four carriers, three battleships, 10 cruisers and nine destroyers, for a total of 26 capital ships.

1944 - Special Task Air Group 1 makes last attack in month-long demonstration of TDR drone missile against Japanese shipping and islands in the Pacific. Of 46 missiles fired, 29 reached their target areas.

1950 - U.S. Amphibious Force 7th Fleet lands 1st Marine Division at Wonsan, Korea.

1963 - USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN 619) launches first Polaris A-3 missile from a submerged submarine, off Cape Canaveral, Fla.