This Day in Naval History - Nov. 08

From the Navy News Service

1861 - Capt. Charles Wilkes seizes two Confederate diplomats from the British steamer Trent, causing an international controversy with Great Britain (known as the Trent Affair).

1942 - Operation Torch (Allied landings in French Northwest Africa). American forces land at Casablanca. French naval forces attack U.S. Navy ships and 13 French ships are sunk without a loss to the U.S.

1956 - Navy Stratolab balloon (Lt. Cmdr. Malcolm D. Ross and 2Lt. Cmdr. M. Lee Lewis) better world height record soaring to 76,000 feet over Black Hills, S.D., on flight to gather meteorological, cosmic ray, and other scientific data.

1975 - More than 100 Sailors and Marines from USS Inchon (LPH 12) and USS Bagley (DE 1069) fight a fire aboard a Spanish merchant vessel at Palma.