This Day in Naval History - Feb. 21

1861 - Steven R. Mallory, a former chairman of the U.S. House Naval Affairs Committee, is appointed Secretary of the Navy of the Confederate States.

1943 - American forces land unopposed on the Russell Islands, 30 miles northwest of Guadalcanal, beginning the advance through the central Solomons.

1944 - U.S. Marines, with support of naval bombardment and carrier aircraft, secure Eniwetok Atoll.

1991 - Marine AV-8Bs conduct bombing runs off the flight deck of USS Nassau (LHA 4). This is the first time in history that Marine AV-8B jump jets have conducted combat missions from a helicopter assault ship.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.