This Day in Naval History - Oct. 17

1922 - Lt. Cmdr. Virgil C. Griffin, in a Vought VE-7SF makes first the takeoff from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV 1) anchored in York River, Va.

1941 - German U-boat U-568 torpedoes and damages USS Kearny (DD 432) near Iceland, resulting in 11 killed and 22 injured.

1944 - Naval Forces land Army Rangers on islands at the entrance to Leyte Gulf in preparation for landings.

1989 - Following the San Francisco earthquake, 24 Navy and Military Sealift Command ships render assistance.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil. E-mail this story to a friend | Send a comment about this story