This Day in Naval History – Dec. 12

1862 - Confederate torpedo (mine) sinks USS Cairo in Yazoo River.

1937 - Japanese aircraft sink USS Panay in Yangtze River near Nanking, China.

1941 - Naval Air Transport Service is established.

1951 - First flight of helicopter with gas-turbine engine at Windsor Locks, CT, demonstrates adaptability of this engine to helicopters.

1972- Captain Eugene A. Cernan, USN, commander of Apollo 17, walks on the Moon. Commander Ronald E. Evans, USN, was the Command Module Pilot. The mission lasted 12 days, 13 hours and 52 minutes. Recovery by HC-1 helicopters from USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14).

(Source: Nay News Service)