This Day in Naval History – Nov. 17

1776 - First salute to an American flag (Grand Union flag) flying from Continental Navy ship Andrew Doria, by Dutch fort at St. Eustatius, West Indies.

1856 - Barrier Forts reduction began at Canton China.

1942 - Navy's first Night Fighter squadron (VMF(N)-531) established at Cherry Point, NC.

1963 - President John F. Kennedy on USS Observation Island witnesses launch of Polaris A-2 missile by USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619).

1968 - Operation Tran Hung Dao began in Mekong Delta.

1973 - Launch of Skylab 4 under command of LTC Gerald P. Carr, USMC. The missions lasted 84 days and included 1,214 Earth orbits. Recovery by USS New Orleans (LPH-11).

(Source: Navy News Service)