Today in U.S. Naval History: May 8

Today in U.S. Naval history - May 8

1911 - Navy ordered its first airplane, Curtiss A-1, Birthday of Naval Aviation.
1942 - Battle of the Coral Sea ends with Japanese retiring from area.
1945 - VE - Day, Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies.
1963 - Navy ships evacuate 2,279 civilians from Haiti during crisis.
1972 - U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft mine Haiphong Harbor in North Vietnam.

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