Today in U.S. Naval History: April 1

MarineLink.com April 1, 2014

USS Bush (DD 529), USS Colhoun (DD 801) and other vessels sank after Japanese kamikazes attacked them off the coast of Okinawa. Both the Bush and Colhoun shot down several Japanese planes during the attack. (U.S. Navy photo)

Today in U.S. Naval History - April 1

1893 - Navy General Order 409 of February 25, 1893 establishes the rate of Chief Petty Officer as of this date.

1917 - Boatswain's Mate 1/c John I. Eopolucci, a Naval Armed Guard on board the steamship Aztec, died when the vessel was sunk by a German U-boat. He was the first U.S. Navy sailor killed in action in World War I.

1942 - First Naval Air Transportation Service (NATS) squadron for Pacific operations commissioned

1945 - More than 1,200 Navy ships and Army troops begin invasion of Okinawa

1966 - The command, U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam established

1967 - Helicopter squadron HAL 3 activated at Vung Tau

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.