Today in U.S. Naval History: April 15

MarineLink.com April 15, 2014

USS Chester (Photo courtesy NavSource)

Today in U.S. Naval History: April 15

1885 - Naval forces land at Panama to protect American interests during revolution

1912 - USS Chester and USS Salem sailed from MA to assist RMS Titanic survivors

1918 - First Marine Aviation Force formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla.

1961 - Launching of first nuclear-powered frigate, USS Bainbridge, at Quincy, Mass.

1962 - USS Princeton brought first Marine helicopters to Vietnam. This was first Marine advisory unit to arrive in South Vietnam.

1986 - Operation Eldorado Canyon, Navy aircraft from USS America (CV-66) and USS Coral Sea (CV-43) attack Libya in conjunction with USAF aircraft after Libya linked to terrorist bombing of West Berlin discotheque which killed one American and injured 78 people.

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