This Day in Navy History

Nov. 16: 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, N.C. 1963 - President John F. Kennedy on USS Observation Island (AG 154) 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 Lt. Col. Gerald P. Carr, USMC. The mission lasted 84 days and included 1,214 Earth orbits. Recovery by USS New Orleans (LPH-11) [Source: http://www.news.navy.mil]