Today in U.S. Naval History: September 16

Posted by Eric Haun September 16, 2014

USS Grayback (USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst)

Today in U.S. Naval History - September 16

1854 - Cdr. David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific.

1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad

1922 - Cdr. Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey.

1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft.

1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off Calif. coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile.

1966 - USS Oriskany helicopters rescue 44-men crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong

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