Today in U.S. Naval History: August 12

MarineLink.com August 12, 2013

USS Cleveland (CL-55), U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph

Today in U.S. Naval History - August 12

1812 - USS Constitution captures and destroys brig Adeona

1918 - SECNAV approves acceptance of women as yeoman in U.S. Navy

1942 - USS Cleveland (CL-55) demonstrates effectiveness of radio-proximity fuze (VT-fuze) against aircraft by successfully destroying three drones with proximity bursts fired by her five-inch guns.

1944 - LT Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., USNR, the older brother of John F. Kennedy, was killed with his copilot in a midair explosion after taking off from England in a PB4Y from Special Attack Unit One (SAU-1). Following manual takeoff, they were supposed to parachute out over the English Channel while the radio-controlled explosive filled drone proceeded to attack a German V-2 missile-launching site. Possible causes include faulty wiring or FM signals from a nearby transmitter.

1957 - In first test of Automatic Carrier Landing System, LCDR Don Walker is landed on USS Antietam.

1958 - USS Nautilus (SSN-571) arrives Portland, England completing first submerged under ice cruise from Pacific to Atlantic Oceans.

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