This Day In Naval History: August 24
1814 - During the War of 1812, the British invade Md. and burn Washington, D.C. Commodore Thomas Tingey, superintendent of the Washington Navy Yard, burns the Navy Yard to prevent British access during the invasion.
1862 - During the Civil War, Capt. Raphael Semmes takes command of CSS Alabama at sea off the island of Terceira, Azores, beginning his career of raiding American commerce.
1912 - The collier, USS Jupiter, is launched. The vessel is the first electrically-propelled Navy ship. She is renamed USS Langley in April 1920 with the designation of aircraft carrier CV-1 and a few months later becomes the Navys first aircraft carrier in March 1922 following conversion.
1942 - Task Force 61, commanded by Vice Adm. Frank J. Fletcher, engages the Japanese First Carrier Division, Third Fleet, commanded by Vice Adm. Nagumo Chuchi, during Battle of Eastern Solomons. Planes from Japanese carrier, Ryujo, bomb U.S. positions on Lunga Point but SBDs from VB-3 and TBFs from VT-8 off carrier USS Saratoga (CV 3) sink Ryujo. Additionally, USS Enterprise (CV 6) is damaged by carrier bombers from Japanese carrier, Shokaku. As a result of this battle, the Japanese recall the expedition to recapture Guadalcanal.
1943 - TBF aircraft from USS Core (CVE 13) sinks the German submarine (U 185) southwest of the Azores.
1992 - USS Essex (LHD 2) is commissioned without ceremony from Pascagoula, Miss., in order to take part in an emergency sortie to avoid Hurricane Andrew. After transiting through the Panama Canal, USS Essex is officially commissioned Oct. 17 at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego.
