This Day in Navy History - August 20-22

August 20

1952 - In interservice air operation at Chang Pyong-ni, Korea, U.S. Navy, Marine and Air Force aircraft destroy 80 percent of assigned area.
1959 - USS Thetis Bay (LPH-6) completes 6-day humanitarian operation after floods in Taiwan.
1969 - Navy Seabees and sailors from Helicopter Training Squadron Eight (HT-8) evacuated 820 people from Pass Christian, MS after Hurricane Camille.

August 21

1800 - U.S. Marine Corps Band gave its first concert in Washington, D.C.
1883 - Installation of the first electric lighting on a US Navy Ship completed on USS Trenton.
1920 - Radio station built by U.S. Navy and French Government transmits first wireless message heard around the world. At time it was the most powerful radio station in the world.
1951 - First contract for nuclear-powered submarine awarded.
1965 - Launch of Gemini 5, piloted by LCDR Charles Conrad Jr., USN, who completed 120 orbits in almost 8 days at an altitude of 349.8 km. Recovery was by helicopter from USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39).
1980 - USS Truxtun rescues 42 Vietnamese refugees and USS Merrill rescues 62 Vietnamese refugees, over 200 miles southeast of Saigon

August 22

1912 - Birthday of Dental Corps
1945 - First surrender of Japanese garrison at end of World War II; USS Levy receives surrender of Mille Atoll in Marshall Islands
1980 - USS Passumpsic rescues 28 Vietnamese refugees