Today in U.S. Naval History: June 20

Today in U.S. Naval History - June 20

1813 - Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage three British ships in Hampton Roads, Va.

1815 - Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the Navy's first steam-driven warship.

1898 - U.S. forces occupied Guam, which became first colony of U.S. in the Pacific.

1913 - First fatal accident in Naval Aviation, ENS W. D. Billingsley killed at Annapolis, Md.

1934 - Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet Admiral Frank Upham reports to CNO that based on analyses of Japanese radio traffic, "any attack by (Japan) would be made without previous declaration of war or intentional warning."

1944 - Battle of Philippine Sea ends with Japanese losing two aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center website at www.history.navy.mil.