Today in U.S. Naval History: June 3
Today in U.S. Naval History - June 3
1785 - Order to sell last ship remaining in Continental Navy, frigate Alliance . No other Navy were ships authorized until 1794.
1898 - Collier Merrimac sunk in channel leading to Santiago, Cuba in unsuccessful attempt to trap Spanish fleet. The crew was captured and later received the Medal of Honor.
1949 - Wesley A. Brown becomes the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.
1966 - Launch of Gemini 9, piloted by L.Cdr. Eugene A. Cernan, USN. The mission included 45 orbits over three days. Recovery was by USS Wasp (CVS-18).
For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.