This Week in Naval History

This Week in Naval History

17 May 1973: 1st woman to hold a major Navy commandOn 17 May 1973, Captain Robin Lindsay Catherine Quigley became the first woman to hold a major Navy command when she assumed command of U.S. Navy Service School, San Diego, California. Before assuming command, she served as the Director of the WAVES, from 1970 to 1972. Captain Quigley was commissioned in 1954 and retired from the US Navy after this tour. 

 

18 May 1775: Captured British sloop, renamed Enterprise

On 18 May 1775, during the American Revolution, Colonel Benedict Arnold captured a British sloop at St. Johns, Quebec, Canada and renamed her Enterprise -- the first of many famous ships with that name. During the evacuation of Ticonderoga on 7 July 1777, Enterprise was with a small American force which was no match for the British fleet and along with two other vessels, she was run aground and burned to prevent capture.

19 May 1813: USS Congress captured British merchant ship JeanOn 19 May 1813, during the War of 1812, the frigate Congress, commanded by John Smith, captured and burned the British merchant brig Jean in the Atlantic. Three days later, she captured the British merchant brig Diana. 

20 May 1844: USS Constitution departed NY for World CruiseOn 20 May 1844, the frigate Constitution, commanded by John Percival, sailed from New York to depart on her 32,279 mile round-the-world cruise. Heading eastward, she visited places such as Brazil, Zanzibar, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and Hawaii before returning back to Boston, Massachusetts, in September 1846.

21 May 1918: MOH – Ensign Daniel A. Sullivan, USNRFOn 21 May 1918, during World War I, while serving as an officer of USS Christabel (SP-162), Ensign Daniel A.J. Sullivan, USNRF, exhibited "extraordinary heroism" in securing live depth charges that had come loose during combat with a German U-Boat. For his action on this occasion, he received the Medal of Honor. Sullivan attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander before leaving the reserves and died on 27 January 1941.

22-23 May 1958: F4D-1 set five world records in speedOn 22-23 May 1958, Major Edward N. LeFaivre, USMC, piloted an F4D-1 at Naval Air Missile Test Center (NAMTC), Point Mugu, Calif., to five world records in speed of climb to 3,000, 6,000, 9,000, 12,000, and 15,000 meters with marks of 44.392, 66.095, 90.025, 111.224, and 156.233 seconds.