This Day in Naval History - Oct. 20 From Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division 1864 - A boat expedition under Acting Master George E. Hill, with the screw steam gunboat Stars and Stripes, ascends the Ocklockonee River in Western Florida and destroys an extensive Confederate fishery on Marshs Island, capturing a detachment of soldiers assigned to guard the works. 1941 - USS Hornet (CV 8) is commissioned. During World War II, she participates in the Doolittle Raid on Japan, the Battle of Midway, and the Solomon Campaign. On Oct. 26, 1942, at the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, Hornet is severely damaged by the Japanese enemy and abandoned. Though U.S. destroyers attempt to scuttle her, Hornet remained afloat and was sunk by Japanese destroyers early the next morning. 1943 - TBFs from Composite Squadron (VC) 13, then based on board the escort carrier USS Core (CVE 13), sink the German submarine U 378 north of the Azores. 1944 - The U.S. Navy lands four Sixth Army divisions ashore on Leyte. Japanese aerial counter-attacks damage escort carrier Sangamon and a few other ships, but do not hinder the landings. Later in the day, Gen. Douglas MacArthur gives his I have returned radio message to the Philippine people. If Leyte is lost, the rest of the Philippines will soon follow, so the Japanese prepare to send five strong naval forces to drive off the American fleet and add more troops for the land fighting. In the following days, this response will lead to World War IIs biggest and most complex sea fight, the multi-pronged Battle of Leyte Gulf
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 23:40:07 +0000
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