JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
April 24, 1778 - The Continental Navy sloop Ranger captured HMS Drake
April 25, 1862 - Union naval forces occupied New Orleans, La.
April 26, 1952 - USS Hobson sank after it collided with USS Wasp; 176 lives were lost.
April 27, 1861 - President Lincoln extended the blockade of the Confederacy to Virginia and North Carolina ports.
April 28, 1993 - A Secretary of Defense memo ordered the Armed Forces to train and assign women on combat aircraft and most combat ships, but not to ground combat positions.
April 29, 1975 - Operation Frequent Wind evacuation from Vietnam began.
April 30, 1798 - Congress established the Department of the Navy.