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NEWS | April 12, 2011

This week in Navy history

By Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

April 10, 1963 - During diving tests, the submarine USS Thresher was lost with all hands (112 crew and 12 civilians) east of Cape Cod, Mass.

April 11, 1970 - Apollo 13, commanded by Navy Capt. James Lovell, Jr., blasted off on a mission to the moon. An explosion on board forced the spacecraft to circle the moon without landing.

April 12, 1911 - Lt. Theodore Ellyson qualified as the first naval aviator.

April 13, 1960 - The Navy's navigation satellite, Transit, was placed into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

April 14, 1988 - USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine off Qatar.

April 15, 1918 - First Marine Aviation Force was formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla.

April 16, 1947 - An Act of Congress gave Navy Nurse Corps members commissioned rank.