JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Nov. 14, 1910 - Eugene Ely, a civilian, pilots the first aircraft to take-off from a ship, the USS Birmingham (CL-2) at Hampton Roads, Va. He landed safely on Willoughby Spit, Norfolk, VA.
Nov. 15, 1942 - Although the U.S. lost several ships in the naval battle of Guadalcanal, naval forces under Rear Adm. Willis Lee, USS Washington (BB-56), turned back Japanese transports trying to reinforce Guadalcanal. The Japanese never again try to send large naval forces to Guadalcanal.
Nov. 16, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy on USS Observation Island witnessed the launch of a Polaris A-2 missile by USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619).
Nov. 17, 1924 - USS Langley, the first aircraft carrier, reported for duty.
Nov. 18, 1890 - USS Maine, the first American battleship launched.
Nov. 19, 1969 - Navy astronauts Cmdr. Charles Conrad Jr. and Cmdr. Alan L. Bean are the third and fourth men to walk on the moon as part of the Apollo 12 mission. Cmdr. Richard F. Gordon, Jr., the Command Module Pilot, remained in lunar orbit. During the mission lasting 19 days, four hours, and 36 minutes, the astronauts recovered 243 lbs of lunar material.
Nov. 20, 1962 - President John F. Kennedy lifts the naval Blockade of Cuba.