This Day in Naval History - Dec. 27 1862 - During the Civil War, the ironclad river gunboat Baron De Kalb returns after a five-day Yazoo River mission, where the gunboat burns trapped steamers, captures and destroys large quantities of enemy equipment while also taking several prisoners. For distinguished actions during this mission, five men receive the Navy Medal of Honor. 1942 - On Dec. 27, the minelayers, USS Keokuk (CM 8), USS Salem (CM 11), and USS Weehawken (CM 12) began mining approaches to Casablanca, French Morocco, which lasts two days. 1943 - USS Flying Fish (SS 229) sinks the Japanese fleet tanker Kyuei Maru in the South China Sea west of Luzon Strait. Also on this date, USS Ray (SS 271) sinks the Japanese fleet tanker Kyoko Maru (ex-Dutch Semiramis) west of the Celebes. 1944 - Task Group 94.9, commanded by Rear Adm. Allan E. Smith, bombards Japanese installations on Iwo Jima. USS Dunlap (DD 384), USS Fanning (DD 385), and USS Cummings (DD 365) sink Japanese fast transport T.7 and landing ship T.132. 1990 - Lt. Cmdr. Darlene Iskra, the first female commanding officer of a U.S. Navy warship, reports for duty on board USS Opportune (ARS-41), then at Naples, Italy, serving until 1993.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 14:24:04 +0000