A Grumman F9F-3 “Panther“ taxies forward on USS Valley Forge (CV 45). The fighter is preparing to be catapulted for strikes on targets along the east coast of Korea in July 1950. Note details of the ship's island, including scoreboard at left.

1898 - At Battle of Santiago, Cuba, Rear Adm. Sampson's squadron destroys Spanish fleet.

1950 - USS Valley Forge (CV 45) and HMS Triumph participate in first carrier action of Korean Conflict. VF-51 aircraft (Valley Forge) shoot down two North Korean aircraft. The action is first combat test of F9F Panther and AD Skyraider.

July 4

1776 - American colonies declare their independence from Great Britain.

1777 - John Paul Jones hoists first Stars and Stripes flag on U.S. Sloop-of-war Ranger at Portsmouth, N.H.

1801 - First Presidential Review of U.S. Marine Band and Marines at the White House.

1831 - U.S. concludes indemnity treaty with France.

1842 - First test of electrically operated underwater torpedo sinks gunboat Boxer.

1863 - Confederates surrender of Vicksburg, Miss., gives Union control of Mississippi River.

July 5

1814 - Sloop-of-war Peacock captures British ships Stranger, Venus, Adiona and Fortitude.

1815 - Commodore Stephen Decatur's squadron arrives at Tripoli to collect reparations for seizure of American merchant ships in violation of Treaty of 1805.

July 6

1747 - Birth of John Paul Jones at Arbigland, Scotland.

1898 - Armed Auxiliary Dixie captures Spanish ships Three Bells, Pilgrim and Greeman Castle.

1908 - Cmdr. Robert Peary sails in Roosevelt from New York to explore Arctic.

1911 - First naval aviation base established at Annapolis, Md.

1920 - Test and first use of radio compass in aircraft off Norfolk, Va.

1943 - Night battle of Kula Gulf results in loss of two Japanese destroyers and USS Helena (CL 50).

1976 - First women enter U.S. Naval Academy.

July 7

1798 - Congress rescinds treaties with France; Quasi War begins with frigate Delaware capturing French privateer, Croyable.

1846 - Commodore John D. Sloat lands at Monterey and claims California for U.S.

1916 - Thomas A. Edison becomes head of Naval Consulting Board which screens inventions for use by the Navy.

1948 - First six enlisted women sworn into Regular Navy. The Navy WAVES in Naval Reserve, who were the first to transfer to the Regular Navy, were Kay Louise Langdon, Aviation Storekeeper First Class; Wilma Juanita Marchal, Chief Yeoman; Frances Teresa Dovaney, Storekeeper Second Class; Edna Earle Young, Yeoman Second Class; Doris Roberta Robertson, Teleman Second Class; and Ruth Flora, Hospital Corpsman First Class.

July 8

1778 - Allied French fleet under Comte d'Estaing arrives in America.

1853 - Commodore Matthew C. Perry sails his squadron into Tokyo Bay.

1879 - Ill-fated steamship Jeannette departs San Francisco to explore Arctic. She carried Lt. Cmdr. G.W. DeLong and 32 other officers and enlisted on a journey that only 13 survived after more than two years on the ice.

1944 - Naval bombardment of Guam begins.

July 9

1846 - Sailors and Marines from US Sloop-of-war Portsmouth occupy and raise flag over San Francisco.

1918 - Henry Ford launches first of 100 Eagle boats.

1944 - Organized Japanese resistance ceases on Saipan, Marianas.

1960 - USS Wasp (CVA 18) departs Guantanamo Bay to support United Nations effort to calm the newly independent Congo.