SeaWaves Today in History April 27, 2009 1509 - Pope Julius II excommunicated the Italian state of Venice. (The pope lifted the excommunication in February 1510) 1521 - After traveling three-quarters of the way around the globe, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan is killed during a tribal skirmish on Mactan Island in the Philippines. Earlier in the month, his ships had dropped anchor at the Philippine island of Cebú, and Magellan met with the local chief, who after converting to Christianity persuaded the Europeans to assist him in conquering a rival tribe on the neighboring island of Mactan. In the subsequent fighting, Magellan was hit by a poisoned arrow and left to die by his retreating comrades 1805 - During the First Barbary War, an American-led force of Marines and mercenaries captured the city of Derna, on the shores of Tripoli. Raising of the first US flag over foreign soil 1813 - US Navy and Army forces capture York (now Toronto), Canada 1822 - 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio 1831 - Steamship Royal William launched at Quebec City; first Canadian vessel to cross the Atlantic entirely under steam power 1861 - President Lincoln extended blockade of Confederacy to VA and NC ports 1865 - Body of John Wilkes Booth brought to Washington Navy Yard 1865 - The United States suffered its greatest loss of life in a maritime disaster when the Mississippi River steamboat Sultana, Captain J. Cass Mason, Master, exploded near Memphis, Tennessee. Sultana was a relatively new ship, launched at Cincinnati in 1863. She was 260 feet long and had an authorized capacity of 376 passengers and crew. During the Civil War, Sultana was employed carrying troops and supplies along the lower Mississippi River. Now that the war was over, regular river travel was beginning again. Sultana left New Orleans on April 21, with 100 passengers for a trip up river. She stopped at Vicksburg, Mississippi, for repairs to a leaky boiler. The ship's engineer advised the Master that two boiler plates needed to be replaced, but Captain Mason ordered the plates patched until the ship reached St Louis, Missouri, after competing scheduled stops at Memphis, Cairo, Evansville, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Mason was part owner of the riverboat. He and the other owners were anxious to pick up discharged Union prisoners at Vicksburg. The federal government promised to pay $5 for each enlisted man and $10 for each officer delivered to the North. The potential for huge profits motivated Mason to convince local military authorities to embark the entire contingent, despite the presence of two other steamboats at Vicksburg. Sultana left Vicksburg carrying 2,100 troops plus 200 civilians, more than six times its capacity. On the evening of April 26, the ship stopped at Memphis before crossing the river to load coal in Arkansas. Just before midnight, Sultana continued her trip up river, bound for Cairo. Most of the servicemen aboard were to disembark there. The Mississippi River was at flood stage, and the overloaded ship was strained to make headway against the powerful current. By 0200 the ship had made only a few miles when a powerful explosion occurred when the boiler failed. Escaping steam and metal fragments killed hundreds immediately and hundreds more were thrown into river. Back at Memphis, the watch onboard USS. Grosbeak, a river gunboat, saw the light and heard the noise. The captain ordered the ship away immediately and Grosbeak raced up the river, followed soon afterwards by other river steamboats. The mid-section of Sultana was destroyed by the explosion and fire spread rapidly to the surrounding spaces. The superstructure collapsed partially into the middle of the ship, sending hundreds of people sliding into a raging fire in what had been the engine room. The ship drifted down river fully in flames, coming to rest against a small island before sinking. Approximately 1,700 passengers were lost. Only 600 people survived the explosion. Many of these died over the next few days due to burns and exposure, because of their already debilitated state. The Sultana disaster received little attention in the contemporary press. The death of President Lincoln 11 days before, the surrender of the Army of Virginia by General Lee at Appomattox, and the surrender of the General Joseph E. Johnston's army the day before the disaster dominated the papers. A formal inquiry into the cause of the accident attributed the disaster to boiler failure 1896 - Battleship FS Bouvet launched 1906 - Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sergey Witte resigns. His resignation was accepted by the tsar two days later and he was succeeded in the Council of Ministers by IL Goremykin 1911 - Submarine HMS E3 laid down 1915 - Commander Edward Courtney Boyle RN in command of HM S/M E 14 dived his vessel under enemy minefields and entered the Sea of Marmara on the 27th April, 1915. In spite of great navigational difficulties from strong currents, of the continual neighborhood of hostile patrols, and of the hourly danger of attack from the enemy, he continued to operate in the narrow waters of the Straits and succeeded in sinking two Turkish gunboats and one large military transport 1916 - FSLt Andrew John Boddy (Toronto) flying from NAS Killingholme is accidentally killed when Sopwith Baby #8147 is wrecked on the North Sea 1918 - Destroyer HMS Scout launched 1918 - Destroyers HMS Vanessa, Vidette & Wolfhound commissioned 1918 - Submarine HMS H25 launched 1935 - Soviet submarines SC-315 & SC-424 launched 1935 - Destroyer HMS Fortune commissioned 1936 - Minesweeper HMS Hebe laid down 1937 - Aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious laid down 1938 - U-45 launched 1938 - Poland and Britain signed naval agreement 1939 - Germany denounced the Anglo-German naval agreement of June 18, 1935 1939 - Light cruiser HMS Ceylon laid down 1939 - Submarine USS Thresher laid down 1940 - Corvette HMCS Nanaimo laid down Esquimalt BC 1940 - Soviet submarine SC-136 launched 1940 - U-102 commissioned 1940 - U-567, U-568 laid down 1940 - Destroyer USS Walke commissioned 1941 - Corvette HMCS Rimouski commissioned 1941 - Operation Dunlop - 24 Hurricanes delivered from carrier, HMS Ark Royal. 23 arrive in Malta 1941 - As units of the Mediterranean Fleet carry out the evacuation of Greece, destroyers HMS Diamond & Wryneck rescue troops from the bombed transport 'Slamat' Shortly afterwards, both are sunk by more German bombers off Cape Malea at the SE tip of Greece. There are few survivors from the three ships 1941 - During the evacuation of Greece, destroyers HMS Diamond & Wryneck were sunk by German aircraft. 148 killed on Diamond 1941 - Destroyer HMS Farndale commissioned 1941 - At 0130, the Henri Mory, dispersed from Convoy SL-68, was hit by one torpedo from U-110 and sank about 330 miles WNW of Blaskets Islands, Ireland. A Russian survivor was picked up by the U-boat, questioned and later put into a dinghy with a bottle of spirits. The Germans identified the ship as Andre Moyrand, but this is not possible because she survived the war and was not at sea on this date. 26 crewmembers and two gunners were lost. The master & two crewmembers were picked up by destroyer HMS Hurricane & landed at Gourock on 1 May. One crewmember was rescued after 8 days by the British merchantman Lycaon 1941 - At 0242, the unescorted Rimfakse was torpedoed by U-147 east of the Shetlands and sank in two minutes. Eleven crewmembers were lost. The master and seven survivors managed to get on a raft, but they were not able to help others that were crying for help in the dark. At dawn they reached another raft by paddling, distributed themselves on the rafts and tied them together. Later that day, the survivors were picked up by Hengist and taken to Scrabster 1941 - At 1612, the unescorted Beacon Grange was torpedoed & sunk by U-552 south of Iceland. Two crewmembers were lost. The master, 73 crewmembers and eight gunners were picked up by Belgian trawler Edouvard Anseele, transferred to corvette HMS Gladiolus & landed at Londonderry 1941 - ASW trawler HMS Commander Horton sunk by U-552 at 62N, 16W 1942 - In the House of Commons in Ottawa, a plebiscite was held to determine the necessity for conscription. After much discussion and political in-fighting, it was decided that conscription would be implemented “if necessary.” The RCN was almost entirely a volunteer force and the conscription issue played no part in the history of the Canadian Navy 1942 - Patrol vessel (ex-fishing vessel) HMCS Camenita commissioned 1942 - USSR Baltic Fleet, Ladoga and Onega Flotillas - Shipping loss. Training Ship TS "Svir" is sunk by aviation, at Leningrad 1942 - Minesweeper USS Candid laid down 1942 - Destroyer FS La Combattante (ex-HMS Haldon) launched 1942 - U-657 was damaged in an Allied air raid at Trondheim. One crewmember was injured 1943 - Tug HMCS Glenada laid down Owen Sound ON 1943 - Corvette HMCS North Bay launched Collingwood ON 1943 - Corvette HMCS Shediac arrived Liverpool NS for refit 1943 - Submarine HMS Utica laid down 1943 - U-806 laid down 1943 - Destroyer escort USS Barber laid down 1943 - At 1426, U-371 attacked a small convoy consisting of Merope & the French SS Cevennes, escorted by ASW trawler HMS Rothesay about 10 miles ENE of Cape Bengut. The Merope was hit by a torpedo fired from a distance of 3000 meters, settled with a heavy list to port and sank in a short time. The master and nine men from the crew of 28 crewmembers & six British gunners were lost. The survivors were picked up by the other two ships of the convoy and landed at Algiers 1943 - U-174 sunk south of Newfoundland, in position 43.35N, 56.18W, by depth charges from a USN VP-125 Ventura. 53 dead (all hands lost) 1943 - Destroyer escort USS Neunzer launched 1943 - In the Indian Ocean, U-180 met the Japanese submarine I-29. Two Indian Nationalists transferred to the Japanese submarine, which continued on its way to Japan 1943 - Submarine USS Puffer commissioned 1943 - Minesweeper HMAS Benalla commissioned 1944 - Frigate HMCS Kirkland Lake (ex-St Jerome) launched Quebec City PQ 1944 - Corvette HMCS Stellarton launched Midland ON 1944 - Frigate HMCS Valleyfield departed Londonderry with Convoy ONM-234 1944 - Submarine HMS Untiring (Lt. Boyd) sinks the German UJ 6075/Clairvoyant 1944 - Submarine USS Corporal laid down 1944 - Destroyer escort USS Heyliger laid down 1944 - Escort carrier USS Makassar Strait commissioned 1944 - U-803 sunk in the Baltic Sea near Swinemünde, in position 53.55N, 14.17E, by a mine. 9 dead and 35 survivors 1945 - Admiral Berkley leads a squadron of 3 US cruisers and 6 destroyers in bombarding targets on Borneo, near Tarakan. These will continue through the 30th 1945 - Off Okinawa, kamikaze aircraft sink the US freighter SS Canada Victory and damage the destroyer USS Ralph Talbot, destroyer escort USS England & high-speed transport USS Rathburne. Japanese demolition boats are also active damaging a large support landing craft [LCS(L)] and the destroyer USS Hutchins; another boat is sunk by an infantry landing craft (rocket) [LCI(R)]. Japanese shore batteries damage the heavy cruiser USS Wichita 1945 - Submarine HMS Teredo launched 1945 - U-1231 sailed from Norway on her final patrol 1945 - Frigate HMAS Diamantina commissioned 1945 - Destroyer USS Hutchins seriously damaged by a Japanese suicide boat in Buckner Bay Okinawa not repaired after the end of the war 1945 - Frigate HMS Redmill torpedoed by U-1105 & declared a total loss. Returned to USN 20 Jan 1947 & scrapped 1946 - Destroyer USS Damato commissioned 1951 - Armament carrier Bedenham CTL after ammunition explosion at Gibraltar 1953 - Patrol craft (ex-Fairmile) HMCS Cougar commissioned 1953 - Destroyer HMCS Cayuga visited Vancouver BC 1954 - Destroyers HMCS Cayuga & Haida at Koshiki Jima East Coast of Korea 1956 - RCN HU 21 Sikorsky HO4S a/c #55144 crashed on McNabs Island, S/Lt (P) Donald James Neilly RCN recovered, safely Destroyer HMCS Annapolis launched Halifax NS 1971 - USS Kitty Hawk port call Subic Bay 1982 - The War Cabinet approves the landing of forces in the Falklands 1982 - Landing Ship Logistic (LSL) Sir Bedivere and roll on roll off ferry Norland, carrying part of 2 PARA, sail from the UK 1991 - Torpedo Sound Range Vessel CFAV Sikanni commissioned 2002 - Supply ship HMCS Preserver & destroyer HMCS Iroquois returned to Halifax from Operation Apollo, Arabian Sea deployed for 193 days during which she spent 171 days at sea, including 51 days consecutively. Traveled approx 44,000 n/m, transferred 1,380 cargo pellets, or 203,192 kg & almost 27m liters of fuel. Conducted 120+ RAS with ships from Canada, US, France, Australia, UK, Netherlands & Italy. Carried more than 1,000 hailings & two boardings 2003 - Centenary of Flight Airshow held at HMAS Albatross - Australia's Museum of Flight 2004 - The first destroyer of the 659-E project, built at the Northern Shipyard plant for the naval forces of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, was launched 2005 - A Coast Guard aircrew aboard C-130 is searching for three people after whose 18-foot skiff capsized this morning near St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. The Coast Guard received a report at 0205 that six people fell into the water when the skiff capsized. Good Samaritan boat crews rescued three of the people, but three remain missing, including children, ages 10 and 11, and one adult. The Coast Guard air crew will search this morning as soon as the Kodiak-based C-130 and its crew arrive on scene. Good Samaritan boat crews also searched the scene throughout the night after the skiff capsized. The weather on scene includes overcast skies with east, southeasterly winds at 25 knots and temperatures at 35 degrees. It is unknown why the skiff capsized 2005 - In a ceremony held today, Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of State responsible for the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program, declared the official launch of the Nunavut Fisheries Training Initiative under the ASEP program. Also taking part in the ceremony were Nunavut Premier, Paul Okalik, Nunavut's Environment Minister, Olayuk Akesuk, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Member of Parliament for Nunavut and Mr. Ben Kovic, President of the Baffin Fisheries Coalition 2005 - India has ratified the Convention No. 108 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) concerning Seafarers’ identity documents. This has been done with a view to facilitate mobility of the large number of Indian Seafarers spread all over the world for maritime employment. The Convention will come into force for India from January 17, 2006, exactly 12 months after registration with the ILO. The ILO Convention No. 108 deals with service matters of Seafarers who are engaged in any capacity on board a vessel, other than a ship of war, registered in a territory for which the Convention is in force and ordinarily engaged in maritime navigation. This Convention further says that each member may issue a Seafarers’ Identity Document to any other seafarers either serving on board a vessel registered in its territory or registered at an employment office within its territory who apply for such a document. The Continuous Discharge Certificate-cum-Seafarers’ Identity Document (CDC) is being issued to all Indian seafarers in accordance with the ILO Convention No. 108. The Convention No. 108 was adopted by the International Labor Organization at its 41st (Maritime Session) held in Geneva in 1958. The ratification creates legally binding obligations upon the ratifying member country to implement the provisions of the Convention 2005 - Australia launched a major search and rescue effort after an Indonesian fishing boat was found partially submerged near a crocodile-infested river in the country's remote north. An Australian Customs Service spokesman said the vessel was spotted by an Australian fisherman on a sandbank near the mouth of the Roper River, about 500 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of the northern city of Darwin. The spokesman said it was not known how long the boat had been stranded. He said there were no signs of activity around the wreck and fears were held for the crew 2005 - TOP Tankers Inc. announced today that it has entered into non-binding agreements to acquire nine Handymax, three Panamax and three Capesize drybulk carriers, as well as two double-hull Handymax tankers. The agreements for all 17 vessels are binding on the Company only under conditions within the Company's control. The aggregate purchase prices of the vessels, if purchased, will be $475 million for the 15 drybulk carriers and $95.2 million for the two double-hull tankers. If the drybulk carriers are purchased, the seller of these vessels has agreed to time charter all 15 vessels for 24 months at an aggregate charter rate of $357,000 per day, and to provide credit support for the charter hire. The two double-hull tankers will initially be deployed in the spot market. Deliveries of the vessels, if purchased, are expected to occur between May 15 and July 30, 2005 2005 - TOP Tankers Inc. announced that it took delivery of the M/T Topless, a 47,262 Dwt double-hull Handymax tanker built in 1998 by Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd., of Japan. The vessel has entered into a five-year time charter with Glencore SA, one of the world's largest oil traders 2005 - Lockheed Martin successfully completed the first live shipboard tracking exercise with its new SPY-1F multifunction phased array radar system aboard Norwegian frigate Fridtjof Nansen. The Aegis-based system identified and tracked multiple live targets during a three-hour window of fault-free operation at Navantia's Ferrol, Spain shipyard 2005 - One firefighter has been killed in a blaze that struck a missile destroyer under construction at a shipyard in St. Petersburg. Another fireman has been injured, the Interfax news agency reported citing St. Petersburg emergency officials. Preliminary reports said the blaze had triggered an explosion on board killing one person. Another fireman was hospitalized with injuries 2005 - Argentina officially rejected the inclusion of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands as “British Antarctic Territory” in the European Union Constitutional Treaty and has informed European institutions of its “reservations” about the case 2006 - The Tomcat program (PMA-241) hosts a disestablishment ceremony in Pax River’s Hangar 2133 at 1400. Rear Admiral David Venlet, NAVAIR’s Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft and a Tomcat aviator, speaks at the ceremony 2006 - Democrat and Republican Members of Congress, led by Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), join with victims of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in a Washington DC press conference to call on Exxon to end the company's nearly two-decades old delay tactics and fulfill its responsibilities to the more than 33,000 victims of the negligence that resulted in the Valdez disaster 2006 - Thousands of Teamsters, port drivers, politicians, Change To Win officials and others hold rallies to draw attention to the lack of safety and security at our nation's ports as part of a weeklong "Make Work Pay!" campaign to restore the American Dream for workers. Teamsters are leading four port rallies at Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Houston and Miami 2006 - The Coast Guard is responding to a report of a 748-foot tank ship that ran aground three miles south of Tallaboa, Puerto Rico at 0115 while enroute Tallaboa, Puerto Rico, to Cartagena, Colombia. Marine inspectors and investigators from Coast Guard Resident Inspection Office Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico, are on scene with the tank ship Margara, a Cayman Islands flagged vessel reported to be carrying a cargo of 308,809 barrels of crude oil. Once there, the marine inspectors and investigators will inspect the vessel for signs of damage, determine if there has been a discharge of oil and begin an investigation to determine the causes of the accident. At this time, there are no reports or signs of pollution associated with the grounding. There are no reports of any injuries to the Margara's 28-member crew. The Coast Guard received the report of the grounding via VHF radio from the assist tug boat Rosario P. The cause of the grounding is under investigation 2006 - Yara International ASA (Yara) and Bergesen Worldwide Gas ASA (BW Gas) have entered into a Heads of Agreement under which Yara sells its LPG/ammonia fleet to BW Gas consisting of seven fully owned and three chartered-in vessels for an agreed price of $347m 2006 - A/S Steamship Co TORM entered into an agreement to sell the bulk carriers TORM Arawa (built 1997) and TORM Pacific (built 1997). The vessels have been sold to Pacific Basin, Hong Kong for total consideration of US $35.1 million and are expected to be delivered towards the end of the second quarter of 2006. The vessels have been trading in the Pacific Basin managed IHC pool 2006 - At 1215 Humber Coastguard was contacted by the Police who reported that a 63-year old local man was missing and in a distressed state, probably on the cliffs at Flamborough. Humber Coastguard tasked the Coastguard teams from Bridlington and Flamborough to undertake coastline searches for this man together with police units. Humber Coastguard also tasked Rescue Helicopter 128 from RAF Leconfield to assist with Coastguard ground teams in the search area and try to establish this man's whereabouts. After searching the coastline for a number of hours, the search was relocated further inland and the man was eventually located by a Coastguard team asleep under a gorse bush. He was found to be confused but otherwise safe and well. The weather in the search area was good with excellent visibility 2006 - The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has today issued a Safety Bulletin in connection with a fire that broke out on the Bermudan-registered cruise ship Star Princess while it was on passage from Grand Cayman to Montego Bay, Jamaica on 23 March 2006. There were 2,690 passengers and 1,123 crew on board. The seat of the fire was on an external balcony sited on deck 10 of the vessel's port side. The fire spread rapidly along adjacent balconies and within ten minutes had spread to decks above. It also spread internally. One passenger died as the result of smoke inhalation and 13 others were treated for the effects of smoke 2006 - Customs officials in Hong Kong said Thursday that a Ukrainian Air Forces MiG fighter plane seized earlier this month would remain in the country until an investigation is completed. MiG-29 fighter plane - missing engines, ammunition, and "some other parts" - was discovered among containers and goods during a routine customs check on board a ship traveling from Ukraine to the United States on April 2. The ship's owners had failed to include the aircraft in a special import license, and Hong Kong authorities impounded it pending completion of an investigation. Ukraine's defense ministry earlier denied any connection with the aircraft. Ukrspetsexport, Ukraine's sole weapons exporter, said it had sold the MiG-29 to a US company as a museum exhibit or for scrap 2006 - Two men were rescued at about 2000 after they became stranded on the North Jetty of the St. John's River Inlet in Huguenot Park, Fla. Matthew Ray Manor, 22, and Bryan Nicholas Martin, 23, both of Jacksonville walked out on the North Jetty to go fishing shortly after the evening tide came in, which trapped Manor and Martin on the jetties. The pair apparently called for help on their cell phone and a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Mayport, Fla., launched to assist the two men. The rescue crew arrived at the North Jetty, but the water was too shallow for the boat to get close enough to the jetty. Rescue crews tied a lifejacket to a heaving line and tossed it to Manor and Martin. One at a time the men were pulled from the jetty and taken back to Station Mayport. Both were evaluated by Coast Guard personnel and were in good condition 2006 - Six people are safe after battling an early morning fire today on a 56-foot commercial fishing boat one mile west of Richmond Beach near Edmonds WA. The crew of the tugboat Samish reported to Coast Guard Sector Seattle at 0900 that the fishing vessel Carol M was on fire and was in need of assistance. Coast Guard Station Seattle dispatched a 41-foot utility boat and Air Station Port Angeles launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter to assist. The Seattle Fire Department fireboat Chief Seattle and two Seattle Harbor Patrol units also responded to the fire. The crewmembers of the Carol M and the Tug Samish were able to fight the fire until the Chief Seattle arrived and contained the fire at about 1100. Carol M was towed to Pier 91 by a commercial salvage vessel where marine inspectors from Coast Guard Sector Seattle will inspect the vessel. No injuries were reported 2006 - A video created to help visitors learn more about the exhibits that await them in the Pennsylvania Military Museum has won two awards 2006 - At just after 1900 Yarmouth Coastguard received a 999 call from members of the public reporting that they had been cut off by the tide whilst sat in their car at Brancaster Staithe, North Norfolk. Hunstanton Coastguard Rescue Team and Hunstanton RNLI hovercraft proceeded to assist. On locating the casualties, it was found that there were actually two cars with people cut off by the high spring tide. Whilst the casualties were being recovered by the Coastguard to a place of safety, a third vehicle was intercepted and advised to turn around 2006 - South Korean shipyards won 54 percent of all orders worldwide in the first quarter as shippers rushed to place orders before tougher regulations on vessel structures take effect, a London-based market researcher said 2006 - Two 23 year old sailors (Ray Stegeman aged 23 from Middenbeemster and Tirsa Steenvoorden aged 23 from Den Helder) from HNLMS Amsterdam were killed in a car accident in Djibouti. The cabdriver died as well after their collision with a coach. Three sailors (Wout, Joost and Laurens) were also injured, one seriously 2007 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nominations: Navy Capt. Joseph P. Aucoin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Terry J. Benedict has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Patrick H. Brady has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Ted N. Branch has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Paul J. Bushong has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. James F. Caldwell Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Thomas H. Copeman III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Samuel J. Cox has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Philip S. Davidson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Kevin M. Donegan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Donegan is currently serving as special assistant to the commander, Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk. Navy Capt. Patrick Driscoll has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. David A. Dunaway has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Earl L. Gay has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Mark D. Guadagnini has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Joseph A. Horn has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Anthony M. Kurta has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Richard B. Landolt has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Michael E. McMahon has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Sean A. Pybus has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. John M. Richardson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Michael S. Rogers has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Thomas S. Rowden has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. David G. Simpson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. David W. Titley has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Navy Capt. Nora W. Tyson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). 2007 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nominations: Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Gerald R. Beaman has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Mark S. Boensel has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Dan W. Davenport has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Edwards H. Deets III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) William E. Gortney has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Victor G. Guillory has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Cecil E. Haney has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Harry B. Harris, Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph D. Kernan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael A. Lefever has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Charles J. Leidig has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Archer M. Macy Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Charles W. Martoglio has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Richard O'Hanlon has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Scott R. Van Buskirk has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael C. Vitale has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey A. Wieringa has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Richard B. Wren has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. 2007 - Capt. Bob Girrier relieved by Capt. Mark Montgomery as commodore of US Navy DESRON 15 during a change of command ceremony in Yokosuka 2008 - Sri Lankan Navy destroyed a suspected Tamil Tiger ship off the country's eastern coast 2008 - A Canadian army sergeant from HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) received his enlisted air warfare specialist (EAWS) qualification pin, making him the first dual-qualified Canadian aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Canadian Army Sgt. Colin Whyatt, who received his ESWS qualification late last month, said he decided to go for his EAWS because he wanted to learn more about Truman's flight operations Copyright 2009 Shirlaw News Group ISSN 1710-6966 Today in History Archives This information is licensed to the recipient only. Images may be subject to copyright. Ask before you right-click. Royal Navy photos are Courtesy of www.oldships.org.uk unless otherwise indicated. To contact us: 418-145 West Keith Rd North Vancouver BC V7M 1L3 Canada Phone: 778-968-7447