Today in U.S. Naval History – November 14

1846 – Naval forces capture Tampico, Mexico.

1910 – Civilian Eugene Ely pilots first aircraft to take-off from a ship, USS Birmingham (CL-2) at Hampton Roads, Va. He lands safely on Willoughby Spit, Norfolk, Va.

1941 – Order to withdraw Marines at Shanghai, Peiping, and Tientsin, China.

1944 – Carrier aircraft attack Japanese shipping in Philippines sinking five ships and damaging one.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.