This Day in Naval History – Sept. 16

854 - CDR David G. Farragut takes possession of Mare Island, the first U.S. Navy Yard on the Pacific.

1917 - Navy Department authorizes establishment of 16 Naval air stations abroad

1922 - Commander Halsey Powell in USS Edsall became the senior officer directing the evacuation of 250,000 Greek refugees from Turkey after war between Greece and Turkey.

1940 - President Roosevelt signs Selective Training and Service Act, the first peacetime draft.

1958 - USS Grayback fires first operational launch of Regulus II surface to surface guided missile off CA coast; Missile carries first U.S. mail sent by guided missile.

1966 - USS Oriskany helicopters rescue 44-men crew of British merchant ship August Moon near Hong Kong

(Source: Navy News Service)