TODAY IN MILITARY HISTORY
19 June
◆1195 Battle of Al Arcos: The Almohads defeat the Castillians.
◆1306 Battle of Methven: The Earl of Pembroke defeats the Bruce's rebels.
◆1586 English colonists sailed from Roanoke Island, N.C. after failing to establish England's first permanent settlement in America.
◆1778 General George Washington’s troops finally left Valley Forge after a winter of training. Washington left to intercept the British force on its way to New York City.
◆1786 Gen. Nathanael Greene died of sunstroke at his Georgia plantation.1794 Richard Henry Lee (b1732) statesman, Declaration of Independence signer, died.
◆1800 Battle of Hochstadt: French defeat the Austrians.
◆1821 Battle of Dragasani: Turks defeat the Greeks.
◆1863 A naval battery mounted to fire across the river at Cerro Gordo, Tennessee, manned by crew from U.S.S. Robb, Acting Ensign Hanford, was hotly engaged by Confederate troops. Hanford reported: "They [the Confederates] charged four abreast (dismounted) and came to within 20 yards of the cannon's mouth, while canister was being fired into them like rain."
◆1864 Skirmish at Pine Knob Georgia.
◆1864 USS Kearsarge sinks CSS Alabama off the coast of Cherbourg, France. *
◆1885 The Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States, arrives in New York City's harbor. *
◆1888 Marines landed in Korea and marched 25 miles to protect the Seoul Legation.
◆1902 The US Senate voted in favor of Panama as the canal site. US support for a $40 million purchase was based on Congressional acceptance for a canal in Panama rather than Nicaragua, and the acquisition of land to serve as a canal zone.
◆1944 In the early morning hours Japanese reconnaissance finds US Task Force 58 while remaining undetected. The Japanese immediately launch 372 aircraft, in four waves, to strike the American fleet. Overall, the Japanese have about 550 planes (including those on Guam) while the Americans have roughly 950. Furthermore, US radar provides significant advance warning of the attack. There is enough time to launch an air raid on Guam before the Japanese can arrive over their target. American fighters begin intercepting the incoming Japanese planes while 50 miles away. Many of the attackers are shot down before reaching the American fleet; US anti-aircraft defenses accounts for many more. The only hit achieved by the Japanese is on the USS South Dakota which is damaged by one bomb. The Japanese lose 240 aircraft and the Americans lose 29. The attackers fly on to Guam where American aircraft strike and destroy another 50 Japanese planes. Meanwhile, the Japanese aircraft carriers Taiho and Shokaku are sunk by the US submarines Cavalla and Albacore. American participants refer to the day as "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" because of the ease with which the Japanese forces have been suppressed.*
◆1944 “Ace of Aces” David McCampbell (1910-1996) and the Fabled 15 challenged 80 Japanese carrier based aircraft bearing down on an American fleet. He shot down 7 Zeroes and the group routed the enemy fliers at the Battle of the Marianas.
◆1944 On Biak, the reinforced US 41st Division launches attacks against Japanese strongpoints in the west of the island.
◆1944 Elements of the US 1st Army clear Montebourg and Valognes.
◆1945 Millions of New Yorkers turned out to cheer Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was honored with a parade.
◆1945 Spain is barred from membership in the United Nations organization as long as the Franco regime continue to hold power.
◆1945 On Luzon, in the Cagayan Valley, Ilagan is captured by advancing troops of the US 1st Corps.
◆1945 On Okinawa, the insistent use of propaganda by means of leaflets and loudspeakers, by the American forces, induces some 343 Japanese troops to surrender. Japanese forces fall back in some disorder along the frontage of the US 3rd Amphibious Corps but continue to resist along the line held by the US 24th Corps.
◆1947 The first plane (F-80) to exceed 600 mph (1004 kph) was flown by Albert Boyd in Muroc, California.
◆1948 USSR blocked access road to West Berlin.
◆1951 President Harry S. Truman signed the Universal Military Training and Service Act, which extended Selective Service until July 1, 1955 and lowered the draft age to 18.
◆1967 Muhammad Ali is convicted of refusing induction into the Army.
◆1976 U.S. Viking 1 went into Martian orbit after a 10-month flight from earth.
◆1999 NATO reached a tentative agreement with leaders of the KLA for the rebel force to gradually disarm, disband and cease military activities in 30 days.
◆2003 In Iraq, the special "Task Force 20" commando team was joined in the convoy operation by an AC-130 gunship and other air support, attacking by ground and air along a known escape and smuggling route near the western city of Qaim.