May 26, 2017

100 Years of Underway Replenishments

Everyone likes "firsts."These moments represent transformation and progress and change our understanding about what we are capable of. The Navy also keeps track of its "firsts." One "first" of great pride deals with the underway refueling of a United States warship, an operation that the Navy would later perfect during World War II. Underway

May 25, 2017

Ensign George H. Gay's Fateful Day, June 4, 1942

For Ensign George H. Gay, Jr. of Waco, Texas, the morning of June 4, 1942 began with groggy trepidation. With knowledge of a large Japanese invasion fleet moving towards Midway Island outnumbering the assembled American naval force, Gay did not sleep well. He and his fellow aviators of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) aboard the carrier Hornet (CV-8)

May 25, 2017

"LOST BACK END CREW"

The letter landed on my desk after I'd been at Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) TWO maybe three months, with the suggestion to "see what you can do with this." A new NFO, I had been given the collateral duty of Public Affairs Officer, which meant occasionally getting requests from retirees for a command ball cap or working with the base PAO

May 17, 2017

Visit a U.S. Navy Museum Near You

Sharing the history and heritage of our Navy honors the past and inspires the future. It builds esprit de corps within the ranks and it can offer valuable strategic and tactical lessons learned - keeping us well ahead of potential adversaries. Headquartered on the historic Washington Navy Yard, D.C., the Naval History and Heritage command includes

May 5, 2017

The Battle of The Coral Sea's 75th Anniversary: Intelligence Lessons for Today

May 4th marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, an epic maritime engagement between the U.S. and Imperial Japanese Navies in early World War II.This was history's first sea battle where opposing ships never saw or fired upon each other and only carrier-based aircraft engaged the enemy. The outcome was a tactical draw (each side

May 5, 2017

Battle of the Coral Sea and the Bomb that Changed the Course of the War

Editor's Note: Last night, speaking aboard the museum ship Intrepid at an event honoring the Battle of the Coral Sea, President Donald Trump discussed how impressed he was by the bravery of one American Sailor. It's a sentiment shared by Naval History and Heritage Command Director Sam Cox who recounts the story of the pilot whose honor, courage,

May 4, 2017

Building the Naval Shore Establishment during WWI

How did a small Bureau of less than 100 people support the burgeoning fleet during WWI?In 1916, prior to joining World War I, the United States began a gigantic six-year program of naval expansion. In that year, Congress allowed the Navy to contract for 813,000 tons of new vessels, the biggest step toward naval power the U.S. had taken thus far in

May 3, 2017

The End of the Beginning of the War in the Pacific - The Battle of the Coral Sea

USS Lexington (CV 2) burning and sinking after her crew abandoned ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea, May 8, 1942. Note planes parked aft, where fires have not yet reached. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.  The Battle of the Coral Sea has a claim for an eminent place in the history of Naval Aviation. The closing stages of

April 24, 2017

Toughness: Aviation Machinist Mate First Class (AMM1/C) Bruno Peter Gaido

Editor's note: The following is part of NHHC Director Sam Cox's larger "H--gram" series. Inspired by Admiral Zumwalt's series of Z-grams used to communicate with Sailors throughout the Navy, H-grams are an avenue by which NHHC provides significant historical context to aid today's decision-makers. For more information, visit the NHHC Director's

April 19, 2017

The NHHC Conservation Branch - Small but Mighty

Just 18 months old, the Conservation Branch of the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), has made its mark nationally. Already, the small four-person staff, led by branch head David Krop, has helped restore and conserve a very large 12-by-8-by-4 foot World War II diorama at the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum in California, has been engaged by the