On this day, the U.S. Navy takes control of the largest and most luxurious ocean liner on the seas at that time, France's Normandie, while it is docked at New York City. Shortly thereafter, the conversion for U.S. wartime use began.

The Normandie
was unique in many ways. It was the first ship built, in 1931, in
accordance with the guidelines laid down in the 1929 Convention for
Safety of Life at Sea. It was also huge, measuring 1,029 feet
long and 119 feet wide. It displaced 85,000 tons of water. It offered
passengers seven accommodation classes (including the new "tourist"
class, as opposed to the old "third" class, commonly known as
"steerage") and 1,975 berths. It took a crew of more than 1,300 to work
her. But despite its size, it was also fast: capable of 32.1 knots. The
liner was launched in 1932 and made its first transatlantic crossing in
1935. In 1937, it was reconfigured with four-bladed propellers, which
meant it could now cross the Atlantic in less than four days.