On November 6, 1944, Bunker Hill withdrew across the Pacific back to Bremerton, Washington for repairs until late January 1945.

On January 24, 1945 departed Bremerton, Washington across the Pacific and rejoined the 5th Fleet. Starting on February 15, 1945, Bunker Hill aircraft attacked Iwo Jima and supported the invasion and conducted carrier raids against Honshū and the Ryukyu Islands. In early April 1945 supported the invasion of Okinawa.

On April 7, 1945 the carrier participated in the Battle of the East China Sea attacking the Japanese Naval force and participate in the sinking of Battleship Yamato, Light Cruiser Yahagi and four destroyers.

Damaged by Kamikaze
On May 11, 1945 while operating off Okinawa and was hit and severely damaged by two kamikaze aircraft. The first kamikaze was an A6M Zero that appeared from a low cloud, dived toward the flight deck and dropped a 250 kg bomb, which went through the vessel and exploded in the sea. The same Zero then crashed onto the flight deck, destroying many parked aircraft igniting fuel and causing a huge fire. The remains of the Zero went over the deck and dropped into the sea.

Thirty seconds later, a second A6M Zero piloted by Ensign Kiyoshi Ogawa, dived into the carrier dropped a 250kg bomb and crashed into the flight deck near the control tower. The bomb penetrated Bunker Hill's flight deck and exploded. Gasoline fires flamed up and several explosions took place. Aboard, the carrier suffered 346 killed, 43 missing and 264 wounded. A total of seventy-eight aircraft were destroyed. Although badly crippled, Bunker Hill crossed the Pacific via Pearl Harbor before arriving at Bremerton, Washington.

Awards
For her World War II service, Bunker Hill earned the Presidential Unit Citation for the period from November 11, 1943 to May 11, 1945. In addition, she earned 11 battle stars.

Postwar
Every Essex-class aircraft carrier survived World War II. Both USS Bunker Hill CV-17 and USS Franklin CV-13 were severely damaged and although both were repaired neither returned to combat duty.

During September 1945, Bunker Hill reported for duty with the "Operation Magic Carpet" fleet, transporting American veterans from the Pacific back to the United States. She remained on this duty as part of Task Group 16.12 (TG 16.12) until the end of the year.

In January 1946 returned to Bremerton for deactivation. On January 9, 1947 decommissioned into reserve and was reclassified three times. In October 1952 redesignated as USS Bunker Hill (CVA-17). In August 1953 redesignated as USS Bunker Hill (CVS-17). In May 1959 redesignated USS Bunker Hill (AVT-9) as an aircraft transport.

In November 1966, stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, used as a stationary electronics test platform off San Diego.

Fate
In May 1973 sold for scrap.

References
NavSource - USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1945 - May 11, 1945 aircraft losses aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)

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Last Updated
December 6, 2022