|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN Casablanca Class Escort Carrier 8,188 Tons (standard) 10,902 Tons (full load) 512' 3" x 65' 2" x 20' 9" 1 x 5" 8 x 40mm AA 20 x 20mm AA guns (later increased to 30) Aircraft: 27-30 1 x catapult 2 x elevators  USN January 17, 1944  USN February 9, 1944 |
Ship History Built by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company in Vancouver, Washington. Ordered as a as a Type S4-S2-BB3 hull, MCE hull 1107. Laid down May 18, 1944 as a Casablanca-class escort carrier. Launched November 1, 1943 as USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) named for Fanshaw Bay and Cape Fanshaw in Alaska sponsored by Mrs. Lorna V. Kenworthy, wife of Captain Jesse L. Kenworthy Jr., executive officer of USS Oklahoma (BB-37) sunk December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor and refloated. Commissioned December 9, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with Captain Douglass Pollock Johnson in command at Astoria. Nicknamed "Fannie Bay". Between December 9-16, 1943 at Astoria continues fitting out and loading stores. On December 24, 1943 while at anchor, MP #7 Randolph accidentally scraped the hull damaging the paravane, flash screen on no. 4 40mm gun mount and 20mm gun. Afterwards, all damage was repaired. On December 30, 1943 at 1:05pm departs Astoria down the Columbia River and the next day arrives Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton and loads ammunition. On January, 2, 1944 arrives U.S. Naval Station Seattle and departs the next day. Between January 6-8, 1944 at Port Angeles, Washington. On January 11, 1944 arrives at Mare Island Navy Yard at Mare Island and later that same day docked at the Port of Oakland where she embarked a load of aircraft and 30 tons of stores. On January 14, 1944 departs San Francisco. Wartime History On January 16, 1944 departs San Francisco across the Pacific bound for Australia as her shakedown cruise. On February 2, 1944 arrives Townsville unloads the load of aircraft. On February 8-12, 1944 at Brisbane then returns via Nouméa and across the Pacific to San Diego. During March 1944 in San Diego undergoes minor repairs and made ready for combat duty. In early April 1944 embarks Rear Admiral G. F. Boagan and became the flagship of Carrier Division 25 (CarDiv 25). On April 6, 1944 departs San Diego with USS Orca via Pearl Harbor boudn for Majuro on a hunter-killer mission against enemy submarines. At Majuro embarks Composite Squadron 68 (VC-68) then to Pearl Harbor in early May 1944 and for the rest of the month conducts training south of Oahu. On June 1, 1944 departs via Eniwetok bound for Saipan arriving D-1. On June 15, 1944 her planes support the U.S. landing and that evening targeted by five Japanese planes for the first time with Combat Air Patrol (CAP) shooting down four. The fifth launched a torpedo but Fanshaw Bay was able to maneuvered to avoid and the plane was shot down by a fighter from VC-68. On June 17, 1944 at dusk targeted by seventy planes and was hit by a bomb in the flight deck at the aft elevator causing fires and shrapnel damage and took a list to port with water entering the aft hold. The crew formed a bucket brigade to fight the fire overnight and reduced the list and departed the area. PARTIAL HISTORY On February 1-3, 1945 at NAS San Diego loaded a total of 62 carrier planes including 17 TBM Avengers, 39 F6F Hellcats, 6 FG Corsairs plus 15 tons of cargo and 136 passengers including officers and enlisted men. On February 4, 1945 departs NAS San Diego bound for Pearl Harbor and during the voyage conducts anti-aircraft training against a towed sleeve target. On February 10, 1945 at 4:13pm arrives at Pearl Harbor and disembarks the passengers. On February 11-12, 1945 unloads aircraft and stores and loads fuel and ammunition. PARTIAL HISTORY Awards Fanshaw Bay earned five battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation during the Battle off Samar. Fate On August 29, 1959 sold for scrap and broken up later in the year. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) 1943–1959 NavSource - USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70, CVHE-70) NARA Fanshaw Bay War History NARA USS Fanshaw Bay War Diary December 1943 War Diary Navy Supply Depot Oakland, California January 1944 page 2 (30)-33 The Little Giants U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan (1987) pages 61 (TG 52.14), 62, 66, 69, 70-71, 72, 80, 103, 107, 121, 153, 156, 160, 163, 164, 167, 168, 177, 178, 184-185, 192, 200, 212, 238, 349, 418, 456 (index) Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
