USS Munda (CVE-104)

The USS "Munda" (CVE-104) was a United States Navy "Casablanca"-class escort aircraft carrier. She was the last of the series to be built.

More "Casablanca"-class carriers were built than any other single class of aircraft carrier in history, and the last to be built on the Liberty Ship platform - the "Commencement Bay" class escort carrier which followed was designed from the keel up as a carrier.

She was laid down 29 March 1944 under Maritime Commission contract as MC hull 1141 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington, originally designated ACV-104, and redesignated CVE-104 15 July 1943. Originally named "Tonowek Bay" 23 September 1943, the carrier was renamed "Munda", 6 November 1943, in honor of the battle to take Munda Bay in the Solomon Islands - it was during this fight that Rodger Young was killed. Some commemorative photographs of the ship gave the name as "Munda Bay."

"Munda" was launched 27 May 1944 (sponsored by Mrs. James E. Dyer), to be accepted and commissioned 8 July 1944, under the command of Captain L. A. Pope (a Naval aviator who had, in the 1920s, literally "written the book" on aerial photography for the Navy).

After a west coast shakedown, "Munda", assigned to Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific Fleet, got underway independently 16 August 1944 on her maiden voyage. With 71 planes and 202 passengers crowded aboard, she arrived at Espiritu Santo, 1 September. Proceeding next to Finschhafen and Manus, she returned to Alameda, California, for brief availability, before setting out again to carry replacement planes and personnel to forward areas. Returning from her second supply run 5 December, she was underway again on the 12th. She completed three more runs to various islands in the Pacific before mid-year, 1945, when she sailed for Eniwetok (3 July). There, she joined TG 30.8 and commenced supplying planes pilots, and aviation stores to the fast carriers of TF 38.

She rendezvoused with that force on 20 July, as it blasted the enemy's home islands, and remained in the area through the 26th, when she returned to Guam for replenishment. At sea again by the end of the month, she rejoined TF 38 on 3 August, resupplying the carriers then, and again on the 7th and the 11th. On 13 August, she departed the formation and was en route back to Guam when she received word of the Japanese surrender. Rejoining TG 30.8, she remained off Japan through the first week of the occupation and on 10 September steamed into Tokyo Bay.

Departing Tokyo 2 October, she joined the ships assigned to operation Magic Carpet, and into the next year, ferried servicemen back to the United States. After completion of that duty, 18 January 1946, "Munda" prepared for inactivation at Port Angeles, Washington. Decommissioned 13 September 1946, she joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet, berthing at Tacoma. Redesignated CVU-104, 12 June 1955, she was shifted to Bremerton 29 April 1958. "Munda" was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 September 1958 and sold as scrap, 17 June 1960, to the General Ore Company, New York.

"Munda" received one battle star for her service in World War II, and was reported to have been struck by kamikaze planes.

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