- USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76)
USS "Kadashan Bay" (AVG-76) was an "Casablanca" class
escort carrier of theUnited States Navy . She is named forKadashan Bay Alaska .She was reclassified ACV-76 on
20 August 1942 ; reclassified CVE-76 on15 July 1943 and launched11 December 1943 by theKaiser Shipbuilding Company inVancouver, Washington , under aMaritime Commission contract; sponsored by Miss Audrey Ackerman and commissioned18 January 1944 , Captain R. N. Hunter in command.After shakedown "Kadashan Bay" departed
San Diego 6 March 1944 on the first of two cruises toEspiritu Santo . She transported a total of 154 aircraft on these assignments before returning San Diego13 May . Following repairs and training, the escort carrier sailed10 July to join a carrier division atPearl Harbor . One month later she sailed forTulagi and final preparations for the September assault on thePalaus ."Kadashan Bay" departed Tulagi
6 September and six days later her air group launched a pre-invasion air attack against enemy positions onPeleliu . Ground forces landed15 September to gain control of theisland as an air base to support the Philippine operation. After preparations were concluded at Manus, the escort carrier steamed toward theLeyte Gulf 14 October .Arriving there
21 October she immediately commenced raids and strikes in support of troops ashore. Four days later one of her patrol planes, piloted byEnsign Hans L. Jensen , sighted the Central Force of the Japanese fleet off Samar. After reporting his sighting he launched an unsupported attack against the leading cruiser, beginning the famousbattle off Samar . The carrier's air group launched three fighter and three torpedo strikes against Kurita's force. The flyers' courage and gallantry contributed greatly to the sound defeat from which the Japanese never recovered. Upon completion of this mission, "Kadashan Bay" steamed toward Manus, arriving3 November .As the action in the Philippines continued, "Kadashan Bay's" air group accounted for 11 planes in encounters with the enemy during mid-December. Preparations were now underway for the
Luzon landings and the escort carrier rendezvoused with the main force3 January 1945 . She arrived offLuzon five days later and commenced an early morning air attack. That same morning a kamikaze aimed his death dive at "Kadashan Bay". Despite repeated hits the enemy plane plunged into the ship amidships directly below the bridge. After an hour and a half of feverish damage control effort, fires and flooding were checked, and the escort carrier returned to Leyte on 12 January for temporary repairs before returning San Francisco13 February for complete overhaul."Kadashan Bay" sailed for Pearl Harbor
8 April , arriving14 April . She then commenced ferrying aircraft and passengers among the Pacific islands. During July the escort carrier was assigned as a replenishment carrier for the third Fleet and was on her way from Pearl Harbor to begin her new duty when news ofJapan 's collapse came."Kadashan Bay" joined the "Magic-Carpet" fleet at
Guam in September and arrivedSan Francisco 26 September with her first group of veterans. For the next three months the escort carrier made rung from Pearl Harbor, Guam,Okinawa , andChina to return battle-weary Americans home. She arrived San Pedro22 December from her last Pacific cruise, and departed San Diego10 January 1946 forBoston . "Kadashan Bay" arrived Boston29 January , decommissioned14 June 1946 , and was placed in theAtlantic Reserve Fleet there. She was reclassified CVU-76 on12 June 1956 and scrapped13 August 1959 ."Kadashan Bay" received two
battle star s forWorld War II service.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k1/kadashan_bay.htm
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