USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69)

USS "Kasaan Bay" (CVE-69) was an "Casablanca" class escort carrier of the United States Navy.

She was classified ACV-69 on 20 August 1942, launched as CVE-69 on 24 October 1943 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company in Vancouver, Washington, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. R. W. Morse; and acquired and commissioned by the US Navy 4 December 1943, Captain B. E. Grow in command.

"Kasaan Bay" reported for duty late in December and 8 January 1944 departed San Francisco with a cargo of planes and passengers for Pearl Harbor. Upon returning to San Diego she sailed for Norfolk, arriving 28 February for overhaul and operations along the East Coast. On 28 May, she departed New York in company of USS|Tulagi|CVE-72|6 and USS|Mission Bay|CVE-59|6 with a cargo of planes for Casablanca, returning New York 17 June with 342 survivors of USS|Block Island|CVE-21|6, torpedoed 29 May.

The escort carrier departed Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 30 June and arrived Oran 10 July. Throughout July she engaged in ASW patrol and flight operations in the Mediterranean before rehearsing for the assault on Southern France. "Kasaan Bay" departed Malta 12 August, and 3 days later arrived in the invasion area off the French Riviera. Planes from the carrier bombed and strafed German positions, destroying hundreds of enemy vehicles and tanks and downing two enemy aircraft over the beach. She completed her assignment 30 August and departed Oran, Algeria, 6 September, arriving Norfolk 12 days later.

Following a cruise carrying planes to Casablanca in late October, "Kasaan Bay" was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and arrived San Diego 2 January 1945. During January she sailed to Pearl Harbor, Guam, and Ulithi with planes and replacements for other ships of the Fast Carrier Task Force.

The escort carrier returned Pearl Harbor 14 February and immediately commenced training operations for air groups and replacement pilots. "Kasaan Bay" continued this duty until early June when she was assigned ASW patrols in the shipping lanes between the Marshalls and Marianas protecting the fleet's supply line during its final assault on Japan's defenses.

When hostilities ended 14 August, "Kasaan Bay" returned to Guam where she was assigned "Magic-Carpet" duty. She departed Saipan 13 September with her first group of returning veterans arriving San Diego 30 September. For the next 3 months she made three cruises to Hawaii and the Philippines to transport homeward bound troops to the United States.

The escort carrier returned to San Francisco 28 December and sailed for the East Coast 29 January 1946, arriving Boston 22 February. She decommissioned 6 July 1946 and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. While in reserve, "Kasaan Bay" was reclassified CVHE-69 on 12 June 1955. She was sold for scrap 2 February 1960.

"Kasaan Bay" received one battle star for World War II service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k1/kasaan_bay.htm