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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS SANGAMON (ACV-26)

**(formerly AO-28 and AVG-26; later CVE-26)**

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Quebec - Delta

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Presidential Unit Citation / American Defense Service Medal ("A" device) [AO]
2nd Row: American Campaign Medal / European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1 star) / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7 stars)
3rd Row: World War II Victory Medal / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal (1 star)
(More info)

Ordered	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Stricken
*Sangamon Class Escort Carrier*
3 Jan 1938	13 Mar 1939	4 Nov 1939	23 Oct 1940 25 Aug 1942	25 Feb 1942 24 Oct 1945	1 Nov 1945
Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J.

Named after a river in central Illinois.
Built under a Maritime Commission contract (hull number 7) as the civilian tanker Esso Trenton.
Acquired by the Navy on 22 October 1940; classified as a "Fleet Oiler", designated AO-28 and renamed Sangamon.
Designated for conversion to an "Aircraft Escort Vessel", was reclassified AVG-26 on 14 February 1942.
Converted to an aircraft carrier by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Va.
Reclassified as an "Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated ACV-26, 20 August 1942.
Reclassified as an "Escort Carrier" and redesignated CVE-26, 15 July 1943.
Fate: Sold to Hillcone Steamship Co., San Francisco; delivered on 11 February 1948.
The following information was provided by Gerhard Mueller-Debus:
According to Lloyd's Shipping Index she was later owned by World Commerce Corp., New York (Lloyd's, Jul 1, 1952); by Maritime Transportation Co. S.A., Panama (Lloyd's, Jan 23, 1958); and by Sangamon Corp., Monrovia, Liberia (Lloyd's, Apr 5, 1960). Always according to Lloyd's, Sangamon left Galveston, Texas on Mar 9, 1960 bound for Bombay, but ran aground and was towed to Suez, arriving Apr 2. She was scrapped in Osaka, Japan, starting Aug 1960.

Specifications
(1942, as Converted)
Displacement (design): 11,400 tons standard; 24,275 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 525' x 75' x 30' 7.5" (full load) / 160 x 22.9 x 9.3 meters
Dimensions (max.): 553' x 114' 3" / 168.6 x 34.8 meters
Armor: None
Power plant: 4 boilers (450 psi); 2 steam turbines; 2 shafts; 13,500 shp (design)
Speed: 18+ knots
Endurance: 23,920 nm @ 15 knots (with 4,780 tons of oil fuel)
Armament: 2 single 5"/51 gun mounts; 4 twin 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; 12 single 20-mm/70-cal gun mounts
Aircraft: 25
Aviation facilities: 2 elevators; 1 hydraulic catapult
Crew: 830 (ship's company + air wing)
(1945)
Same as above, except:
Armament: 2 single 5"/38 gun mounts; 2 quad and 7 twin 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; 21 single 20-mm/70-cal gun mounts
Aircraft: 32
Aviation facilities: 2 elevators; 2 hydraulic catapults
Crew: 1,080 (ship's company + air wing)

Click on Thumbnail for Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
The Ship
NS0302614	64k	As SS *Esso Trenton*.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
NS0302605	22k	One of twelve National Defense Tankers ordered on 3 January 1938, SS *Esso Trenton* was built to a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design. She was acquired by the Navy in October 1940 and renamed *Sangamon*. As a fleet oiler (AO) she would be eventually armed with four 5"/38 guns in single mounts.	Don Schroeder
NS0302603	22k	USS *Sangamon* (ACV-26, later CVE-26), August 1942-October 1945.	Don Schroeder
NS0302601	33k	USS *Sangamon*, September 1942, as converted.	USN
NS0302623	40k	Port broadside view of USS *Sangamon* (CVE-26), 11 September 1942, in Measure 14 camouflage scheme. This photo shows the flight deck loaded with TBF torpedo bombers and SBD dive bombers. One month later the ship joined Task Force 34 to provide air cover for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. Photo from the 1943–45 Naval Recognition Manual files.	Mike Green
NS0302623a	343k	Sangamon Class. From U.S. Naval Ships & Aircraft (ONI 54-R), condensed and printed for FM 30-50, NAVAER 00-80V-57 (Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels). Supplement 4 - 4 August 1943.	Gerd Matthes, Germany
NS0302623b	289k	As above. Bottom photo shows USS Santee (ACV/CVE-29).	Gerd Matthes, Germany
NS0302613	56k	USS *Sangamon* underway, circa 1942, location unknown.	Robert Hurst
NS0302624	77k	USS *Sangamon* (ACV-26) steams with her escort, USS Hambleton (DD-455), en route to Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, during November 1942. USN, courtesy Stan Piet. From "Carrier Air War in Original Color," by Robert Lawson and Barrett Tillman.	Robert Hurst
NS0302606	46k	Fire crews at work after flaming deck crash; February 22, 1943.	Don Schroeder
NS0302609	170k	Plane on fire after bad landing.	Brian Bartlett (caption by Don Schroeder)
NS0302610	393k	Forward plan view of USS *Sangamon* (CVE-26) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 5 Oct 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 5 Sep until 6 Oct 1943. Official photo, MINY # 6937-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302611	248k	Amidships plan view of USS *Sangamon* (CVE-26) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 5 Oct 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 5 Sep until 6 Oct 1943. Official photo, MINY # 6938-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302612	683k	Stern view of USS *Sangamon* (CVE-26) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 5 Oct 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 5 Sep until 6 Oct 1943. Official photo, MINY # 6940-43.	Darryl Baker
NS0302620	61k	USS *Sangamon* (CVE-26), 135° off centerline view, 6 October 1943. Official photo, Mare Island Navy Yard # 6941-43, now in the Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files, San Francisco National Archives.	Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
NS0302604	40k	F6F handling crew trying to pull plane out of catwalk after crash landing; March 20, 1944.	Don Schroeder
NS0302608	29k	Lt. Wilfred B. Tatro, USNR Commanding Officer of PT-489, being transferred from USS Raymond (DE-341) to *Sangamon* for medical treatment after being injured while rescuing a downed pilot from Jap held Wasile Bay, Halmahera Island, September 17, 1944.	Don Schroeder
Kamikaze attack, Okinawa, May 4, 1945
NS0302602	111k	Damage to the flight deck of *Sangamon* after a kamikaze attack, May 1945.	Joe Radigan
Click here for more photos and documents
The Crew
NS0302616	156k	"This photo was on the USS *Sangamon* (CVE-26) with the crew that went to Africa in 1942. When they returned they refitted and went through the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet."	Morris Jerome, AMM2/C, V-2. Submitted by his daughter, via Don Schroeder. Morris Jerome was with the first squadron to serve on the *Sangamon*, Squadron 26, October 1942 to September 1943.
NS0302617	346k	"This photo was taken in Efate, New Hebrides in 1942. It is a photo of Torpedo 26 (Air Group 26)."
NS0302618	355k	"The engineering crew on an airstrip in Efate, New Hebrides, 1942."
NS0302619	231k	"Guadalcanal, 1942. During the period from March 12 to April 25, 1943 this area was under attack by the enemy."
NS0302607	52k	Initiation ceremonies; April 3, 1944.	Don Schroeder
NS0302621	144k	"Admiral V.H. Ragsdale shaking hands with Captain M.E. Browder upon departure from ship after being relieved as Com Car Div 22." (See "Flag Admirals & Commanding Officers").	Brian Bartlett, via Don Schroeder
Memorabilia
NS0302615	170k	A 20 x 20" bronze plaque is to be dedicated on May 4, 2008 (63rd anniversary of the kamikaze attack) in the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.	Don Schroeder
Click here for more photos and documents
Commercial Service
NS0302622	126k	"Steaming again as a tanker, as if nothing had happened in between..."	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
For more photos and information about this ship, see: Special Feature — The Don Schroeder Collection USS Sangamon Awards

View the USS Sangamon (ACV-26 / CVE-26)
DANFS History entry located on the Hazegray & Underway Web Site.

Crew Contact and Reunion Information

Date:
Place:
Contact:	Don Schroeder
Address:	3703 Dale St. — Manitowoc, WI 54220
Phone:	920-682-2013
E-mail:	Don Schroeder
Web site:
Remarks:

Related Links

Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Official U.S. Navy Carrier Website
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association

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Last update: 3 May 2009