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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS MANILA BAY   (CVE-61)
(later CVU-61)

(Ex-BUCARELI BAY)

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Victor - Kilo

CLASS - CASABLANCA
Displacement 7,800 Tons, Dimensions, 512' 3" (oa) x 65' 2" x 22' 4" (Max)
Armament 1 x 5"/38AA 8 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm, 27 Aircraft.
Machinery, 9,000 IHP; 2 Skinner, Uniflow engines, 2 screws
Speed, 19 Knots, Crew 860.
Operational and Building Data

 Laid down as BUCARELI BAY (ACV-61) under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., 15 January 1943; renamed MANILA BAY 3 April 1943; launched 10 July 1943 reclassified CVE-61 on 15 July 1943 acquired by the Navy 5 October 1943; and commissioned the same day at Astoria, Oreg.

FATE
decommissioned there 31 July 1946, and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.  She was reclassified CVU-61 on 12 June 1955; her name was struck from the Navy list 27 May 1958; and she was sold for scrap to Hugo New Corp., 2 September 1959.

Click On Image 
For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
CVE-61 Manila Bay
NS0306101		 90k Good detail image. -
CVE-61 Manila Bay
NS0306105		 163k

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) underway whilst operating as an attack carrier in the Pacific, circa 1944.

 Robert Hurst
CVE-61 Manila Bay
NS0306106		 220k

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) came under enemy air attack on June 23, 1944 east of Saipan. Two fighter-bombers attacked her from dead ahead, dropping four bombs which missed their target — note bombs splashing wide to port. Manila Bay was transporting 37 Army P-47 Thunderbolts from 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group and, as a precautionary and rather unusual move which Admiral Spruance later characterized as "commendable initiative," four of them were launched to fly protective CAP until radar screens were clear of contacts. The Army fighters then flew to Saipan, their intended destination.

 National Archives
CVE-61 Manila Bay
NS0306102		 91k January 5, 1945. Image of Manila Bay, taken just moments after she was crashed by a Kamikaze at the base of her island. -
CVE-61 Manila Bay
NS0306103		 69k As seen from USS West Virginia (BB-48), Manila Bay is shown burning after Kamikaze hit on January 5, 1945. -

NS0306104
 136k Post card from a relative. Manila Bay is shown in Measure 32, Design 12A camouflage. © Jon Stacy
USS MANILA BAY CVE-61 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Mr. Elwood S McClintic
Address:4837 Frostburg Ln Virginia Beach, VA, 23455-5305
Phone: 757-497-2792
E-mail: None
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: 2 September 2007