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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive


Courtesy of CAPT Gene Oleson, CHC, USN (Ret)

USS FANSHAW BAY   (CVE-70)
(later CVHE-70)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Whiskey - Lima

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

 
 

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Presidential Unit Citation (2)
2nd Row: American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5 stars) / World War II Victory Medal
3rd Row: Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp) / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal

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.

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For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Name
Fanshaw Bay
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CVE-70 was named Fanshaw Bay for a bight that extends SW 3 miles from Whitney Island to Cape Fanshaw, 66 miles E of Sitka, Alaska. It was named in 1887 for Cape Fanshaw by LCDR (later RADM) Charles Mitchell Thomas, USN.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

NavSource
Construction
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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Fanshaw Bay was launched on November 1, 1943. The launching party included (l to r) M. Miller; June Oliver, rate control department employee and flower girl; Mrs. Frances M. Frericks, matron of honor; Mrs. Jesse L. Kenworthy, sponsor; Lesley Cynthia Kenworthy and Captain Leland D. Webb.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 3, No. 21; November 11, 1943; page 7.)

Courtesy of Ron Gough,
Bea Dee, Ltd.,
Kaiser Vancouver / Swan Island & Oregon Shipyards website
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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Photo of the soon-to-be-commissioned Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) taken by LT Ralph F. Locke, USNR, of Blimp Squadron (ZP) 32, 26 November 1943, from an altitude of 1,000 feet, while the ship was running trials. Note the carrier's compact flight deck, which illustrates the lack of room to carry out flight operations, as well as the radar antenna surmounting the island superstructure and the multiple (covered to protect them from the elements) anti-aircraft gun mounts.

U.S. Navy Photograph now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Still Pictures Division, College Park, Md. Photo # 80-G-214084.

Mike Green
World War II
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) transporting aircraft on 17 January 1944. Among the planes parked on her flight deck are U.S. Army A-20, P-38 and P-47 types.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106573).

Naval History & Heritage Command, via Robert Hurst
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USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) underway on 9 February 1944. This was two months after being commissioned and the carrier was preparing for her first Western Pacific deployment coming up in April.

Source: Australian War Memorial, photo No. 302596.

Mike Green
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) moored at Brisbane, Australia, 10 February 1944. Note the P-47 Thunderbolts still parked aft.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo #80-G-364211.

Mike Green
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, 5 July 1944, showing a hole in the elevator (top) from a Japanese bomb. Note the size when compared to the sailor on the flight deck and the size of the sailors on the hangar deck, inspecting the damage. Also note the torpedo stowage.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), former Bureau of Ships collection, photo #BS-110053.

Mike Green
PUC -

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

UNITED STATES SHIP FANSHAW BAY

and her attached Air Squadrons participating in the following operations:

VC-68, Marianas Operation, June 15 to 18, 1944;
VC-66, Western New Guinea, September 15 to October 12, 1944;
VC-68, Leyte Operation, October 18 to 24, 1944;
VC-68, Leyte Operation, October 26 to 29, 1944;
VOC-2, Okinawa Gunto Operation, March 25 to June 23, 1945;
VOC-2, THIRD Fleet Operations against Japan, July 10 to 27, 1945,

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

   "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore and afloat. Operating continuously in the most advanced areas, the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and her air squadrons destroyed or damaged hostile warships, aircraft, merchant shipping and shore installations despite frequent and sustained air attacks. She sent out her planes repeatedly in spotting and strike missions to annihilate the enemy's ground installations, troops, tanks, trucks and parked aircraft and to destroy his airborne planes. Operating as a highly disciplined and superbly coordinated team throughout 124 days of action, the FANSHAW BAY and her air groups achieved an illustrious record of performance in combat which reflects the highest credit upon her gallant officers and men and upon the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

(Signed)
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy

Bill Gonyo
PUC - CVE-70
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PUC - CVE-70
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THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE, consisting of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and VC-68; U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY and VC-10; U.S.S. KALININ BAY and VC-3; U.S.S. KITKUN BAY and VC-5; U.S.S. SAINT LO and VC-65; U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS and VC-4; U.S.S. HOEL; U.S.S. JOHNSTON; U.S.S. HEERMAN; U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS; U.S.S. RAYMOND; U.S.S. DENNIS and U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

   "For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait toward Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit's valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy's heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy

Thanks to Gerry Lawton, CDR USN (Ret.)
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Composite Squadron (VC) 68, USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70). A photo signed by the squadron's pilots.

Tim Smith
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), as seen from USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88). The photo is believed to have been taken by Vicki's father, a radarman. Location unknown.

Vicki Steele Woodall
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"[Squadron] VC-66 Mississippi Gentlemen Cook, Mayo and Cope."

The United States Navy Memorial, via Bill Gonyo
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Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague aboard USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), off Okinawa, Japan, April 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), #80-G-371327.

NARA
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Aboard USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), 10 September 1945.

Sharon Carney, daughter of Robert C. Carney
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MOMM3 Donald Edward Driver served aboard USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70).

Scott Driver, son of Donald E. Driver
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Model of USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), The National World War II Museum, donated by Wm. "Bill" Waldorf, IPMS Ship Modeler; Commodore Thomas J. Lupo, VC-68, Fanshaw Bay (1943–1945); and Henry A. Pyzdrowski, VC-10, Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Association.

"U.S.S. Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70), Flagship of the Famous Task Force 'Taffy 3,' which held off and participated in the destruction of the last vestige of a powerful Japanese fleet at the historic Battle for Leyte Gulf off the island of Samar, Philippines, cited by all major historians as the 'greatest sea battle in naval history.'"

Robert Hall
CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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CVE-70 Fanshaw Bay
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USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70). Although "personalized" for each ship, this is in fact a generic image of the Casablanca-class CVEs.

Scott Driver, son of Donald E. Driver

For more photos and information about this ship, see:

Read the USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70 / CVHE-70) DANFS History entry.

Read United States Navy, "Straddled: A Short History of the U.S.S. Fanshaw Bay" (1946). World War Regimental Histories, 145,
at the Bangor, Maine Public Library website, via Jonathan Eno.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Chester W Skoczen
Address:326 Chestnut St Syracuse , NY, 13212-2148
Phone: 315-458-4395
E-mail: None

Related Links
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association

The Battle Off Samar - Taffy III at Leyte Gulf


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Last update: 7 April 2023