At the first nighttime launching since November 16, 1942, Hull 322, soon to be USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76) slips into the darkness shortly after midnight on Saturday, December 11, 1943.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 3, No. 24; December 23, 1943; pages 8–9.)

Miss Audrey Ackerman, swing shift pickup truck driver in the hull materials department, representing the workers of the Kaiser Shipyards, christened Hull 322 the Kadashan Bay.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 3, No. 23; December 9, 1943; page 6.)

Port broadside view, camouflaged in Measure 33, Design 10A. Circa 1944.

Entering a floating drydock at Manus, Admiralty Islands, November 19, 1944.

On 8 January 1945 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 12 January for temporary repairs before returning San Francisco 13 February for complete overhaul.

Being struck by a kamikaze on January 8, 1945. Photo taken at moment of impact.

Then AMM1c Walter E. Skeldon recalls: "I was the Arresting Gear crew leader (senior rated man in A G.) My collateral duty was in charge of Repair Party #1. The arresting gear crew leader (according to the ship's billeting) was to be a chief. Repair #1 leader was to be a chief. But chiefs were hard to find and I was too young (20) so I filled those billets as first class. After we were hit by a kamikaze at the waterline starboard side, below the island structure, I was ordered to take my Repair Party and pump out the flooded compartment. Who or how many were behind me I do not remember, but there were at least ten shipmates behind me. How many pumps, hoses or other equipment I do not remember; perhaps three, or four, or six, portable and/or electric submersible pumps. BUT down we went, as ordered. I was on the ladder, in the compartment, water just one step lower when I squatted down and looked out the hole (9 by 17 feet) in the side of the ship. I had seen enough. Ordered every one to back out and up. I went to the nearest telephone and called Damage Control, identified myself and reported that 'if I start pumping the compartment I will have to pump the whole South China Sea because I can see the whole fleet through the hole. Half of the hole is below the waterline.' I was ordered to return to the flight deck and stand by. Which we did. Rep.#2 were finishing up with some small fires on the hangar deck. Rep.#3 & 4 were shoring up the engine room bulkheads."

"What a day."

View 45° off centerline, San Francisco, California, 8 April 1945. Photo # 2257-45-S4. Kadashan Bay is camouflaged in Measure 21.