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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS SITKOH BAY   (CVE-86)
(later CVU-86 and AKV-30)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Yankee - Hotel

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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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
USS Sitkoh Bay, 1944–1946
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308601
150k

Date and place unknown.

Ted Garrett.
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
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115k

Date and place unknown.

Ted Garrett.
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
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69k

Pearl Harbor, 1945.

Ted Garrett.
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
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82k

Pearl Harbor, 1945. TBMs on deck.

Ted Garrett.
USNS Sitkoh Bay, 1950–1954
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308605
99k

USNS Sitkoh Bay (T-CVE 86) underway with an assortment of aircraft destined for Korea: TBM Avengers, SNB, R4D Skytrain (aka Skytrooper, Dakota and "Gooney Bird",) JD (the US Navy target-tug version of the USAAF's A-26C Invader) and F4U Corsairs (USN photo.)

Robert Hurst
San Francisco to Yokosuka, December 1953
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606
96k

"In December 1953 I was one of approximately 250 USAF personnel being transported to Japan. We were all on board the USS Sitkoh Bay, landing at Yokosuka Navy Base, Japan."

"The church service pic [NS0308606f] reminded me of an incident that sticks in my mind. The elevator was down to the hangar deck and many troops were sitting there watching a movie. I was further toward the bow (not on elevator) when a large wave came crashing over—and into the open elevator. Lots of laughs, but was not so funny to guys that got soaked! They closed the elevator right after that."

"Also, they did some target practice on way over. Put out a target of barrels with a flag and then circled around somewhere (distance not known) and fired the 5" gun [NS0308606d] a few times. I (and probably none of the other AF troops) had never been around such a thing. Wow! What a noise! Can't even imagine what a 16"er must sound like. They then continued the circle and picked up what was left of the 'target'."

(NS0308606b, NS0308606c)  Cocooned F-86D's on flight deck.

(NS0308606e, NS0308606i, NS0308606j)  Pat enjoying the ride on the flight deck.

Black and white photos were taken while in San Francisco and the early part of the voyage. Color slides were taken later.

Pat Souders (TSgt USAF Ret '72)
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606a
96k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606b
92k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606c
121k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606d
145k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606e
110k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606f
114k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606g
142k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606h
112k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606i
181k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606j
124k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606k
149k
CVE-86 Sitkoh Bay
NS0308606l
107k

USS SITKOH BAY CVE-86 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. B. F. Fessenden
Address:4684 Montgomery Rd Oakdale , CA, 95361-9330
Phone: 209-869-3454
E-mail: None

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

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This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Peña
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Last update: 1 April 2007