AVG-21 was named Block Island for a sound that lies east of Long Island, N.Y., and south of Rhode Island. It takes its name from Block Island which it separates from the Rhode Island coast (NS0310620, courtesy of Google Maps).

A nearly complete Block Island (ACV-21) at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipyard, 1943. She is painted in Measure 22 camouflage scheme, in preparation for duty in the Atlantic.

(U.S. Navy photo, courtesy of The Floating Drydock, from Naval Camouflage 1914–1945: A Complete Visual Reference, by David Williams.)

Block Island (CVE-21) on trials, circa March 1943. Broadside view, starboard.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-42693.

Block Island (CVE-21) on trials, circa March 1943. Port side, off the bow.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-42698.

Block Island (CVE-21) on trials, circa March 1943. Starboard side, off the bow.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-42699.

Block Island (CVE-21) on trials, circa March 1943. Starboard side, off the stern.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-42703.

Block Island (CVE-21) on trials, circa March 1943. View directly astern.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-42712.

Block Island (CVE-21) on trials, circa March 1943. Bow-on view.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-42702.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 23 March 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 19-N-43088.

USS Block Island (CVE-21), date and location unknown.

P-47s lashed on the forward end of the flight deck of USS Block Island (CVE-21), 13 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-77750.

"The Axis was defeated by American industrial capacity, which fed the Russians and the British with goods of war, and which armed its own countrymen with the finest mass-produced weapons of the naval war. In this photograph, Army Air Force P-47-D5 fighters have been jammed onto the flight deck of the escort carrier Block Island at New York in July 1943, awaiting shipment to Europe." From The Naval Air War, 1939–1945, by Nathan Miller, p.127.

Viewed from the bridge, looking aft, 15 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-77752.

Hooded planes and stores on the hangar deck of USS Block Island (CVE-21). Taken from the after elevator looking forward, 15 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-77754.

Unloading P-47 Thunderbolts from USS Block Island (CVE-21) at Belfast, Northern Ireland, 27 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-77756.

Unloading P-47 Thunderbolts from USS Block Island (CVE-21) at Belfast, Northern Ireland, 27 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-77757.

Unloading P-47 Thunderbolts from USS Block Island (CVE-21) at Belfast, Northern Ireland, 27 July 1943. This image captures the hoisting of a plane from the flight deck. This is a P-47D-5 variant, of which 300 were built. They were fitted with a GE C-21 supercharger and water injection as well as improved B-7 bomb/drop tank shackles.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-77760.

Unloading P-47 Thunderbolts from USS Block Island (CVE-21) at Belfast, Northern Ireland, 27 July 1943. This image captures the hoisting of a plane from the flight deck. Block Island was moored port side to Air Drome Dock.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-77763.

Assembling P-47s at Sydenham Airport, Belfast, North Ireland. Last "touch-up" before test flight. Part of USS Block Island (CVE-21) can be seen in the background, 31 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-77769.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) arrives in Belfast, Ulster, Northern Ireland, with a cargo of Army P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. She was unloaded in a record 14 hours. The tug Empire Meadow is off her bow, guiding her to her berth. The photo is dated 7 September 1943, but was probably taken a week earlier, on 31 August (on the given date, Block Island was steaming in the North Atlantic).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-55525.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) moored while port crane unloads Army P-47 Thunderbolt fighter from the ship at Belfast, Ulster. The planes were unloaded in a record 14 hours. Photo is dated 7 September 1943, but see comment above.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-55528.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) underway, 12 October 1943, wearing Ms.22 camouflage. Note that she is now fitted with SK air-search radar instead of the SC set. The smaller system at its top edge is IFF (Identification Friend or Foe), not a radar as such but an interrogator compatible with the beacons installed in aircraft. The pole mast forward of the island is topped with HF/DF (high-frequency direction-finder, or "huff-duff"), which enabled ASW to be effectively prosecuted since the carriers could pick up and establish the bearings of U-boat communications.

Shortly after leaving Norfolk, October 15, 1943, on her first anti-submarine cruise, with aircraft from Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1) on deck—9 FM-1 Wildcats (forward) and 12 TBF-1C Avengers. Position 36-54' N, 75-22' W, course 090. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-14.

U.S. National Archives photo #80-G-87149.

German Type XB submarine U-220 was attacked and sunk by aircraft from Composite Squadron (VC) 1, off USS Block Island (CVE-21), on 28 October 1943.

NS0302116: Sketch showing tracks of U-Boats relative to position from which pictures were taken. From VC-1 ASW-6 report 9-43, Enclosure E.

"There were six photographs taken of the depth bombing attack and one of the mine attack. The radioman used a K-20 camera to obtain these, the first six being taken out of the port window by the radioman's seat in the TBF tunnel and the seventh from stinger gun position (the [gun] having previously been removed) while lying prone. The negatives from the gun cameras of the fighter and TBF turret are forwarded. The TBF turret film does show the water and some indistinct objects. Obviously the range is great and with the limited facilities aboard ship, nothing of definite value can be found. Perhaps further study of this short strip will disclose further facts."

NS0302116a: "U-220 and U-256 under attack by aircraft from USS Block Island, October 28, 1943. U-256 is visible to the left in the photo and U-220 is in the center with DB swirl visible aft of the U-boat. This photo is of poor quality but it is the only one that shows both boats."

NS0302116b: "FIDO splash 100 feet beyond the swirl 45 seconds after U-256's conning tower disappeared. The FIDO made a turn to port after it entered the water and disappeared from view. No shock wave was observed."

NS0302116c: "To left center can be seen the larger submarine showing what is probably the bow wave created by the conning tower as well as the wake. The wake comes back toward the camera and turns toward the right, close to 90°."
"Almost in the center of the picture is the probable position of the attacked U-boat. This discoloration of the picture could be caused either by the depth bomb residue or by oil slicks not noticeable to the observers for reasons described in the report. No image of the damaged submarine is noticed in this photograph."
"The rapidity with which this and the following photographs were taken is shown distinctly by the relative position of the cloud formation in the successive photographs."

NS0302116d: "As mentioned this picture follows the other instantaneously. The conning tower of the larger submarine can be seen together with the wave it makes. Also the wake is a little straighter, indicating the forward motion."
"Again the patch of water near the attacked U-boat is discernable. In the center of this circular disturbance, there seems to be a shape that might be the submarine on an angle of about 10 degrees to that of the waves. There may even be two white puffs of smoke over the center of the shape."

Note: It is not entirely clear how and when U-220 was sunk. According to the war diary of U-256, it was contacted by U-220 some 30 minutes after the attack, by underwater telephone, to make arrangements for a new meeting point later that day. Moreover, there had been no visible indication that U-220 had been destroyed by Block Island's aircraft. Eight hours later, U-256 saw explosion plumes at the horizon and, subsequently, U-220 did not appear at the agreed meeting point and failed to report its position. U-220 was posted as missing, effective 31 October 1943. (Info from German U-boat Losses During World War II: Details of Destruction, by Axel Niestlé.)

USS Block Island (CVE-21) camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 4A, circa 1944.

"ESCORT CARRIER 'B'[Block Island]—This is baby flat top which escorted two convoys across Atlantic without damage to a ship, meanwhile smashing two sub wolf packs. [...] (Wirephoto from United States Navy)"

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222834.

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222835.

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222836.

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222841.

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222842.

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222843.

TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58 squadron), from USS Block Island (CVE-21) make first aircraft rocket attack on German submarine U-758 (Type VIIC), 11 January 1944. The submarine survived the attack and returned to St. Nazaire, France, on 20 January. In March 1945, it was stricken from the German Navy after being damaged by British bombers at Kiel, Germany. Shown: Lieutenant Junior Grade Willis D. Seeley makes effective rocket attack followed quickly by depth-bomb attack by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leonard L. McFord. Lieutenant Junior Grade Seeley then made effective depth bomb attack.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-222847.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) underway with Composite Squadron (VC) 58 aboard, nearing Norfolk, 3 February 1944. The colors of her Measure 32, Design 4A, camouflage scheme are Navy Blue (5-N), Haze Gray (5-H), Light Gray (5-L) and Pale Gray (5-P). Photo taken by squadron ZP-14.

Block Island would be sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U-549 on 29 May 1944. In turn, U-549 was sunk later in the same action by USS Eugene E. Elmore (DE-686) and USS Ahrens (DE-575).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-215495.

Captain Francis Massie Hughes, USN, accepting command of USS Block Island (CVE-21), 10 March 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-49301.

German submarine U-801 on the surface (directly above the aircraft wingtip), being pursued and fired on by USS Corry (DD-463), at right, on 17 March 1944. The submarine was sunk in position 16 41N, 29 58W.

Photographed from a TBM Avenger aircraft of squadron VC-6, based on USS Block Island (CVE-21).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-222848).

German submarine U-801 sinking with bow high, in position 16 41N, 29 58W on 17 March 1944. USS Corry (DD-463) is coming up at right. The submarine was sunk by aircraft and surface ships of the USS Block Island (CVE-21) group.

Photographed from a TBM Avenger aircraft of squadron VC-6, based on Block Island.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-222850).

German submarine U-801 was sunk on 17 March 1944, with a Fido homing torpedo, by two Avengers and one Wildcat aircraft (VC-6 squadron) from USS Block Island (CVE-21), along with depth charges and gunfire from USS Corry (DD-463) and USS Bronstein (DE-189). Note, Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Sorenson strafed and Lieutenant Junior Grade Charles Woodell depth charged U-801.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-222854.

U-66, a Type IXC submarine, was the last victim of USS Block Island (CVE-21) Task Group before Block Island herself was sunk by U-549 some three weeks later. This photo was in the possession of Hermann Hartmann, Obermachinenmaat, one of the survivors, and shows U-66 docking, with part of its crew on review (date and location unknown).

Task Group 21.11, comprised of Block Island with Composite Squadron (VC) 55 and Destroyer Escort Division 60—USS Ahrens (DE-575), USS Barr (DE-576), USS Eugene E. Elmore (DE-686), and USS Buckley (DE-51)—first contacted U-66 a few minutes before midnight on 1 May 1944. The Group hunted the U-boat for several days, but aerial attacks with acoustic torpedoes and depth charges were unsuccessful. Finally, at 0330 on 6 May, an unarmed TBM-1C Avenger flown by LT(JG) Jimmie J. Sellars picked up a blip on radar and coached Buckley to the attack. U-66 fired torpedoes and automatic weapons against the DE. Buckley fired her 3in, 20mm and 40mm guns and rammed the enemy boat.

Of the total complement of 60 officers and men, 36 were rescued by Buckley and later transferred to Block Island. The commanding officer of U-66, Oberleutnant zur See (posthumously advanced to Kapitänleutnant) Gerhard Seehausen, and two British prisoners who were aboard, were not among the survivors.

NS0302115a shows the four surviving officers, left to right: Leutnant (Ing.) d. R. Ludwig Flintsch, Oberleutnant (Ing.) Georg Olschewski, Oberleutnant z. S. Klaus Herbig, and Oberleutnant z. S. Richard Ketelsen.

NS0302115b shows the Warrant Officers, Chief and Senior Petty Officers. Front row, left to right: Obersteuermann Richard Höhn, Oberfunkmaat Karl Degener-Böning, Maschinenmaat (E) Franz Nirnberger, Obermaschinist (E) Walter Landvoight, Maschinenmaat (E) Georg Grölz. Back row, left to right: Funkmaat Werner Pasedak, Obermaschinist (D) Bernhard Terinde, Stabsobersteuermann Werner Fröhlich, Sanitatsmaat Wolff Loch, Obermaschinemaat Werner Hartman.

NS0302115c shows the lower ranking Petty Officers and below. Front row, left to right: Maschinenobergefreiter (D) Horst Koch, Matrosenobergefreiter Vinzenz Nosch, Matrosenobergefreiter Walter Drewek, Funkobergefreiter Harry Schönel, Maschinenobergefreiter (E) Helmut Löser. Middle row, left to right: Matrosengefreiter Leonhard Burian, Maschinengefreiter (D) Hans Hoffmann, Maschinenobergefreiter (D) Anton Klaus, Matrosenobergefreiter Kurt Fickel, Matrosengefreiter Helmuth Künkel. Back row, left to right: Maschinenobergefreiter (E) Willi Hahner, Mechanikerobergefreiter Helmut Illing, Maschinengefreiter (E) Fritz Buttgereit, Funkgefreiter Gottlieb Melmuka, Maschinengefreiter (D) Helmuth Rautenberg, Maschinenobergefreiter (D) Günther Schmidt, Matrose II – Masch. Herbert Teuscher, Maschinenobergefreiter (E) Heinz Lehmann. Not shown: Matrosenobergefreiter Heinrich Haller.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) dead in the water and listing after 1st and 2nd torpedo hits. The ship was initially struck by two torpedoes from German submarine U-549 at 2013, 29 May 1944. A third torpedo hit some ten minutes later sealed her fate. FBI sank at 2155.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 86679.

USS Block Island (CVE-21) sinking by the stern, after being torpedoed by German submarine U-549 in the Eastern Atlantic on 29 May 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-49302.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-49300.

U.S.S. Block Island
(CVE-21)

Loss In Action

South Atlantic Ocean
29 May 1944


War Damage Report No. 49

Read the "Action Report on the Operations Concerning the Loss by Enemy Action of the U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND on 29 May 1944." Courtesy of the U-Boat Archive.

Newsletter article about the loss of USS Block Island (CVE-21).

Lieutenant James G. McDaniel, USNR, who was forced to make a water landing when his escort carrier, USS Block Island (CVE-21), was sunk. LT McDaniel was rescued by a DE. He climbs from the cockpit of his plane after a routine trip. Photograph released 29 May 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-49306.

Commanding officer, Captain Francis Massie Hughes.

Official U.S. Navy (USN) Photograph.

Commanding officer, Captain Hughes, and his officers.

Official U.S. Navy (USN) Photograph.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21).

Official U.S. Navy (USN) Photograph.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21).

Official U.S. Navy (USN) Photograph.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21), Casablanca, Morocco. Captain Hughes and other officers. Photographed by L.F. Cirzan (USS Bogue (CVE-9)), 1 June 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-266504.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21), Casablanca, Morocco. Executive officer, Commander Delos Edwin Wait. Photographed by L.F. Cirzan (USS Bogue (CVE-9)), 1 June 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-266505.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21), Casablanca, Morocco. Crew. Photographed by L.F. Cirzan (USS Bogue (CVE-9)), 1 June 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-266506.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21), Casablanca, Morocco. Crew. Photographed by L.F. Cirzan (USS Bogue (CVE-9)), 1 June 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-266510.

Survivors of USS Block Island (CVE-21), Casablanca, Morocco. Crew. Photographed by L.F. Cirzan (USS Bogue (CVE-9)), 1 June 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-266511.