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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS SUWANNEE   (ACV-27)

(formerly AO-33 and AVG-27; later CVE-27 and CVHE-27)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign
As AO-33



Negat - Int - Charlie - Option
As AVG-27/ACV-27/CVE-27/CVHE-27



Negat - William - Roger - Love
(1957) November - Whiskey - Romeo - 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 / American Defense Service Medal ("A" device) [AO] / American Campaign Medal
2nd Row: European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1 star) / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (11 stars) / World War II Victory Medal
3rd Row: Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp) / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal

Sangamon Class Escort Carrier
Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
3 Jan 1938 3 Jun 1938 4 Mar 1939 16 Jul 1941
24 Sep 1942
21 Feb 1942
8 Jan 1947

1 Mar 1959
Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.

Specifications
(1942, as Converted)
Displacement (design): 11,400 tons standard; 24,275 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 525' x 75' x 30' 7.5" (full load)  /  160 x 22.9 x 9.3 meters
Dimensions (max.): 553' x 114' 3"  /  168.6 x 34.8 meters
Armor: None
Power plant: 4 boilers (450 psi); 2 steam turbines; 2 shafts; 13,500 shp (design)
Speed: 18+ knots
Endurance: 23,920 nm @ 15 knots (with 4,780 tons of oil fuel)
Armament: 2 single 5"/51 gun mounts; 4 twin 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; 12 single 20-mm/70-cal gun mounts
Aircraft: 25
Aviation facilities: 2 elevators; 1 hydraulic catapult
Crew: 830 (ship's company + air wing)

Click on Thumbnail
for Full Size Image
Size Image Description Source
Name
Suwannee River
NS0302736
162k

Built as the civilian tanker Markay, this ship was acquired by the Navy on 26 June 1941, assigned hull number AO-33 and renamed Suwannee for a river in Ware County, southeastern Georgia, that flows southwest across Florida to empty into the Gulf of Mexico at Suwannee Sound.

Two previous ships had been named Suwanee, an alternate spelling:

  1. A double-ended, iron-hulled, side-wheel gunboat.
  2. A freighter-transport that retained her civilian name.

(Map NS0302736 by Karl Musser, courtesy of Wikipedia. Photo NS032736a courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey.)

NavSource
Suwannee River
NS0302736a
137k
SS Markay
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302743
40k

Keystone Tankship Corp. tanker SS Markay tied up pierside (NS0302743) and underway (NS0302743a), location and dates unknown. Betty wrote: "My father, Commander Vernon Dietz served on [this ship]. He was employed by Keystone Tankship Corp. from 1933–1949."

Betty Hillard,
via Auke Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages,
via Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302743a
30k
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302734
249k

SS Markay photographed on 26 June 1941, the day she was acquired by the Navy. Probably photographed at Baltimore, Maryland.

National Archives & Records Administration photo, # 19-N-24296.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302734a
330k

SS Markay photographed on 26 June 1941, just before conversion into USS Suwannee (AO-33, later CVE-27). Probably photographed at Baltimore, Maryland.

National Archives & Records Administration photo, # 19-N-24297.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302734b
319k

SS Markay photographed on 26 June 1941, just before conversion into USS Suwannee (AO-33, later CVE-27). Probably photographed at Baltimore, Maryland.

National Archives & Records Administration photo, # 19-N-24298.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302734c
216k

SS Markay photographed on 26 June 1941, just before conversion into USS Suwannee (AO-33, later CVE-27). Probably photographed at Baltimore, Maryland.

National Archives & Records Administration photo, # 19-N-2429?.

Mike Green
USS Suwannee (AO-33)

There are currently no images of USS Suwannee (AO-33) available at NavSource.


USS Suwannee (ACV-27 / CVE-27)
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302726
32k

USS Suwannee underway, date and location unknown.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302735
193k

USS Brooklyn (CL-40) and USS Suwannee (ACV-27) underway, with the amphibious convoy, en route to North Africa, early November 1942.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-30228.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302729
140k

USS Suwannee tied to a mooring buoy in the New Hebrides. In this view Suwannee's two elevators are lowered to her hangar deck. Note the 40mm Bofors and 20mm Oerlikon gun "tubs" sited around the flight deck. U.S. Navy.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302727
528k

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat (nicknamed "Rosenblatt's Reply") aboard USS Suwannee (ACV-27), circa late 1942 or early 1943. The plane bears traces of the yellow Operation Torch marking around its national insignia. Photographed by Ensign Barrett Gallagher, USNR. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-K-15634.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302738
391k

Port quarter aerial view of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) underway, March 1943. Electronics on mast have been censored.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # USN 470158.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302737
777k

Flight deck poster made by an AMM, B.L. Thomas, of the crew. Artwork details the dangers of propellers. Photograph: 7 April 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-39315.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302737a
769k

Flight deck poster made by an AMM, B.L. Thomas, of the crew. Artwork details about crossing the flight deck during launchings. Photograph: 7 April 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-39316.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302737b
955k

Flight deck poster made by an AMM, B.L. Thomas, of the crew. Artwork details about crossing the flight deck during landings. Photograph: 7 April 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-39317.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302737c
1.31M

Flight deck poster made by an AMM, B.L. Thomas, of the crew. Artwork details about sitting on flight deck during flight operations. Photograph: 7 April 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-39318.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302723
162k

Amidships looking aft plan view of USS Suwannee at Mare Island Navy Yard on 11 Oct 1943. Circled areas indicated additions or modifications at the shipyard between 11 Sep to 12 Oct 1943. U.S. Navy photo, Mare Island Navy Yard # 7045-43.

Darryl Baker
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302724
161k

Amidships looking forward plan view of USS Suwannee at Mare Island Navy Yard on 11 Oct 1943. Circled areas indicated additions or modifications at the shipyard between 11 Sep to 12 Oct 1943. U.S. Navy photo, Mare Island Navy Yard # 7047-43.

Darryl Baker
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302725a
59k

USS Suwannee (CVE-27), 135° off centerline view, 12 October 1943. Official photo, Mare Island Navy Yard # 7054-43, now in the Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files, San Francisco National Archives.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302725
204k

Broadside view of USS Suwannee off Mare Island Navy Yard on 12 Oct 1943. U.S. Navy photo, Mare Island Navy Yard # 7055-43.

Darryl Baker
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302702
64k

Port side underway, 1943–1944.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302748
520k

Crewmembers of the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Suwannee (CVE-27) form the ship's hull number on the flight deck, circa 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the Suwannee 1942–1945 Cruise Book.

John Spivey
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302704
282k

USS Suwannee (CVE-27) at anchor in Kwajalein Harbor, Marshall Islands on 7 February 1944 with F6F Hellcat fighters, SBD Dauntless dive bombers, and TBM Avenger torpedo bombers on her flight deck. Longer than most other World War II CVEs, these carriers of the Sangamon class could launch and recover F6Fs.

Photographed from USS Baltimore (CA-68).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command, # NH 106578.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302732
269k

Japanese surrender leaflet dropped by General Motors TBM-1C Avenger torpedo bombers, USS Suwannee (CVE-27).

This propaganda leaflet was saved from a batch that was being air dropped by VT-60's Avengers on 22 October 1944. The leaflets were dropped on the Japanese installations located on the Visayas Islands, Philippines, in advance of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Prepared by the Army Psychological Warfare Branch. Leaflet 3-J-1. The Japanese text reads in part: "Before you reach this miserable state, which is more than men ought to endure so far from home, we want you to keep something in mind. Those who choose to come to an honorable understanding with us will find that we treat them as human beings, not as enemies. We shall hold it as a duty to see that are given clothing, food, shelter, and medical care."

This leaflet was aboard the carrier the moment she was hit by the Mitsubishi Zero (Mitsubishi A6M5 Navy Type 0 – Carrier Fighter Model 52), piloted by Tamisaku Katsumata, during the first Kamikaze attack in history (Battle off Samar, Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944). It was kept as a souvenir by the USS Suwannee flight deck air traffic controller, Albert L. Tomsic, (Serial Number 618 10 62), to remember the horrible battle.

Tommy Trampp
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302747
51k

Rare views of USS Suwanee (CVE-27) in color, painted in full dark blue (Measure 21), probably 1944, before the kamikaze attack.

Smithsonian Channel.

Via Yu Chu
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302747a
53k
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302747b
55k
Kamikaze attacks, 25–26 October 1944
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711h
575k

Anti-Aircraft Fire at a Japanese Zero during its attempt to make a suicide dive into the flight deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) at Leyte, Philippines, 25 October 1944. Taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270624.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711i
285k

Anti-Aircraft Fire at a Japanese Zero during its attempt to make a suicide dive into the flight deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) at Leyte, Philippines, 25 October 1944. Taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270625.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711j
290k

Fires and explosion on USS Suwannee (CVE-27) resulting from a suicide hit of a Japanese Zero near Leyte Gulf, Philippines, 25 October 1944. Taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270626.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711d
161k

F6F Hellcat completing pullout after chasing Zeke which crashed into USS Suwannee (CVE-27), 25 October 1944. Taken by USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) Air Department.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo, # NH 71524.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302705
44k

Damage in action of 25 October 1944. Flight Deck as viewed from Bridge taken at time of explosion in hangar.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo (# 80-G-270662).

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302705a
377k

Japanese Zero crashes deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) and bursts into flames, Leyte Gulf, Philippines, 25 October 1944. The bomb is exploding four feet above hangar deck. Remains of plane crashed throughout the hangar deck and stopped on main deck below.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270660.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302706
54k

Damage in action of 25 October 1944. Hole in Flight Deck Frame 64 stbd. about 10 minutes after bomb hit.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302707
63k

Damage in action of 25 October 1944. Flight Deck as seen from Bridge 1½ hours after bomb hit at Frame 64 stbd.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302707a
174k

USS Suwannee (CVE-27) after the fires were put out. The shambles that remained of Suwannee's forward flight deck included the forward elevator platform collapsed in its well and several holes punched in the deck. The flight decks of US carriers of this era are often described as being made of wood, but as can be seen here, the wooden planks were applied over a steel deck to provide traction for men and aircraft. Photo NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) facility College Park, MD.

Photo and text from Fire From The Sky, by Robert C. Stern

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302708
53k

Damage in action of 25 October 1944. Hole in Hangar Deck between Frames 63 & 64 port (looking aft.) (Photo taken after shredded plating was cut away.) Note extent of dished area.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302709
50k

Damage in action of 25 October 1944. Motor from Jap Zeke found in vicinity of hit at Frame 64 stbd.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302709a
511k

Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944. Damage done to USS Suwannee (CVE-27) after attack by a Japanese kamikaze off Leyte Gulf, photographed 25 October 1944. Note the hole in the flight deck.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270693.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710
409k

Eleven-photo sequence of the kamikaze attack on USS Suwannee off Leyte, 26 October 1944.

(1) As a returning American torpedo bomber (lower plane) approaches deck for landing, a Japanese suicide plane streaks out of clouds in an 80-degree dive.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270609.

Don Schroeder, USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710e
365k

Japanese Zero making a suicide dive into the flight deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) as a Grumman F6F Hellcat approaches deck to make a landing. Taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26) at Leyte, Philippines, 26 October 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270610.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710c
329k

Photo of the Mitsusbishi A6M5 Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 52 piloted by PO1c Tamisaku Katsumata. Had Katsumata's Zeke maintained its dive as shown in photo [NS0302710], it would certainly have missed aft of Suwannee, so he corrected its aim point by reducing the dive angle. This is caught in this image taken aft on the carrier's flight deck, showing the underside of the fighter with the trails of tracer rounds passing underneath. Even more rare is the fact that it is known that this particular aircraft had previously been flown by the Japanese ace WO Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, but had been turned over to Katsumata because Nishizawa was scheduled to fly to Manila to pick up new aircraft.

National Archives and Records Administration facility College Park, MD., # 80-G-270673.

Text from Fire From the Sky, by Robert C. Stern.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710f
381k

An emergency bridge manned on after flight deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27), attacked by Japanese kamikaze plane off Leyte Gulf, Philippines, 26 October 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) # 80-G-270674.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710g
463k

Damage done to USS Suwannee (CVE-27) after attack by Japanese suicide plane off Leyte Gulf. Note the shrapnel pattern. Photographed on 26 October 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) # 80-G-270689.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710d
119k

A Zeke, probably piloted by PO1c Miyakawa, dives on USS Suwannee (CVE-27), as seen from USS Sangamon (CVE-26). Moments later, the Japanese fighter turned away, apparently damaged, and headed towards Sangamon, eventually splashing harmlessly between the two ships.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710a
58k

(1a) As a returning American torpedo bomber (lower plane) approaches deck for landing, a Japanese suicide plane streaks out of clouds in an 80-degree dive.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302710b
50k

(1b) As a returning American torpedo bomber (left) approaches deck for landing, a Japanese suicide plane streaks out of clouds in an 80-degree dive.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711
185k

(2) The Zeke crashes Suwannee's flight deck and careens into a torpedo bomber which has just been recovered. The two planes erupt upon contact as do nine other planes on her flight deck.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

Don Schroeder,
USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711a
292k

(2a) The Zeke crashes Suwannee's flight deck and careens into a torpedo bomber which has just been recovered. The two planes erupt upon contact as do nine other planes on her flight deck. Note the F6F Hellcat flying away from the explosion.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270613.

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711b
597k

(2b) The Zeke crashes Suwannee's flight deck and careens into a torpedo bomber which has just been recovered. The two planes erupt upon contact as do nine other planes on her flight deck.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270615.

U.S. Navy photo from the collection of Micheal Strout, via Jonathan Eno
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711e
215k

Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944. Crash of Japanese Zero kamikaze on USS Suwanne (CVE-27) on the forward flight deck while off Samar on 26 October. Note the F6F Hellcat flying away from the explosion. Photographed from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270614.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711c
259k

During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, a photo of a crash of a Japanese Zeke Kamikaze plane on USS Suwannee (CVE-27) off Samar on 26 October 1944. Smoke on Suwannee's forward flight deck. An Avenger is flying over the damaged ship. Photographed from USS Sangamon (CVE-26), which also has an Avenger on her deck.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-270617.

Mike Green
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711f
361k

Fires and explosion on the flight deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27), resulting from a suicide hit of a Japanese Zero near Leyte, Philippines, 26 October 1944. The airborne plane is friendly. Taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-270618.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302711g
390k

Fires and explosion on the flight deck of USS Suwannee (CVE-27), resulting from a suicide hit of a Japanese Zero near Leyte, Philippines, 26 October 1944. The airborne plane is friendly. Taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-270619.

CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302712
86k

(3) Columns of smoke rise from the carrier, dead in water. Fires would burn for several hours, but were finally brought under control. Note survivors in water.

Photo taken from USS Sangamon (CVE-26).

Don Schroeder,
USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302701
42k

October 26, 1944, flight deck in flames from Kamikaze hit.

USN
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302701a
127k

Hit by two enemy kamikazes in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25–26 October 1944, Suwannee steamed back to a West Coast shipyard under her own power. She arrived at Puget Sound Navy Yard on 26 November and her repairs were completed by 31 January 1945.

Ron Reeves
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302713
54k

Damage in action of 26 October 1944. Forward elevator as seen from Hangar Deck looking fwd. & to port.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302714
536k

Damage in action of 26 October 1944. Forward elevator as seen from Hangar Deck looking fwd. & to stbd.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo # 80-G-270690.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302715
55k

Damage in action of 26 October 1944. View of Island Structure looking outboard. Note damage to Flying Bridge.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302716
68k

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 27 November 1944. Damage in action of 25 October 1944. Shrapnel holes in stbd. Hangar side plating, between Frames 63-65. Note: Roller curtains were blown out.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302733
91k

                COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT PRIORITY No. 4
Pursuant to Section III, Circular No. 39, War Department, 1943, Class IV priority for transportation by air withing [sic] the continental United States during the period 18 December, 1944 to 10 January, 1945 is authorized for ACMM Albert L. Tomsic 618 10 62 subject to the provision of existing air priority directives and War Department Circulars pertaining thereto.
Signed E.A. Savage Rank Lieutenant USNR Organization U.S.S. SUWANNEE

Tommy Trampp
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302720
32k

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 26 January 1945. USS Suwannee after repairs from the Kamikaze attacks of October 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302721
39k

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 26 January 1945. USS Suwannee after repairs from the Kamikaze attacks of October 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302722
37k

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 26 January 1945. USS Suwannee after repairs from the Kamikaze attacks of October 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302720a
72k

The escort carrier USS Suwannee (CVE-27) at Puget Sound Navy Yard on 26 January 1945, after a refit. She appears to have a fighter-director radar on her mast; at this time many escort carriers were fitted as fighter-director ships to support amphibious operations, and one escort carrier commander maintained that his ships were actually facing more combat hazards than were the larger fleet carriers, since the former were tied to the beachhead and could not enjoy the advantage of tactical surprise. USN photo.

Photo and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

Robert Hurst
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302717
26k

Puget Sound, Washington, 31 January 1945. Dead ahead view of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) underway at 17 knots, after repairs from the Kamikaze attacks of October 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302718
29k

Puget Sound, Washington, 31 January 1945. Broad on port bow view of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) underway at 17 knots, after repairs from the Kamikaze attacks of October 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302719
32k

Puget Sound, Washington, 31 January 1945. Dead astern view of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) underway at 17 knots, after repairs from the Kamikaze attacks of October 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White, Researcher @ Large
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302744
790k

TBM Avenger, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 40, in flight from USS Suwannee (CVE-27), pilot LT(JG) E.J. Halcin, on anti-submarine patrol during the 1st day of Okinawa operations, 1 April 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349398.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302739
822k

Coxswain R.E.Snyder chooses a place on the forecastle of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) for his letter writing. Photograph released 19 April 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349218.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302745
790k

An F6F-5 Hellcat in flight from USS Suwannee (CVE-27). Photograph released 27 April 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349414.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302741
711k

A wagon loaded with ammunition aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27). Photograph released 10 May 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349221.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302728
114k

"At 1042, Thursday 24 May 1945 TBM-3 [Avenger] Bureau Number 68368 exploded on flight deck immediately after coming to a stop following normal landing on board. The accident apparently was caused by the explosion of a 100# bomb in the bomb bay." (Quoted from the "Report of Damage Incurred from Explosion of a 100 Bomb in the Bomb Bay on an Aircraft which Had Completed Landing Procedure," USS Suwannee CVE-27, Serial 065, 29 May 1945.)

The pilot, LT(JG) Obed F. Slingerland, was killed instantly. ARM1c James Joseph Joyce was critically wounded and died from injuries during transfer. Other 14 officers and men were also injured.

Photos from the National Archives, College Park.

Dave Kerr
(His uncle, Joe, was a sailor aboard Suwannee during the war)
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302728a
110k
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302728b
129k
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302728c
125k
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302728d
133k
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302728e
407k

Lieutenant Edmond C. Walsh, ChC, USNR, conducting burial services aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27) while at sea for Lieutenant Junior Grade Obed F. Flingerland, USNR, who was killed when a 100-pound bomb in bomb bay of his TBM-3 Avenger exploded when he was making a landing on the carrier. Photographed by Chief Photographer's Mate V. Webb, 24 May 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-325110.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302742
1.33M

Air Raids in the Pacific, 1 July 1945. Explosion in the background resulted from a carrier-plane strike on Balikpapan, Borneo. Photographed by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349247.

NARA
CVE-27 Suwannee
NS0302742a
847k

Air Raids in the Pacific, 1 July 1945. Carrier plane strike on Balikpapan, Borneo. Photographed by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349248.

CVE-27 Suwannee
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Air Raids in the Pacific, 1 July 1945. Carrier plane strike causes huge oil tank fires at Balikpapan, Borneo. Photographed by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349249.

CVE-27 Suwannee
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Aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27), Lieutenant Edward P. Looney, a Catholic Chaplain, listens to confessions of a crew member. Photograph released 4 August 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349243.

NARA
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Activities aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27). Pilots waiting for summons, (left to right): Lieutenant Robert I. Roth, USNR; Lieutenant Junior Grade John E. Benson, USNR; Ensign Vincent J. Calo, USNR; Lieutenant Robert M. Hunt, USNR; and VT-40 Executive Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade Albert A. Lee, USNR. Photograph released 20 August 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349430.

NARA
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Pilots of Figther Squadron (VF) 40 "Flying Boars" scoring "kills" for record of USS Suwannee (CVE-27). Left to right: Lieutenant Commander James C. Longino, Jr., USNR; Lieutenant Junior Grade Levi Monteau, USNR; Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph Coleman, USNR; Ensign Raymond L.J. Lebel, USNR; Lieutenant Earl E. Hartman, USNR. Monteau points to trophy flags. Photograph released 20 August 1945.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349434.

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Aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27), Rear Admiral William D. Sample, USN, presents Bronze Star to Lieutenant Commander James C. Longino, who also received the Distinguished Flying Cross with two stars and Air Medal with seven stars.

U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349435.

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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
UNITED STATES SHIP SUWANNEE
and her attached Air Groups participating in the following operations:
CAG-27 (VGS-27, VGF-27), North Africa, November 8 to 11, 1942; VGF-28, North Africa, November 8 to 11, 1942; VGS-30, North Africa, November 8 to 11, 1942; CAG-27, Rennell Island, January 29 to 30, 1943; CVEG-60, Gilbert Islands Operation, November 20 to December 8, 1943; CVEG-60, Marshall Islands Operation, January 31 to February 24, 1944; CVEG-60, Palau, Yap, Ulithi, Woleai Raid, March 30 to April 1, 1944; CVEG-60, Western New Guinea Operation, April 22 to May 5, 1944; CVEG-60, Marianas Operation, June 23 to August 1, 1944; CVEG-60, Western New Guinea Operation, September 15 to 25, 1944; CVEG-60, Leyte Operation, October 12 to 28, 1944; CVEG-40, Okinawa Gunto Operation, March 27 to June 4, 1945; CVEG-40, Borneo Operation, June 26 to July 6, 1945,
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy forces in the air, ashore and afloat. Striking fiercely at her targets in the face of frequent and sustained hostile air attacks, the U.S.S. SUWANNEE and her attached aircraft squadrons caused extremely heavy losses to the enemy in warships, aircraft, merchant shipping and shore installations destroyed or severely damaged. Twice hit and severely damaged by Japanese suicide planes during the his- toric Battle for Leyte Gulf, the SUWANNEE had fought her guns and her planes aggressively against tremendous odds and had con- tributed to the destruction of the enemy's combatant vessels and to his complete rout. Continuously at sea from March 27 to June 19, 1945, she furnished powerful air support for our Okinawa as- sault and land offensives and covered our ships during their advance and retirement. The SUWANNEE's valiant record of combat achieve- ment reflects the highest credit upon her courageous officers and men and upon the United States Naval Service."
For the President,
/s/ John L Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy

Bill Gonyo
Ex-USS Suwannee
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In reserve "Mothballs" at South Boston Naval Annex, (Center) in this 1959 photo.

©Richard Leonhardt
Memorabilia
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Shellback Certificate for ENS Hubert R. Cornwell, USNR, 21 March 1944.

Tommy Trampp

For more photos and information about this ship, see:

Read the USS Suwannee (AO-33 / AVG-27 / ACV-27 / CVE-27 / CVHE-27) DANFS History entry

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