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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS STEAMER BAY   (CVE-87)
(later CVHE-87)



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

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

   

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6 stars)
2nd Row: World War II Victory Medal / 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.

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Name
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308713
123k

CVE-87 (later CVHE-87) was named Steamer Bay for a bay on the west coast of Etolin Island, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska (NS0308713). The bay was named Bukhta Parakhodnaya on Russian Hydrographic Dept. Chart 1493, published in 1853; the name Steamer Bay is an 1882 translation by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS).

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

NavSource
1944–1947
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308710
91k

USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) with two Avenger torpedo bombers, and two Wildcat fighters on deck. Date and location unknown. U.S. Navy photo.

Robert Hurst
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308702
226k

USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87), 22 April 1944, off San Diego, Calif. Camouflage Measure 14. USN photo.

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308708
170k

A nice photo of USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87), taken from a ZP-31 airship on 14 May 1944, near the California coast, transporting lots of F4U Corsairs.

David Buell
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308709
252k

USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87), 17 July 1944, probably off California. Camouflage Measure 32, Design 12A. USN photo.

Gerd Matthes, Germany
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308707
76k

USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) docked on the West Side of Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, 1944–1945.

© J.R. Daniels, US Navy Seabee, via LT(JG) Jim Converse, USNR (former)
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308703
365k

Date and place unknown.

Steve Miller, ETM 2/c
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308704
188k

A couple F6F-5's prepare to take off from USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87), date and place unknown. Both Hellcats had been ferried by the escort carrier and squadron or carrier markings had not yet been applied. The lead plane is an F6F-5N night fighter, and has an APS-6 radar installed in a starboard wing-mounted radome.

Steve Miller, ETM 2/c
CVE-87 Steamer
NS0308719
70k

Composite Squadron (VC) 90 FM-2 Wildcats ready to launch.

John Newlin, son of LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin,
USS Steamer Bay
CVE-87 Steamer
NS0308717
607k

"You can't always win. Jan. 4, 1945. The sinking of the Ommaney Bay by suicide planes in the Sulu Sea. She had changed places with us only a short time before!!"

John Newlin, son of LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin
Larger copy and caption submitted by Charles S. Garufi for his friend,
John W. Briganti, AMR2/c, USNR
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308701
53k

Action on January 5, 1945 shows the Steamer Bay under attack with a kamikaze shown flying past her stern. At the time, she was camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 12A (thanks to Aryeh Wetherhorn.)

USN
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308701a
608k

Japanese plane making suicide attack on Task Force 77.4.2. Destroyer is probably USS Helm (DD-388), which was also hit by a kamikaze on this day. Photograph by USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87), released 5 January 1945.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-273114.

NARA
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308712
86k

USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87). This photo is dated 23 February 1945, during the Iwo Jima operation.

Tommy Trampp
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308705
168k

An FM-2 Wildcat of VC-93 snags the arresting gear, July 9, 1945. Note three launch stubs for 5" High Velocity Air Rockets (HVARs) under each wing — these were fitted to late-production FM-2's.

Steve Miller, ETM 2/c
CVE-87 Steamer
NS0308721
62k

TBM Avengers flying in formation.

John Newlin, son of LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin,
USS Steamer Bay
CVE-87 Steamer
NS0308721a
69k
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308706
356k

At Bellingham, Washington, in early 1946, for preparation for "mothballing".

Steve Miller, ETM 2/c
Photo Collection of John W. Briganti

John W. Briganti, AMR2/c, USNR.
(3 December 1924–26 May 2015)
Photos submitted by his friend Charles S. Garufi.
(Larger copies of some of these photos available on demand.)



NS0308716a

NS0308716aa
ARM AR-14 Sec. B, NATTC Memphis '43.
526 / 454 Kb

NS0308716b

NS0308716ba
Left to right: John W. Briganti, ARM2/c, USNR; LT(JG) Rollin A. Wilkens; Dee G. Hubbard, AMM2/c, USNR.
403 / 524 Kb

NS0308716c
Composite Squadron (VC) 90, with an FM‑2 Wildcat and a TBM-3 Avenger. Pearl Harbor in the background.
441 Kb

NS0308716d
"The Steamer Bay with us aboard!"
452 Kb

NS0308716e
"Cooling off while at anchor"
Measure 32, Design 12A camouflage.
705 Kb

NS0308716
"Flight deck jammed with replacements."
625 Kb

NS0308716f
"A big gun." One of the British King George V-class battleships operating with the British Pacific Fleet.
779 Kb

NS0308716j
HMS Formidable, one of the British fleet carriers operating with the British Pacific Fleet.
686 Kb

NS0308716g
"Refueling a DE. The bridge."
354 Kb

NS0308716h
Refueling a DE.
447 Kb

NS0308716i
Twin 40mm/56 Bofors mounts.
583 Kb

NS0308716o
"Meeting for the invasion. The Attacking Force in the harbor."
382 Kb

NS0308716p
"Leaving the harbor for the attack!"
413 Kb

NS0308716q
"We strike back. The 'Warm up.' 'Rev Up & Go"
296 Kb

NS0308716r
"Taxi forward"
766 Kb

NS0308716s
"Here they come. The 'Approach'"
567 Kb

NS0308716t
"Cut." An FM-2 Wildcat recovers aboard.
1.08 Mb

NS0308716u
FM-2 Wildcat. "He's 'down & hooked"
1.40 Mb

NS0308716v
FM-2 Wildcat. "He must be 'unhooked'"
1.23 Mb

NS0308716w
"Poor Epese. Epese does a loop on his last hop! Everyone was so sad. It spoiled his record!"
1.35 Mb

NS0308716x
"The hard way. It doesn't look good!"
1.57 Mb

NS0308716y
"Ooh my head'! The bridge didn't move"
1.58 Mb

NS0308716z
"Through the barrier! 7/9/45"
1.76 Mb

NS0308720
"What a mess! Whose side is he on?"
1.97 Mb

NS0308720a
"Whee - Look at me!"
1.95 Mb

NS0308720b
"Ah . . Back down!"
1.63 Mb

NS0308720c
TBM Avenger
1.06 Mb

NS0308720d
"Almost 'Look out' Here I come."
560 Kb

NS0308720e
"Up... Up"
716 Kb

NS0308720f
FM-2 Wildcat about to recover aboard USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87).
467 Kb

NS0308720g
"Lucky He Stopped—A Tight spot to Bein. Too Bad it Had To Happen To A Brooklyn Boy. (Archer). Maschinski Wasn't as Lucky He went All The way."
346 Kb

NS0308720h
"The Crash Crew is on The Job with 'Asbestos Joe' on the wing. It's All in A Day's Work."
391 kb

NS0308720i
"The Last Fighter Home From its Day's Work!"
348 Kb

NS0308720j
"The Planes Are Pushed Aft To Prepare For Tomorrow"
554 Kb

NS0308720k
"TBM Echelon" The four-leaf shamrock identifies Composite Squadron (VC) 93, which operated from Steamer Bay in June–July 1945.
556 Kb

NS0308720l
"TBM [Avenger] Torpedo"
632 Kb

NS0308720m
"FM [Wildcat] Fighter"
588 kb

NS0308720n
"FM [Wildcats] Formation"
438 Kb

NS0308720o
"Bringing Back 'Mack'"
562 Kb

NS0308720p
 
432 Kb

NS0308720q
"Coming Aboard For An Operation"
560 Kb

NS0308720r
"A Crewman Comes Back"
563 kb

NS0308720s
"Burial At Sea"
653 Kb

NS0308720t
"We Get One"
722 Kb

NS0308720u
Appears to be USS Suwannee (CVE-27).
432 Kb

NS0308720v
-
394 Kb

NS0308720w
"Jap Foxhole on Iwo Jima!"
376 kb

NS0308720x
"Souvenirs For Boys!"
612 Kb

NS0308720y
"Filipino Girl"
581 Kb

NS0308720z
"Guam"
622 Kb

NS0308722
-
716 Kb

NS0308722a
"'Litte Joe' [Paschal] takes over"
624 Kb

NS0308722b
"Inspection in Pearl Harbor"
680 Kb

NS0308722c
"Entertainment in Port"
551 Kb

NS0308722d
-
463 Kb

NS0308722e
-
633 Kb

NS0308722f
"Poor Polliwogs!"
624 Kb

NS0308722g
"King Neptune's Committee"
636 Kb

NS0308722h
"Wish I Knew What They Were Thinking"
877 Kb

NS0308722i
-
544 Kb

NS0308722j
"Welcome Home"
579 Kb

NS0308722k
-
557 Kb

NS0308722l
"To the Officers of the U.S.S. Steamer Bay: Thanks for a Grand Voyage from the Army Passenger Officers"
565 Kb

NS0308722m
"The Judge Tries to Explain! But No One Cares. Bloomer Gets The Electric Chair."
401 Kb

NS0308722n
"Yours Truly. 'Hollywood Aviator'"
536 Kb

NS0308722o
"Squadron Insignia I Traced & Colored"
1.21 Mb

NS0308722p
"1 Dollar — Hawaii"
821 Kb

NS0308722q
"Invasion Money (American). We Were Given 100 Pesos. To Pay Our Way, if Shot Down"
832 Kb

NS0308722r
-
1.03 Mb

NS0308722s
"Japanese Invasion Money"
995 Kb
The Crew
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308718
62k

LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin was one of two Radar Officers aboard USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87). He was a lawyer. The other Radar Officer was Ben Alexander, the actor later famed as Frank Smith, partner to Jack Webb's Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet.

John Newlin, son of LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308718a
54k

Left to right: LT(JG) Newlin, ENS Foote, ENS McDermott, and LT(JG) Harter. Photo is dated 9 August 1944.

John Newlin, son of LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308718b
91k

Crew of USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87). LT(JG) Jack Newlin is second from left, with binoculars, in the first row.

John Newlin, son of LT(JG) John "Jack" Newlin
Ex-USS Steamer Bay
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308715
696k

The salmon trawler Rujac underway off Tacoma, Washington, 18 June 1947, with decommissioned Navy escort carriers moored in the background: Stern of ex-USS Hollandia (CVE-97), along with ex-USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) moored outboard of ex-USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), all three ships part of the Tacoma Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Source: Tacoma Public Library, Richards Studio, Photo No. D28441-4.

Mike Green
Memorabilia
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308711
164k

USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87), 50th Anniversary, 1944–1994, Philippine [Presidential] Unit Citation.

Tommy Trampp
CVE-87 Steamer Bay
NS0308714
139k

Life ring, mini souvenir (approx. 5.5" across), USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87). Dated 13 May 1944, the day before she departed the CONUS for the first time, headed for the New Hebrides.

Tommy Trampp

For more photos and information about this ship, see:

Read the USS STEAMER BAY (CVE-87 / CVHE-87) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Charles H Selby
Address:12 Allard St Warwick, RI, 02889-2614
Phone: 401-737-7876
E-mail: selrahcybles@cs.com

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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: 20 December 2023