CVE-120 was named Mindoro after the seventh largest island in the Philippines by land area. The island is located off the southwestern coast of Luzon and northeast of Palawan (NS0312028). During World War II the island was the location of the Battle of Mindoro, 13–16 December 1944. US forces made an amphibious landing on Mindoro and defeated Japanese forces there. There was no significant Japanese opposition, except for kamikaze attacks on American ships.

NS0569307: USS Moale (DD-693), CDR Walter M. Foster, valiantly stands alongside the burning LST-738 (loaded with aviation fuel and ordnance) to rescue crewmembers. LST-738 was hit by a kamikaze, 15 December 1944. Note hole in LST-738's starboard side, just forward of the large "738" painted there. Smoke in the left distance may be from LST-472, which was also hit by the Kamikaze attack. Moale is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 9D. Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN. U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command photo, # NH 95259, via Joe Radigan.

Two previous US ships had been named for the island:

• A former Spanish gunboat, acquired by the Navy in 1899, that retained her name.
• A miscellaneous auxiliary service craft, built in Germany, purchased by the Navy in 1942 and renamed Mindoro. The name was canceled in 1945 and subsequently assigned to CVE-120.

Mindoro (CVE-120) Launching Program, Wednesday, 27 June 1945.

Mrs. Roscoe L. Bowman christened CVE-120 Mindoro on Wednesday, 27 June 1945.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120) Commissioning Program, Tuesday, 4 December 1945.

US Navy photo of USS Mindoro at anchor, date and location unknown.

Abeam image of the escort carrier USS Mindoro (CVE-120) underway as newly completed on 29 November 1945. Note the very heavy 40 mm battery, including three quad mounts (two aft). USN photo.

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

Broad on port beam view of USS Mindoro (CVE-120) underway at 15 knots in Puget Sound, Wash., 18 December 1945. BuAer photo # 8625-12-45, taken from an altitude of 300 feet.

After shakedown along the west coast, USS Mindoro (CVE-120) sailed for the east coast late in January 1946 and arrived Norfolk, Va., 15 February. This is a series of photos taken from Mindoro as she was crossing the Panama Canal.

Dale is not sure where the ship was when he shot this photo, circa spring 1946. The reason he took it is that he was trying to show how the mast was damaged or repaired. He was an RM1c when, according to his memory, USS Mindoro (CVE-120) sailed beneath a bridge somewhere on the west coast that was a little too low for the ship to pass under. Dale thought it was the Golden Gate bridge, but his memory is hazy on that part of the story. The main thing he remembers is the havoc it wreaked in the radio room.

Correction from Dr. James L. West, Princeton, NJ: "USS Mindoro sailed under and struck the Brooklyn bridge on Feb. 22, 1946. The accident caused extensive damage to the radar mast, and broke water mains and electrical lines on the bridge. The ship was headed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard at the time. My dad, CDR James A. West Jr., Air Officer aboard the Mindoro at the time, often recounted this incident."

Flight deck activity aboard USS Mindoro (CVE-120), circa 1946.

Avenger, side number F82, launching. A damaged Corsair, side number B117.

From the collection of Gerard Nicolais, Charlie's father-in-law.

The escort carrier USS Mindoro underway on 20 September 1947, little changed. The postwar image shows many 20mm positions empty, the result as much of low manning levels as of a loss of confidence in the weapon. USN photo.

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

Operations in 1949, as seen from USS Noa (DD-841).

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), 1950s.

With a K-class blimp from ZP-1 Squadron on deck, sometime in the first half of the 1950s.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120) loading Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldivers for delivery to Italy at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in September 1950. Mindoro transported 42 Helldivers and a number of North American F-51D Mustangs to Brindisi, Italy.

U.S. Navy photo from the Mindoro 1950 Cruise Book.

Grumman TBM-3E Avengers of Air Anti-Submarine Squadron (VS) 22 "Checkmates" aboard USS Mindoro (CVE-120). VS-22 was assigned to the escort carrier for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from September to November 1950.

U.S. Navy photo from the Mindoro 1950 Cruise Book.

September 18, 1950—U.S. PLANES ARRIVE FOR ITALY—Forty U.S. warplanes for Italy under the Atlantic pact arrive in Italian port of Brindisi, Sept. 16, aboard the U.S. carrier Mindoro. In ceremony on deck of the carrier, U.S. Ambassador to Italy James C. Dunn turned the craft over to Italian Defense Minister Randolfo Pacciradi. (AP Wirephoto)(jd21730stf-rome.)

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), 1952.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120) photographed 30 April 1952. F.L. 6 3/8", port bow alt. 150 feet.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-442342.

The "heavies" of the Carrier Support Force, as seen from aboard HMS Theseus (R64); HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) and USS Mindoro (CVE-120), 15 September 1952. These ships, and others, were participating in the eight power naval Exercise Main Brace.

Imperial War Museums, Admiralty Official Collection, Photo # ©IWM (A 32292).

USS Mindoro (CVE-120) underway circa 1953, location unknown.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120) underway with Marine Corps HRS transport helicopters on deck, October 1953, location unknown. Note flight-deck markings employed by US carriers at this time.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), Boston Naval Shipyard, June 1953. Antenna rigging photo NY2-1275-6-53, bow view.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), Boston Naval Shipyard, June 1953. Antenna rigging photo NY2-1276-6-53, bow quarter port.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), Boston Naval Shipyard, June 1953. Antenna rigging photo NY2-1278-6-53, mid starboard.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), Boston Naval Shipyard, June 1953. Antenna rigging photo NY2-1279-6-53, stern quarter.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), Boston Naval Shipyard, June 1953. Antenna rigging photo NY2-1280-6-53, stern view.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), possibly at the Boston Naval Shipyard, July 1953.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), possibly at the Boston Naval Shipyard, July 1953.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), possibly at the Boston Naval Shipyard, July 1953.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), possibly at the Boston Naval Shipyard, July 1953.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), possibly at the Boston Naval Shipyard, July 1953.

A series of photos of anti-submarine aircraft operating from USS Mindoro (CVE-120) in the second half of 1953.

S2F-1 Tracker taking off.

S2F-1 Tracker landing.

S2F-1 Tracker.

AF-2S Guardian, VS-30 squadron, taking off.

AF-2S's Guardians, VS-30 squadron, landing.

AF-2W Guardian, VS-30 squadron, taking off. Note the ventral radome, housing an APS-20 radar.

Navy blimp (K-ship) dropping down for refueling, 1954.

Navy blimp ZL-5 approaches USS Mindoro (CVE-120) for refueling via gasoline bladder, 1954.

Navy blimp ZL-5 being refueled by gasoline bladder from USS Mindoro (CVE-120), 1954.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), Gibraltar, 30 May 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-677178.

Undated picture of USS Mindoro (CVE-120). On the flight deck are AF-2S/AF-2W Guardian aircraft. Note also what appears to be a Piasecki (Vertol) HUP-2 Retriever on her forward lift. Photo from Skyfotos, from "Jane's Fighting Ships," 1956–1957 edition.

"Training Cruise." USS Mindoro (CVE-120) operated with Reserve ASW blimp units during the 1950s off the East coast. This painting by Wayne Scarpaci (size 18"x24") depicts such an ASW HUK (Hunter-Killer) group conducting flight ops.

"Night Patrol,", Cold War memories of CAPT Charles Wright, USN (Ret.)

USS Mindoro (CVE-120) and Squadron VS-22 Mediterranean Cruise, July–November 1950.

The Wings of Darkest Night: Death in the Atlantic, Cold War memories of CAPT Charles Wright, USN (Ret.)

Short Stories About Naval Aviation, Cold War memories of CAPT Charles Wright, USN (Ret.)

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), antenna rigging photo bow view, May 1955. Boston Naval Shipyard, # NY2-191-5-55.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier: 24741467, Local ID: 19-NN - CVE-120 Mindoro - 152324.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), antenna rigging photo bow quarter view, May 1955. Boston Naval Shipyard, # NY2-192-55.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier: 24741469, Local ID: 19-NN - CVE-120 Mindoro - 152325.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), antenna rigging photo broadside, May 1955. Boston Naval Shipyard, # NY2-193-5-55.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier: 24741471, Local ID: 19-NN - CVE-120 Mindoro - 152326.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), antenna rigging photo stern quarter view, May 1955. Boston Naval Shipyard, # NY2-195-5-55.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier: 24741473, Local ID: 19-NN - CVE-120 Mindoro - 152327.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120), antenna rigging photo stern view, May 1955. Boston Naval Shipyard, # NY2-196-5-55.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier: 24741475, Local ID: 19-NN - CVE-120 Mindoro - 152328.

USS Mindoro (CVE-120).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), National Archives Identifier: 24741477, Local ID: 19-NN - CVE-120 Mindoro - 160062.

"Uncle Sam's aeroplane carrier tied up at South Boston Navy Yard—from Commonwealth Ice & Cold Storage building." October 1956.

Ex-Mindoro last voyage: being towed to scrap from South Boston Naval Annex, 18 June 1960.