Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

f m,tr- KA,rilSiW

Page 6 text:

Our Captain Captain H. R. Homey Our Exec Commander R. W. Arndt Former C. O. Captain VV. Miller Former Exec Connnander R. Rutherford

Page 8 text:

BIOGRAPHY OF A LADY 17 November 1943 to 27 January 1952 Most everyone likes to read or hear great tales of the sea. This is such a story — a stirring tale of a great ship. It is the story of the part one ship played in two of the greatest and most terrible wars our generation has known. This is the story of BATAAN, a lady in every respect. Late Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox said of BATAAN: No ship bears a more illustrious name. Proof of Mr. Knox ' s statement was evidenced in 1944 when she began her fight. From that time on, not only her name, but her actions, have proved more than illustrious. They have become a symbol of greatness. Her career has been, and will continue to be, one to be long remembered. BATAAN began her colorful life on the 17th of November 1943. That was the day she joined the Navy. Her hull was planned as a light cruiser, but the finished construction produced a light carrier, not very beautiful, but eager, willing and able. BATAAN ' S first shakedown cruise began three days after Christmas in the fearful, war-torn year of 1943. On successful completion of this mission, she left Philadelphia to see the world for the first time, sailing the Atlantic and operating with her first squadron, Air Group Fifty. In March of 1944 she transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet where she was needed most. After brief visits to San Diego, California, and Pearl Harbor, T.H., BATAAN and her squadron held maneuvers off Oahu. Upon completion of these operations, she was ready for the war. She reared her head proudly as she was ordered to join mighty Task Force 58 operating off the Marshall Islands. From that moment on, BATAAN began to carve, not merely a name for her- self, but also a legend that w ill forever be remembered. She participated in nearly every major offensive operation up to and including the final attacks on Tokyo itself. Her planes made strike after strike on New Guinea, Truk, Rota, Guam, bloody Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She will never be forgotten for the part she played in driving Japan to her knees. She hit where it hurt, at the heart of the Japanese Empire — Kobe, Kure and Tokyo. She fought off numerous desperate counter attacks. Planes were lost to enemy action. Seventy men died gallantly on her decks under heavy air attacks, but she fought bravely and the attacks were repel- led by alert and accurate gunners. Pilots met the enemy in the sky and sent him flaming into the sea. During that period, BATAAN sent catapulted planes off her deck 6,383 times. Successful landings were made 14,622 times. Her career was gallant and colorful to the end of the war which found her, fittingly enough, only 1 70 miles from Tokyo. A thundering mob of grateful people greeted BATAAN upon her return to the states for a well-earned rest. Meekly, tiredly, she again transited the Panama Canal, accepted her country ' s thanks and then went gratefully to sleep in Phila- delphia Navy Yard. She slept quietly until her country needed her again. She was awakened from her slumber on 13 May 1950, to begin another colorful, as well as gallant, period of operations. She had to get the kinks out after her long sleep, but she was an experienced lady and the sea made her fovget the stiffness in her bones. Again she left Philadelphia to begin another Pacific adventure. She traversed the Panama Canal for the third time in her career, and arrived in San Diego, California, on