Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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Fannie Bee's Main Battery, the Fantail 5-Inch. STRADDLEDH, ,a HE TRANSITION of the Aircraft Carrier, Escort QCVEJ from its original designation as Aircraft Transport QAPVQ suggests a versatility uncommon in modern, highly specialized naval craft. The history of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY QCVE 701 is one of the most remarkable records of CVE accomplishments in the Pacific From commissioning to inactivation the Fannie Bee performed the many and varied duties assigned in a manner which earned for her the Presi dential Unit Citation and recommendation for the Navy Unit Commendation Recommendation for a second Presidential Unit Citation has been forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy by Admirals A E Mont gomery and I H Towers The proposed citation is for warded with the following endorsement by Admiral Montgomery PAGE TEN An exhaustive comparative study of all CVE type war records convincingly establishes the outf standing performances of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY. Through the extraordinary heroism, gallanf try and determination of her officers and crew she achieved a conspicuous record in combat. In view of the above and the ship's contribution to the defeat of Japan, Commander Air Force, Pacinc Fleet, considers that the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY thoroughly merits a second award of the Presif dential Unit Citationf, The first assignment for the Fannie Bee presaged an unusual future. Cn January 16, 1944, she departed from San Francisco with a full cargo of Army Pf38's destined for Townsville, Australia. Following her I ,,,v,,,.,.m,H,:,,,, .Wil ,,,A - ,--,fin nm- mm a m-H my ...1-la... Mm. 11- u -r. ' -- -- ammnmnmmlannnrscmmamnmmummm G L ' 5 7 . . , , n - 1 ' ' ' AW?-'1:.. .I ' ' hi.?'?' I' ' -vi ' I - I . 4 um - .4., , 1 - . - --uf PM . A r - -' U iii ,Jani 'Uh' aa., A15i ':si:aiLgggi5Lfgg,'5g'i , wa2H f1 vp 1' fl 'dr W--' '-'ww 'mf ff- . -at ii. mmmumnumamn iv H I

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Left: Lightnings on the flight deck Cview from islandj. Right: Unloading down under. Below: Heave ho and glad to see you go! Below Right: Aussies lend a willing hand as help arrives from the States. Left: Lightnings everywhere! Con the hangar deckj K sf?i??3?'?3 'f?i!U ?1. ' q 33153 TT???!?P5???3!?3ZU3??f6???5?i '3ilEUl?! ZE.4 Ef 1 -.EW 2E?E?E?51iE?EE!??i ,i!'3i?' ??Zi ?:23ii4i' lisiiiiuiisii1iiiui ' H 1iiiiiii iiiiii i ih 'W Left: Winged Victory as seen from port catwalk.

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DE s lay protective smoke screen for CVE's off Samar. I shakedown trip to Australia the Fannie Bee headed for Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. A brief submarine hunt proved fruitless and the Fannie Bee carried Rear Admiral Bogan and his staff back to Pearl Harbor for a rehearsal on the coming Saipan landings. Composite Squadron SiXtyfF,ight became the first Air Group to see action from the decks of the Fannie Bee as she joined the CVE's of the Fifth Fleet on Dfl Day. In the earlier Marshalls campaign the CVE's were used for the first time in direct ground support but in the absence of enemy air opposition. In the Marianas the CVE's were given the full duties of ground support, combat air patrol and antifsubmarine patrol. In a few short weeks the importance of the CVE role had broadened to that of a regular fleet carrier. This utility enabled the fast fleet carriers to increase their scope of activity to provide for possibility of enemy fleet attack. The enemy was not unaware of this new threat and at 1715 on DfDay five enemy planes were reported 71 miles to the Southeast, closing in at high speed. The fourfplane CAP fCombat Air Patrolj of the U.S.S. White Plains was vectored in for interception. The CAP intercepted at 36 miles and shot down three planes in the first encounter, another being shot down within visual range of the ship. At 1812 the last enemy plane penetrated the fighter screen and launched a torpedo at the Fannie Bee. The Fannie Bee heeled to port as Captain Johnson ordered full fright rudder and the torpedo passed harmlessly by. At 1815 the ref maining enemy plane was shot down by Lieutenant Sanders, leader of the CAP launched from the Fannie Bee at 1809. June 17 is a dark day in the Fannie Bee's history. The first aircraft launched crashed on takefoff killing pilot and crew. Depth charges in the plane were Destroyer screen draws fire from Jap cruisers.