Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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detonated as it plunged beneath the waters of the Pacific. In the late afternoon the CIC fCombat Inforf mation Centerj reported unidentified aircraft to the Southeast, distance 40 miles. General Quarters sounded as pilots and crews manned their planes on the double. In a few minutes 14 planes were in the air to join 32 planes from other carriers. An estimated 70 planes at' tacked the carriers from all sides as the 40 millimeters and 20 millimeters salvos joined in the roar of planes. The shipboard AA batteries claimed three shot down, one probable and one damage. Meanwhile one enemy plane was shot down by ighter planes, scrambled by this ship. At 1852 an enemy plane released a bomb at approximately 1,500 feet after making a run on the Fannie Bee. The bomb hit a corner of the after elef vator, crashing through the thin decks, showering fragf ments into shattered compartments as fires broke out from severed electrical cables. The Air Group was forced to seek out another ship as fires raged aboard the Fannie Bee. Two planes were lost after forced water landings but watchful destroyers picked the pilots off their rafts. The ship took on a severe port list while all hands turned to forming a long bucket brigade waist deep in water as the men fought through the night to save their ship. The Fannie Bee lived to ight again but at 1130 on the following morning 14 bodies were committed to the sea victims of the enemy bomb. The Fannie Bee returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs and a well earned rest for the crew. The month of August found the ship underway again Rear Admiral C A F Sprague hoisting his ComCarD1v 25 Sopus at Manus in the Admiralty Islands Jap salvoe land on CVE PAGE TWELVE mE W 'HWFUWWUWNW Near miss by enemy bomber, June 17, 1944.