Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70) - Naval Cruise Book

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all + ill Suicide plane coming in high. Bay led thc aircraft carriers through narrow Taugaru Strait to the surrender and occupation of Japan at Ominato, on the tip of Northern Honshu. Cn Sep' tember 9, 1946 the actual signing of the surrender took place aboard Admiral Fletchers flagship anchored in Mutsu Kaiwan. Following the surrender most of the crew of the Fannie Bee settled down to figuring up points for discharge but, ex' cept for the airdales, the crew had not reckoned with a new element in the Navy's plans. As more ALNAVS came through each day a new organization sprung up in the Navy, the Magic Carpet. All available ships, including carriers, cruisers, battleships, and def stroyers were ordered into service to ref turn American Service men to the United States in the quickest time pos' sible. The Fannie Bee turned to this task with characteristic vigor and in the folf lowing months steamed over 23,500 miles with an average of 1,400 passenf gers each trip. This job was accom' plished in spite of the cut in its own complement by discharges and frequent mechanical failures. In the final trip from Japan to United States three of the four boilers broken down en route. Cn January 29, 1946, the last under' way watch on the U.S.S. Fanshaw Bay ended at 1155 as the Fannie Bee moored in Tacoma, Washington, for a lengthy overhaul and inactivation. Today the Fannie Bee rests in a new and gleaming aluminum coat designed to protect her worn and battered skin from the elements until the day when once again she may be called upon to answer the call to quarters in defense of her country. To the mcn who havc sailed with her Near miss from enemy torpedo plane- .lune 18. PAGE NINETEEN

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vw. 'L ,,..,, '.'.:l 4 :ILQLEI ,. .A -5. and .Q tion along the China Coast. Steaming within radar range of Shanghai itself the assembled carriers, cruisers, battle' ships and destroyers fought off enemy planes and submarines in support of fast minesweeps. In this mission, des' tined to be the last combat assignment for the Fannie Bee, is the proof of acf ceptance of CVF,'s for regular fleet asf signments. Returning to Buckner Bay the force was attacked by submarines and Kama' kaizes as the desperate Japanese atf tempted to ward off the assembling of the invasion 'fleet. All vessels escaped damage despite the Herce attacks pressed home to the very mouth of Buckner Bay. From the Philippines the Fannie Bee prepared to add another to the long list of Pacific conquests with orders to join Admiral Frank jack Fletcher's Ninth Fleet at Adak, Alaska. From the Aleuf Airdales take off to harass enemy. Pfxora EIGIITIHQN mm m 'I Salvos blanket CVE's. tian chain the Northern spearhead into the Kurile Islands promised a welcome relief from Kamakaize attacks, swimmers burdened with underwater bombs, not to mention the hot tropic climate. Bnroute to Adak in early August stops were made at Guam and Bniwetok for foul weather gear and provisions for the coming invasion of the homeland, As the ship threaded its way out of the coralfreefed Eniwetok harbor news of the Japanese surrender arrived to make the journey to Adak an antifclimax. Arf riving in Kuluk Bay on the Bering side of Adak Island the Fannie Bee joined the assembled Ninth Fleet anchored in the shadow of snowfcapped peaks surf mounting the treeless green tundra. From the lush, dank foliage of the tropf ics to the Aleutian wastes the Fannie Bee paused before the final journey as an aircraft carrier of the Pacific Fleet. On September 7, 1945 the Fanshaw

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4 fi mal Sill 2? 235 . 1 she will remain the Fannie Bee but in the records of the U. S. Navy she is the U.S.S. Fanshavv Bay CVE 7, proud possessor of a Presidential Unit Citation and a combat record second to none of her class. p Days in action . . . . 124 Aircraft destroyed, air . 16 Aircraft destroyed, ground . 42 Ships sunk, over 1,000 tons . . 5 Ships sunk, under 1,000 tons . 51 Ships damaged, over 1,000 tons . 23 Ships damaged, under 1,000 tons . 66 Land target strikes . . . . 229 Miles steamed . . over 150,000 Equator crossings . . . . . 10 International Date Line . 14 ,,,.,:,.,. ... i.. . i.,-.,.. .. ..-:.,urn:1,::-1: 1 -...,..n.1.4.41..ur'1-V: vm 'vim ll, ' 'i'1?1lIi imgnllmg