Takanis Bay (CVE 89) - Naval Cruise Book

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............... .....,......,....-........ tm.-.mum ffmm:rwm:wweun.'u1xumn1mnlsunmllmgig shipyards only recently erected from airports, swamps and sloughs. Constructed by workmen on a work as you learn basis they were far from a fighting ship when they loaded their cargo of planes aboard and laid a courseifor the Realm of the Golden Dragon. Originally intended for aircraft transport, the escort carrier was first called upon to combat the submarine menace in the Battle of the Atlantic, Organizing in hunter-killer groups the baby flat-tops soon became the scourge of the Kreigs- marine's undersea raiders. One ieep carrier, the famous U.S.S. Guadalcanal lCVE60l, combined with several destroyers lU.S.S. Chatelain, U.S.S. Jenks, U.S.S. Pillsburyl in the capture of the U- 505. One of the most amazing facts of the en- counter was that this captured U-boat was the first enemy combatant ship to fall prey to a boarding party of the United States Navy since the War of l8l2 - a proud record for the U.S.S. Guadalcanal whose boarding party and prize crew managed to prevent the destruction of se- cret charts and papers, later proving invaluable aids in European landings. The boarding and seizure was accomplished with but the loss of one life. A Chief Petty Officer was mortally wounded in the delayed explosion of a demolition bomb the following day. Importance of the capture is evidenced by the fact that all enlisted members of the boarding party above the rate of first class petty officer were recommended for land have since receivedl promotion to Warrant or Commis- sioned Rank. The Chief Petty Officer who gave his life in the capture has been recommended for his nation's highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. -u... fc... nz. mnnmnunuumumnmmx ununum .mwnnmamiiuni l' '

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E g.. ,., v.i1u.-1. ,, .. FIS' F T i T E l i l l li 'I l i Q Q E . T E 5 I HE TALE of The U.S.S. Ta- kanis Bay TCVE 89l begins long before The keel of Hull 89 was laid by The Kaiser Shipbuilding Company. Like so many of The Casablanca Class carriers, The TB, was named for a peace- ful liTTle bay in Soufheasfern Alaska. Frequenfed once by The long- dead Russian Trappers, who ' ,A,s-, , , . 0.M.,..A V 1 , l 1 ii x Tl , .T ff' ll l li li l i scrambled along The rocky shores of Yakobi Island in search of The elusive fur seal and highly prized oTTer, Takanis Bay Today offers a haven To fishermen fleeing The fury of Norfh Pacific sTorms. As The ship ThaT bears iTs name plied The more placid wafers off Californias coasT, supplying Trained airmen To iTs more famous sisTers in The Wesfern Pacific, so The Tiny bay, which once had robed a Russian Queen, sTood silenT senfinel To The vvake of counfless ships aT The imporT- anT gafeway To The famed and beaufiful lnside Passage. The record of escorT class carriers is one of The Navys proudesf achievemenTs. Builf from a hull designed for cargo vessels The Hieep carriers vvere rushed To complefion in ' - iu.. s. if . ,T ,fgi l T i i I

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sm -11---7 Y Y fr f -----K---.-N..-lr ..--gg... .-g..,..-..,..g,,..,-,,,.:m,.,1,,,,.,.' By the time the Takanis Bay was placed in commission at the U. S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon on April 15, 1944 her predecessors were already being accepted as an integral part of Task Forces in the Pacific. ln the Marianas cam- paign CVE's provided ground support for the first time, a role previously assigned to the glam- or girl CV's. More and more, CVE's replaced CV's for the close-in assualts on beach-heads and softening up operations. This left the vulnerable, expendable CVE's exposed to shore-based air- craft while the fast carriers were free to hunt down the elusive Japanese fleet. While her sisters added new glories and ac- complishments to the long string of baby fiat-top successes the T.B. settled down to the task of training a green crew, many at sea for the first time, in the operation of a carrier. After a brief shakedown cruise, the U.S.S. Takanis Bay re- ported to Commander Fleet Air West Coast at the U. S. Naval Air Station, San Diego, California. To Captain A. R. Brady, USN, goes the credit for welding an untrained crew into the smooth- working team necessary for safe, efficient carrier operations. On May 24, l944, Lt. Commander P. W. Jackson USN, Squadron Commander of VC-82, made the first landing on the flight deck of the Takanis Bay. Continuing with carrier qualifica- tions the Takanis Bay operated off the California coast under the direct orders of Commander Fleet Air West Coast until Qi, June, 1944 when Rear Admiral F. C. Sherman broke his fiag at the foretruck. As flagship of ComFlAir West Coast the T.B. piled up an enviable record of carrier qualifications.