Takanis Bay (CVE 89) - Naval Cruise Book

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ll I 5 F! K Ui .5 i L M . F , 15 . f FQ, L 4 , f ,ff 4 , 0 f W '4 f 'f':,3W , Af! f i '7 rg I ,-,,.. . V1 lf' H U l nallakHlifiQH.Ek:.Ewsaamusfisemf!!m2!f5'Jialiii,uuirnssiwiiuliihivldmailniwilliInmQuihiiiikaiii1ZinishiiiiziiiivIQiH1I2!!!2llZlIi1PiimdiiiiiililiiivdlillIilliiililliINNIl!!Nlilfziiiii2E25iiBHifi3i5!!iiiiiiEE!H5iE5Hf :seafianu'h sw I .' BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT

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f - -- --Y .-. -.--....-ve..-fu.-W.-ve :.m-w-qw-nu.-- -sum:renwsxu!l1uIi ..'7iln0'llUl i ,X X The last of the 2,509 pilots was qualified on August 28, 1945. Between May 24, 1944 and August 28, 1945 a total ot 20,159 landings were made aboard the T.B. , the highest record of any CVE in the Fleet and only surpassed by the old U.S.S. Ranger and U.S.S. Saratoga in the larger carriers. The qualifications were conduct- ed without casualties to ship's personnel and air- crewmen, and with the loss ot only one pilot. On August 28, 1945 the ship lett San Diego for Pearl Harbor, T. H., with orders to report to Commander Carrier Transport Squadron Pazitic. During tour months ot operations under the Ma- gic Carpet , the T.B. returned some 6,500 serv- ice men trom Pearl Harbor and Japan. On the Magic Carpet runs to Japan the crew managed to collect snapshots, silk kimonos, Japanese rifles and other souvenirs previously denied them by the nature ot their duty. On January 3, 1946 the Takanis Bay was re- leased from the Magic Carpet and ordered to Tacoma, Washington tor post-war disposition under Commander 19th Fleet. 'PIKE ' Hll'i93l:BBf:P1C!!ll3l8!5'-FE-5--'Hl!'t4txll nlllw Begun' ...mp1l:louuulI ! !j7!?f Thus began the monumental task ot inactiva- tion. Every deck and every bulkhead ot the weary Takanis Bay had to be scraped down to the bare metal and preserved with special paints. Every piece ot machinery torn down, overhauled and preserved with special grease-every gun

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.1-.1---,YW ,, POOR APPROACH, NO LANDING preserved and coated with a new, secret com- position designed to eliminate moisture and rust. Five months ot ceaseless work, counting ot points, discharges, transfers and more work have tinally come to an end. The U.S.S. Takanis Bay lies alongside a newly tinished pier at the Todd Pacific Shipyard in Tacoma, Washington, a ghost ship in her gleaming new silvery aluminum coat. On June l8, l946 the U.S.S. Takanis Bay CVE 89, was formally turned over to Captain R. S. Galloway, Commander Tacoma Group, Nine- teenth Fleet as her last Commanding Ofticer, Commander Willett was piped over the side. No longer does her flight deck teel the puls- ing throb ot a fighter's engine racing down her deck nor the boisterous laughter at movies on the hangar deck-perhaps never again will a pay line torm nor a liberty list be posted -nev- ertheless the T.B. stands ready to sail again in the detense ot her country. May the measured tread ot her security watch resound a thoughtful warning to those who seek to undermine and destroy the principles she holds dear. E. G. HINES, USNR FIRE ON THE FLIGHT DECK ' Jnll 'IES u