AVG-12 was named for Copahee Sound, South Carolina.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

At anchor, circa 1942, location unknown. Compare to photo NS0301204.

Photo from Navy Yearbook, ed. by Phillip Andrews and Leonard Engel; Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1944.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 17 August 1942. Bow view.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Puget Sound Navy Yard, 17 August 1942. Port view.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

USS Copahee (AVG-12) off Puget Sound Navy Yard on 17 August 1942. Note the barrage balloons aloft in the background. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photograph (# NH 55384).

USS Copahee (ACV-12) underway off Port Angeles, Washington, on 30 August 1942.

Source: United States National Archives, photo # 80-G-11503.

USS Copahee (ACV-12) at sea, 31 August 1942. The ship was the first of 10 escort carriers of the Bogue class. National Archives photo # 80-G-453805.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo # 1996.488.032.005. Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection.

Mess Attendants manning a 20mm machine gun, in a gun tub beside the flight deck, 9 September 1942. The carrier was then en route from Alameda, California, to the southwest Pacific.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-71586).

ADM Chester W. Nimitz and ADM William F. Halsey, Jr. (behind CAPT John G. Farrell) inspecting USS Copahee (AVG-12) at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, TH, 16 September 1942.

With a deck load of SBD Dauntless dive bombers bound for the Pacific war zone, sometime in 1942–1944. Camouflage Measure 21 (Navy Blue).

A U.S. Marine Corps Vought F4U-1 Corsair of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 213 "Hell Hawks" is warming up for flight from the deck of USS Copahee (ACV-12). Photo is dated 29 March 1943. According to Copahee's War Diary on that date she was anchored in Berth B-25, Ile Nou anchorage, Noumea, New Caledonia, and catapulted 13 SBD-4 Dauntlesses flown by Saratoga pilots, and 17 F4U-1s, flown by Marines, all of them delivered to ComFAir, Noumea, New Caledonia.

National Naal Aviation Museum photo, No. 1996.253.7154.022.

Stern view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) in San Francisco Bay, 9 May 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3398-43.

Starboard broadside view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) in San Francisco Bay, 9 May 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3402-43.

Port broadside view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) in San Francisco Bay, 9 May 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3404-43. Copahee was reclassified as en "Escort Carrier" and redesignated CVE-12 about two months later, on 15 July.

Bow on view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) in San Francisco Bay, 9 May 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3407-43.

Unloading SBD Dauntlesses to barge from USS Copahee (ACV-12) at Midway Island, 21 May 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88086.

Aft plan view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) at Mare Island on 14 July 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5124-43.

Forward plan view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) at Mare Island on 14 July 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5125-43.

Stern view of USS Copahee (ACV-12) off Mare Island on 14 July 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5133-43.

USS Copahee (ACV-12) underway off Mare Island, on 14 July 1943. The photograph shows what appears to be a unique level of protection for an external gas line: the "zipper" consisted of a line of structural supports. The position of the small portside uptake is disclosed here by its smoke plume.

Photo and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

USS Copahee passing under the Golden Gate Bridge on her way out to sea on 15 July 1943, the day she was redesignated CVE-12. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5188-43.

Captain Ralph E. Jennings and Rear Admiral Ernest L. Gunther on the bridge of USS Copahee (CVE-12), 26 August 1943.

U.S. Army planes aboard USS Copahee (CVE-12) enroute from Naval Air Station, Alameda, California to Townsville, Australia. Shown: A-20G's secured on flight deck. USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and Oakland Bay Bridge are in the background. Date is given as 11 September 1943, but must have been taken on September 2nd, the day Copahee departed San Francisco (on September 11th she was underway in the Pacific; at noon she was in position 7° 27' S, 159° 58' W).

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88095.

Neptune Party aboard USS Copahee (CVE-12), 11 September 1943. Shown: "Brown Handle Seahorse" or "Bowsprit Betty" during Equator events. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88103.

Neptune Party aboard USS Copahee (CVE-12), 11 September 1943. Shown: Ensign Sander and CGM W. Robeliski playing feed the baby. Equator Day. Note "Radar Girls" in the background. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88104.

Neptune Party aboard USS Copahee (CVE-12), 11 September 1943. Shown: Haircuts for Scurvy Pollywogs by "Flags" SM1 Hohnsey. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88105.

Harbor at Townsville, Australia, showing general view of bay from flight deck of USS Copahee (CVE-12), 25 September 1943. The two Do-24's (3-motored flying boats) at anchor are probably planes which came to Australia from the Netherlands East Indies as several of this type were sold by the Germans to Dutch Airlines before the war. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88112.

Changing colors on USS Copahee (CVE-12) upon arriving at Townsville, Australia, 25 September 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88137.

An Army P-40 Warhawk after being unloaded from USS Copahee (CVE-12) at Townsville, Australia, before being taken to the Air Depot, 27 September 1943.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-88121.

Underway off Hunters Point, San Francisco, California, 1944. Camouflage Measure 33/12A (Pale Gray, Haze Gray and Navy Blue, with Deck Blue). The "zipper" was a line of structural supports protecting an external avgas line. Compare to photo NS0301215.

CAPT Ralph E. Jennings, right, turns command of USS Copahee (CVE-12) to CAPT Dale Harris, left. Carrier Pier, U.S. Naval Air Station, Alameda, California, 21 January 1944.

Brisbane, Australia, 11 March 1944. Army P-38 (Lightning) on the flight deck of USS Copahee (CVE-12). The carrier departed San Francisco, California, on 22 February and remained at Brisbane until 13 March.

From the Copahee War History.

USS Copahee (CVE-12) underway from San Diego Naval Repair Base to U.S. Naval Air Station, North Island, 9 April 1944. Beam view. From the ship's War History, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

USS Copahee (CVE-12) wearing camoflouge Measure 33/12A off Saipan in June 1944, as seen from USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3). Colors are Navy Blue, Haze Gray and Pale Gray.

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Photo # 80-G-307714.

USS Copahee (CVE-12) left the Garapan anchorage off Saipan on 8 July 1944 with a load of captured Japanese planes (13 Zekes and 1 Kate) and equipment (37 engines) to be used for intelligence and training purposes, and arrived in San Diego on 28 July. (Photo # 80-G-276964).

An aerial, portside view of USS Copahee (CVE-12), 25 July 1944, taken by a blimp from squadron ZP-12. This camouflage is Measure 33 Design 12A. Copahee was returning from the war-zone to San Diego with a deck-load of captured Japanese aircraft.

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Photo # 80-G-240706.

November 1944: CAPT William J. Mullins awarding medal to LT William H. House of Air Group 14. (Air Group 14 was transported to the US by USS Copahee (CVE-12) upon completion of duty aboard USS Wasp (CV-18).)

From the ship's War History, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

During WWII, W.H. House was awarded the Navy Cross "for extraordinary heroism [...] in action of 26 October 1944," the Silver Star "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity [...] on 21 September 1944," and a Distinguished Flying Cross "for heroism and extraordinary achievement [...] on 20 June 1944." He retired a Rear Admiral.

200,000 mile celebration for the crew, 18 March 1945. (NS0301217a: List of names.)

CAPT William H. Ashford, Jr., USN, (right) relieving CAPT William J. Mullins, USN, as Commanding Officer, USS Copahee (CVE-12), 27 August 1945.

From the ship's War History, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Ship's Bell.