CVE-84 was named for a bay on the Alaskan coast, at the head of West Shamrock Inlet, on central Baranof Island, Alexander Archipelago. The bay was given this descriptive name by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) in 1929, "because its charted outline resembles a shamrock."

(Image: Google Maps.)

Launched on Friday, February 4, 1944 Vancouver's 30th carrier, USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) was christened by Mrs. James R. Dudley. CAPT Frank T. Ward, who would be Shamrock Bay's first commanding officer, delivered the principal address.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 4; February 25, 1944; page 7.)

USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) at Astoria, Oregon, about a month after commissioning (April 1944). Painted in Measure 33, Design 10A.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives. Record Group 181.

USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84), left foreground, about to leave Pier Number Two at Astoria, Oregon, 6 April 1944. Photographed from an airplane attached to Shipley Bay.

The other two escort aircraft carriers visible are not definitely identified, but they may be USS Saginaw Bay (CVE-82), top, and USS Shipley Bay (CVE‑85), center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106710).

This image is cropped from photo NS0308406, above. USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) is painted in camouflage Measure 33, Design 10A.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106710-A).

An aerial, port side photo of USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84), 18 April 1944, wearing Measure 33, Design 10A camo, using Navy Blue (5-N), Haze Gray (5-H) and Pale Gray (5-P). Photo taken by Squadron ZP-32.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-233948.

Many aircraft carriers were used to ferry aircraft to the front lines and USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) was no exception. US Army Air Force P-47Ds in Shamrock Bay's hangar bay in July of 1944 as she delivers them to Casablanca, North Africa. Note the basketball hoop and backboard in the upper left-hand corner and movie screen in the center background.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-335714.

An aerial, port side photo of USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) off Norfolk, 31 August 1944, wearing Measure 32, Design 4A camo. She was carrying damaged Army aircraft from Casablanca. Photo taken by Squadron ZP-12.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-453363.

Aerial starboard quarter view of USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) off the East Coast, 26 October 1944. The escort carrier wore camouflage 32/4A while in the Atlantic, and would leave Norfolk to return to the Pacific on 11 November 1944. This photo was taken by ZP-12, out of Lakehurst NAS.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-286094.

USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) steams away from Norfolk Navy base on 11 November 1944 as she begins her return to the Pacific Ocean and heads towards war. Note the extra supplies lashed to the top of her aft gun's ammunition clipping room.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-289883).

The 28 aircraft of Composite Squadron (VC) 42 are tied down between Shamrock Bay's two elevators, 11 November 1944, as she steams east away from Norfolk and towards the Panama Canal, which she reached six days later. As a composite squadron, VC-42 was assigned a mixture of 16 FM-2 Wildcats and 12 TBM-3 Avengers, all of which are parked in view here.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-289887).

Shamrock Bay's starboard side shows off her Camouflage Measure 33/10A pattern well, as she steams away from the waning sun and the east coast, 11 November 1944, to rendezvous with sister ship Wake Island (CVE-65) and two escort destroyers for the trip south.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-289885).

USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84), as above.

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-289888.

The Royal Baby shares his milk (likely spoiled) with a polliwog during a Neptune Party on December 21, 1944.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-335706).

A rocket-armed TBM-3 Avenger of VC-94 prepares for a catapult launch from USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84), to support the invasion of Okinawa in April of 1945.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-335707).

FM-2 Wildcat of VC-94 runs up its engines before launch from USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) to participate in a strike on Okinawa in April of 1945.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-335715).

Loading rockets on the folded wing of a TBM-3 Avenger of VC-94 between strikes on Okinawa, aboard USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84). The yagi antenna of the aircraft's ASB radar is visible on the left.

National Archives photo (# 80-G-335708).

In reserve, South Boston Naval Annex, circa 30 May 1958. White Plains (CVE-66) to the right.

Ex-Shamrock Bay was scrapped at Hong Kong. Newspaper clips, December 1959.