ACV-16 was named for a sound off the coast of Florida.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman..)

Sailors and Marines stand at attention on the pier alongside the auxiliary carrier USS Nassau (ACV-16) following her commissioning ceremony at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on Thursday, 20 August 1942. Note the bow art on the ship used to inspire the Navy Yard workers.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 2000.091.054.048. Austin K. Doyle Collection.

Navy personnel and guests stand for the playing of the national anthem during the commissioning ceremonies of USS Nassau (ACV-16) at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on Thursday, 20 August 1942.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 2000.091.054.040. Austin K. Doyle Collection.

Guests and Naval personnel are seated on benches next to the unfinished island of USS Nassau (ACV-16) during her commissioning ceremonies on Thursday, 20 August 1942.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 2000.091.054.045. Austin K. Doyle Collection.

USS Nassau (ACV-16, later CVE-16) underway in December of 1942. This photograph has been retouched by wartime censors to hide radar and other antennas on the ship's mast.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106566).

Port broadside photo of USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway on 12 December 1942, in the South Pacific, as seen from another unidentified carrier.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 2000.091.054.049.

Not exactly the same photo. This one was taken a few seconds later—note bow wave and aircraft in the air.

The national ensign flies from an unidentified ship, part of a Pacific War Zone convoy circa 1942–1943. An unidentified tanker and the auxiliary aircraft carrier USS Nassau (ACV-16) are the ships in the distance.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 2000.091.054.022.

Grumman F4F Wildcat trapping aboard USS Nassau, 1943.

Grumman F4F Wildcat launching from USS Nassau, 1943.

USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway and rolling to port in moderate seas during the invasion of Attu, May 1943. The vessels of this class were considered maneuverable and habitable, but flight operations were difficult in anything over moderate seas.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.032.008.

Port side view of USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway, 2 July 1943. Note that the slope of the forward sponson conforms to the sheer of the original main deck of the C3-S-A1 merchant hull. The ship is painted in Measure 14 camouflage scheme.

Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 302683.

Aerial port quarter view of USS Nassau (ACV-16) underway on 2 July 1943. Good detail shot of the ship's configuration with elevators up and AA armament along her flight deck and on stern. The ship was reclassified CVE-16 on July 15th.

Source: Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 302684.

Bow view of USS Nassau (CVE-16), 2 August 1943, Mare Island, California.

National Naval Aviation Museum, Austin K. Doyle collection, # 2000.091.054.021.

F4F-4 Wildcats landing aboard USS Nassau (CVE-16)—note the stretched arresting cable—in the South Pacific, September 1943. National Archives (NARA II) photo # 80-G-469565.

SN2 Lawrence Britton on duty at port lookout aboard USS Nassau (CVE-16), October 1943. National Archives photo # 80-G-415475.

Two photos taken aboard USS Nassau (CVE-16). Both are dated October 1943.

NS0301617: National Archives photo # 80-G-469576.

NS0301618: The Hellcat is pointed directly to port and is probably being turned to line up with the catapult. The photo is shot from the port catwalk. National Archives photo # 80-G-469577.

Born during the national call-to-arms immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 311 was first commissioned on 1 December 1942, assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and headquartered at MCAS Cherry Point. Quickly transitioning from a training squadron flying the SNJ Texan to a combat squadron flying the F4U Corsair, VMF-311 participated in what was one of the earliest American catapult operations involving the Corsair when 21 F4Us launched from USS Nassau (CVE-16) on 6 October 1943. By this time the squadron formed part of MAG-31. During World War II, VMF-311 was one of the first to utilize and develop tactics for the Corsair in a ground attack mode, foreshadowing the squadron's future role as an attack squadron. Indicative of its combat effectiveness, the squadron destroyed 71 Japanese aircraft in a four-month period during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The end of World War II saw VMF-311 leaving Chimu airfield on Okinawa to start occupational duty flying from Yokosuka airfield on Japan's mainland.

The original nickname adopted by VMF-311 was "Hell's Belles." Although it remained with the squadron throughout WW II, this nickname was used infrequently.

Amidships view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) at Mare Island on 28 April 1944. She was undergoing repairs at the yard from 2 April to 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2576-44.

USS Nassau (CVE-16), looking aft, Mare Island Navy Yard, 28 April 1944. Circles mark recent alterations. Note stacks.on both sides of the ship protruding outward and upward from beneath the flight deck.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 19-N-65112.

USS Nassau (CVE-16), looking forward, Mare Island Navy Yard, 28 April 1944. Circles mark recent alterations. Note test load on catapult.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 19-N-65111.

Bow on view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) departing Mare Island on 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2592-44.

Broadside, starboard view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) departing Mare Island on 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2595-44.

Source: Mare Island Shipyard Photos, Ship Files, NARA San Francisco.

Stern view of USS Nassau (CVE-16) departing Mare Island on 29 April 1944. Official Mare Island photo # 2597-44.

USS Nassau (CVE-16) wearing Measure 33 Design 2A, 29 April 1944, at Mare Island, California. (See NS0301213a for comments about the "zipper" on the ship's port side.)

Photo source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # BS 65106.

USS Nassau (CVE-16) wearing Measure 33 Design 2A, 29 April 1944, at Mare Island, California.

Photo source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # BS 65105. This is also official Mare Island photo # 2594-44.

National Archives and Records Administration, # 80-G-242903.

This appears to be a late-war photo, taken while USS Nassau (CVE-16) was performing transport and ferry missions between Alameda, Pearl Harbor, Guam, Manus, Samar, and Saipan.

"U.S.S. Nassau, CVE-16, Escort Aircraft Carrier, United States Navy, Commissioned 20 August, 1942, Struck from Navy Register 1 March, 1959" Wooden plaque.