Initially assigned for transfer to the Royal Navy, AVG-55 (later ACV-55 and CVE-55) was named Ameer, a transliteration of amir, the title given an Afghan ruler.

Retained by the U.S. Navy, she was renamed Alazon Bay, 22 or 23 January 1943, for the northeastern arm of Baffin Bay, which in turn is an estuary emptying into Laguna Madre, a sound paralleling the coast of Texas in the vicinity of Corpus Christi (NS0309415).

Renamed Casablanca, 3 April 1943, to commemorate the recent Allied landings in North Africa. A port of French Morocco (NS0305515), Casablanca was the major base for the American campaigns in North Africa during World War II.

NS015918: USS Massachusetts (BB-59). View looking forward from the battleship's after deck, during a lull in the Battle of Casablanca, 8 November 1942. Note 16"/45 guns of her after turret; 20mm gun at left with "Lead, Dammit, Lead" stenciled on its shield; FC & FD radar antennas atop her gun directors; two large National Ensigns flying from her masts. (Naval History & Heritage Command photo # NH 84534.)

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

"VANCOUVER, WASH.—KAISER'S FIRST CARRIER—Shipbuilder Henry J. Kaiser's first aircraft carrier, the Alazon Bay, which will be christened by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt at the launching of the ship here April 5."

A.P. Wirephoto, from The Evening Star, Washington, 31 March 1943.

Alazon Bay, formerly Ameer, later Casablanca, was sponsored by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 9; April 7, 1944; page 4.)

Alazon Bay, renamed Casablanca just two days prior to launching, at right, about to be launched at Henry J. Kaiser's shipyard, Vancouver, Washington, on 5 April 1943. Two unidentified ships of her 49 sisters are under construction at left.

Courtesy of Mr. James Russell, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1972.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo (# NH 75634).

Alazon Bay, formerly Ameer, later Casablanca, was launched on Monday, 5 April 1943.

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

"Launching of the—U.S.S. Alazon Bay [later Casablanca]—April 5, 1943—Kaiser Company, Inc. Vancouver, Washington"

"USS Casablanca. Built by Kaiser Co. Inc., Vancouver"

USS Casablanca (ACV-55) in the Puget Sound, Washington area circa July 1943, at about the time she was commissioned. Note that radar antennas have been deleted from this photo due to wartime censorship. The photo was released for publication on 30 November 1943.

Also known as the "Kaiser" carriers for their builder, (Henry J.) Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., the Casablanca-class formed the bulk of the wartime CVE force.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 106580).

USS Casablanca (CVE-55) at anchor at an unidentified Pacific anchorage, date unknown.

USS Casablanca underway circa 1943, location unknown.

A Navy blimp escorts USS Casablanca (CVE-55), 8 August 1943.

Photo by CPhoM C.W. Overhulser.

Starboard side view of the escort carrier USS Casablanca (CVE-55), 15 August 1944, taken by Naval Air Station, Astoria. The camouflage pattern is Measure 32 Design 12A. The colors are dull black, ocean gray and light gray.

Port side view of USS Casablanca (CVE-55), 15 August 1944, in camouflage 32/12A.

Bow view of USS Casablanca (CVE-55), 15 August 1944, Astoria, Oregon, in camouflage 32/12A.

Stern view of USS Casablanca (CVE-55), 15 August 1944, Astoria, Oregon, in camouflage 32/12A.

Not an everyday sight: an F4U Corsair aboard USS Casablanca (CVE-55), date (1944–45?) and location unknown. Photo from the collection of Arthur Kotter, who served aboard Casablanca.

USS Casablanca (CVE-55), first of her class and the first escort carrier designed and built as such, at sea on 2 March 1945, in Measure 32 Design 12A camouflage. Photo taken by squadron ZP-33. The ship was placed in commission at Astoria, Ore., 8 July 1943, CAPT S.W. Callaway commanding, and was sold for scrap 23 April 1947. National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-320296.

Liberty party returns to USS Casablanca (CVE-55) from Rara Islet (aka Rara Island), Manus, Papua, New Guinea, 19 April 1945. Photo by PhoM1/c R.W. Mowday.

A deckload of U.S. Army Air Force Republic P-47N Thunderbolt fighters on the flight deck of USS Casablanca (CVE-55), 16 July 1945. The planes were loaded at Naval Air Station Alameda, California (USA) and were bound for Guam.

Photo by PhoM3c. D.C. Diers, USN. NARA photo (# 80-CASA-706).

Some crew members holding up a paper with the headlines "Japs Quit!".

USS Casablanca (CVE-55) underway in October 1945, location unknown. Note that she is fitted with SC-2 radar (USN).

Believed to have been taken circa 1946-1947.

Shellback Certificate for ENS A.R. Marschall, USN. September 2, 1944.

Signed by the ship's commanding officer, CAPT Steven W. Callaway.