AVG-59 (later ACV-59, CVE-59 and CVU-59) was named for a bay on the southern coast of California, near San Diego (NS0305912).

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

TBF Avenger with rocket bombs in rack ready to be catapulted from USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 26 November 1943.

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-242082.

TBF Avenger with rocket bombs in rack ready to be catapulted from USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 26 November 1943.

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-242083.

TBF Avenger with rocket bombs in rack ready to be catapulted from USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 26 November 1943.

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-242084.

U.S. Navy photo of USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), taken in late 1943 or early 1944.

USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) in port. Camouflage scheme and flags flying at half mast hint that this photo was taken between 28–30 April 1944 (Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox died on 28 April). Mission Bay and sister ship USS Wake Island (CVE-65) were in port, Bahia, Brazil, 27–30 April 1944, on her way back from Karachi, Pakistan, where they had delivered a load of Army planes and personnel.

USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) en route to Casablanca from New York with a cargo of Army P-47s (shipped partially disassembled), 31 May 1944. Next astern is USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69), and USS Tulagi (CVE-72) brings up the rear of the escort carrier formation.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-364374.

USS Kasaan Bay (CVE-69) is seen from USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), with USS Tulagi (CVE-72) following, 31 May 1944. The carriers had sailed from New York and were ferrying aircraft to North Africa. All three carriers were wearing MS 32 Design 4A camouflage scheme. The aircraft in the foreground are P-47s.

United States National Archives and Records Administration, Photo # 80-G-364375.

Starboard bow aerial view of USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 21 June 1944, in Measure 32/4A camouflage scheme, off New York. This photo was taken by blimp K-82 of Squadron ZP-12 out of Lakehurst, New Jersey Naval Air Station.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-419653.

Starboard quarter aerial view of USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 21 June 1944, in Measure 32/4A camouflage scheme. (Thanks to C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com, via Mike Green.)

"[Mission Bay entered] the New York channel the 17th [June 1944]. That same day she collided with a dredge and had to continue on to Portsmouth for repairs, mooring 22 June." (Quoted from DANFS, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.)

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-453317.

USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), as seen from USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60), 22 June 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-384006.

USS Mission Bay operated primarily as an ASW carrier in the Atlantic. She is shown on 10 August 1944, off the East Coast, wearing Measure 32 Design 4A camouflage. Note Hellcats on deck and the large SK air search radar antenna on the mast.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 106582).

Several WAVES examine a 20mm anti-aircraft machine gun, while visiting USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) on 20 August 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-364459).

Visiting WAVES examine aircraft propellers while they tour USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 20 August 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-364466).

WAVES visit USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 20 August 1944. In this view, they are receiving a tour of the ship's pilothouse from two of her crewmen.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-364476).

USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) underway, location and date unknown (probably 1945.) Note the lighter color island, compared to the Measure 21 hull up to the flight deck. Several CVE's wore this modified scheme in 1945.

US Navy photo, via US Naval Institute.

Charles Parkhurst was an Aerial Photographer aboard the first USS Hornet (CV-8) up to her sinking, then aboard USS Baffins (CVE-35), and finally aboard USS Mision Bay (CVE-59), where these two photos from his collection would have been taken.

(Special thanks to Robert M. Cieri, who scanned the original photographs.)

"Ex-Navy Carriers [Guadalcanal and Mission Bay] May Go To Japan for Breaking Up."

Stripped and powerless, the veteran WWII escort carriers Guadalcanal and Mission Bay take a last voyage to a Japanese scrapyard under the charge of the Dutch tug Elbe.