ACV-61 was initially named Bucareli Bay for a water passage between Baker and Suemez Islands, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska (NS0306115a). The name has had several variants: Buccarelli Bay, Buccarelli Gulf, Bukarel Bay, Gavan Bukareli, Port Bukarelli, Puerto del Baylio Bucareli, Puerto y Entrada de Bucareli. The latter (meaning "Port and Entrance of Bucareli") was the original name given on 24 August 1775 by Lieutenant Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, of the Spanish schooner Sonora (officially, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), in honor of Don Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, Viceroy of Nueva España (Mexico).

(Maps courtesy of Google Maps.)

"The Battle of Manila." Contemporary halftone print after an artwork by W.G. Wood, originally reproduced by courtesy of F.A. Munsey. It depicts the Spanish ships at left (l-r): Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzón and Reina Cristina. The Cavite batteries are in the center distance. At right are (l-r): USS Boston, USS Baltimore, USS Raleigh, USS Olympia and USS Concord.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo, # NH 1256.

Manila Bay (CVE-61) sliding down the ways at the Kaiser Vancouver, WA, yard, Saturday, 10 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-372761.

Ship's Sponsor Mrs. Robert W. Bockius and sponsor party of USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), Kaiser Company Inc., Vancouver, Washington, 10 July 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-327763.

Testing of 40mm anti-aircraft guns aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61). Photo is dated 3 October 1943, but this is doubtful, as the ship was commissioned on Tuesday, 5 October.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372776.

Blimp escorting USS Manila Bay (CVE-61). Note flying flag and radar antenna. Date is 28 October 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372774.

Testing of 5-inch dual-purpose gun aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), 3 November 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372778.

Activities aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61): Signalman sending message by semaphore, 11 November 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372781.

Activities aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61): Signalman sending message by semaphore, 11 November 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372782.

Activities aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61): Signalman sending blinker message, 11 November 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372780.

Activities aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61): Loading 20mm magazine, 11 November 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372785.

Composite Squadron (VC) 7 officers celebrating first landing aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) with presentation of a cake to Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Commander Wilson R. Bartlett, right. The photo is dated 12 July 1943, but this cannot be correct, as the carrier was still under construction. A more likely date is 7 December 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372809.

Composite Squadron (VC) 7 officers celebrating first landing aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) with presentation of a cake to Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Commander Wilson R. Bartlett, who is cutting the cake, with Lieutenant Commander Lee, Air Officer, in the background. The photo is dated 12 July 1943, but this cannot be correct, as the carrier was still under construction. A more likely date is 7 December 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372810.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61). From the ship's War Diary:

"On 16 December [1943] FM-1 plane number 46744, pilot, Ensign E[lmer] C. Cech, A-V(N) USNR, landed on wheels, hook failed to engage arresting gear, and plane crashed through barriers near the port side. Landing gear was carried away and plane slid on belly, bursting into flame immediately and crashing into two planes parked on the flight deck forward of the forward elevator. Plane FM-1, No. 46744, was a total loss due to fire and crash damage and was pushed over the side. The pilot suffered minor burns on right and left hand, wrist and leg."

"One of the parked planes had its entire tail assembly, empennage and fuselage aft of station 13 destroyed, necessitating major overhaul. The other plane suffered damage to rudder and starboard elevator. These parts were replaced and this plane is ready for service."

NS0306137: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372820.

NS0306137a: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372821.

NS0306137b: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372822.

NS0306137c: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372823.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) underway whilst operating as an attack carrier in the Pacific, circa 1944.

Uncropped copy of photo above.

Escort carriers practicing division formation and maneuver exercises, in Hawaiian waters, 13 January 1944. As seen from USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), ships astern are: Coral Sea (CVE-57), Corregidor (CVE-58), Natoma Bay (CVE-62), and Nassau (CVE-16). These carriers all served in the Marshalls Operation a few weeks later.

Source: United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo No. 80-G-214849.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Peck being transferred from USS Coghlan (DD-606) to USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) after rescue at sea. The plane crashed in water after taking off from Manila Bay at 0934, 15 January 1944. LT(JG) Peck is shown coming aboard in the breeches buoy later in the day.

Interestingly, Coghlan was named for Captain (later Rear Admiral) Joseph Bulloch Coghlan, who commanded USS Raleigh (Cruiser # 8) at the Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898.

Official US Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo No. 80-G-372859.

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Peck being transferred from USS Coghlan (DD-606) to USS Manila Bay (CVE 61) after rescue at sea, 15 January 1944 (see above). Shown are the Air Department officers after greeting LT(JG) Peck aboard. Left to right: Flight Surgeon Christy; Lieutenant Commander Bartlett, Air Officer; Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Peck; and Lieutenant Breen, Squadron Captain.

Official US Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo No. 80-G-372860.

Task Force 31.6 off New Ireland to Emirau Island in Bismark Arch. Photographed by a plane from USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), on 29 March 1944.

Official US Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo No. 80-G-227943.

Part of Task Force 77 enroute to Aitape, New Guinea, for invasion. Photographed by a plane from USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), 21 April 1944.

Official US Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo No. 80-G-227952.

"The [oiler] USS Enoree [(AO-69)] refueling the aircraft carrier USS Manila Bay [(CVE-61)] at sea. The carrier is ferrying Republic P-47s to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, 13 June 1944."

U.S. Air Force Number 63744AC, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) ID 193837166.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) came under enemy air attack on June 23, 1944 east of Saipan. Two fighter-bombers attacked her from dead ahead, dropping four bombs which missed their target — note bombs splashing wide to port. Manila Bay was transporting 37 Army P-47 Thunderbolts from 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group and, as a precautionary and rather unusual move which Admiral Spruance later characterized as "commendable initiative," four of them were launched to fly protective CAP until radar screens were clear of contacts. The Army fighters then flew to Saipan, their intended destination.

A North American PBJ-1D Mitchell bomber of U.S. Marine Corps Marine Bomber Squadron (VMB) 611 spotted on the deck of the escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) during transport of the squadron's flight echelon to its operating area in the Pacific, late August 1944.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # S2005208001009.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) en route from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, 24–31 August 1944, with 14 PBJ-1D Mitchells from Marine Bombing Squadron (VMB) 611 and three JM-1 Marauders. Manila Bay is camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 12A.

This is a copy of the photo used for the Christmas card, below. Robert Palmer noted that the photo was taken in Pearl Harbor; if this is correct, then it would have been taken sometime in the first half of September 1944.

Inset photo shows Captain, later Vice Admiral, Fitzghugh Lee, the ship's second commanding officer.

(Digitally cleaned by Wolfgang Hechler.)

Medical corpsman holding tray while at work in the sick bay aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), 11 September 1944.

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) photo (# 80-G-372847).

World War II, Composite Squadron (VC) 80, TBM Avenger torpedo-bombers in flight.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), Composite Squadron (VC) 80. Dick Kidd on left wing, 7th from end.

Ensign Ray Crandell, TBM Pilot of VC-80, and his air crewman who were brought back aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) by U.S. Navy motor torpedo boat PT-523 after they were shot down over Leyte Island beachhead, Philippines, 22 October 1944.

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) photo (# 80-G-372892).

Ensign Ray Crandell, TBM Pilot of VC-80, and his air crewman who were brought back on board USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) by U.S. Navy PT Boat PT-523 after they were shot down over Leyte Island beachhead, Philippines, 22 October 1944.

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) photo (# 80-G-372893).

Japanese Zeke fighter-bomber attempting aerial attack on USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) in Sulu Sea during operations in support of Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Note Japanese fighter-bomber hit by anti-aircraft fire and out of control to the right after attempting an attack. Photograph, 15 December 1944.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-304453).

Japanese Zeke fighter-bomber attempting aerial attack on USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) in Sulu Sea during operations in support of Mindoro Island, Philippine Islands. Japanese fighter-bomber shot in two by anti-aircraft fire and goes down off the carrier's bow. Fuselage of plane is below tail section. Photograph, 15 December 1944.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-304455).

One of two oncoming Mitsubishi A6M5 Navy Type 0 Fighter Model 52, Zekes, that dove on Manila Bay (CVE-61) on 5 January [1945]. The second aircraft missed, but the first, seen here as caught by a very brave photographer, appears to be bearing down right on his location, which was most likely at the after end of the escort carrier's small island.

NS0306102b: National Archives and Records Administration photo (# 80-G-273176).

NS0306102c: National Archives and Records Administration photo (# 80-G-273177).

Text from Fire From The Sky, by Robert C. Stern.

Image of Manila Bay, taken just moments after she was crashed by a Kamikaze at the base of her island, 5 January 1945.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) burns after being hit by a Kamikaze on 5 January 1945.

Crew combating fire after Japanese kamikaze crashed into the ship's flight deck at Luzon, South China Sea, during operations in support of the invasion of Luzon. Photograph by USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), released 5 January 1945.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-273184.

As seen from USS West Virginia (BB-48), Manila Bay is shown burning after Kamikaze hit on January 5, 1945.

Gene Chapman recalls:

The kamikaze "came in low like a bucking bronco on the starboard side and just before hitting us pulled up and it appeared to me he was afraid to hit the ship; he pulled straight up and flipped back and hit our catapult and destroyed it completely. After we got hit there were electrical fires and the ship was listing. I knew there was a pilots life raft hanging on a rope on the fantail. I took my knife [and] cut the rope. The men were in panic. I pulled the CO2 and blew up the life raft and was placing it over the side. An officer pulled a gun on me and threatened to shoot me. If the ship had started to sink he would just have had to shoot. I think he wanted the raft for the officers. […] One man was charred from the hit and blown over the side. Our men were about to shoot him thinking he was a Jap. The last thing he could remember was he raised his hand and screamed "God/dmn it. I'm an American." He was brought aboard and was badly burned."

"The ship's crew worked all night installing new planking. Our very BRAVE pilots took off with NO catapult carrying a FULL BOMB LOAD. When the plane left the flight deck the plane tails dropped to the water throwing a rooster tail for quite some distance. By the time the plane got to the horizon (approximately 10 miles) they were no much more than the height of a home off the water. I was on the flight deck as these things took place. I was a plane captain and had my own plane to care for."

From Fire From The Sky, by Robert C. Stern, submitted by Robert Hurst:

"The Zeke exploded in the hangar, but the fire mains remained intact and the crew was able to contain the resulting fire to two aircraft parked there. That was fortunate, as [this photo] shows, her greatest luck was that the Zeke did not hit further aft, where a deck park of fueled and armed Avengers and Wildcats were waiting to be launched."

Edgar W. DeGraff (MM1/c) (1921–2015) served aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) and was on the ship during the Kamikaze attack on 5 January 1945.

A colorized photo of Edgar W. DeGraff while he was in the Navy.

A framed drawing/print of Manila Bay including some of Edgar's service record.

A piston pin recovered by Edgar DeGraff from the Kamikaze that hit USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) on 5 January 1945, including a description typed up by him.

A piece of debris recovered from the carrier deck by Edgar DeGraff following the attack and subsequent fire, along with an accompanying caption describing the object.

Radar Installations aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), looking forward. San Diego, California, 28 April 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372870.

Radar Installations aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), looking aft. San Diego, California, 28 April 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372872.

Radar Installations aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), looking starboard. San Diego, California, 28 April 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372874.

Radar Installations aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), looking port. San Diego, California, 28 April 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372876.

Crew of USS Manila Bay (CVE-61).

Patrick Long explains: "[These] are also from Grandpa's scrap book. Both files were scanned at high resolution to be able to make out faces. Because I can identify my grandfather in both pictures, and he was a Water Tender (WT), my guess is that these are pictures of Engineering Personnel (a decent guess considering the rating badges, too)."

NS0306107: "Robert Palmer is located front row, center."

NS0306107a: "Robert Palmer is located front row, #7 from left."

Photos from the collection of Fred Macneil. He was aboard USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) during the 5 January 1945 kamikaze attack.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61). Apparently, this photo was taken on the same date as photo NS0306111a, above.

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), crossing the Equator, date unknown.

Written on the back of the photo: "KenBLewis Givin IA Leo Williams Los Ang CA."

Men in the photo identified as:

(1) Madden C. MM1/c
(2) Lowe RT3/c
(3) Hochoday CSK
(4) Cattier RA GM2/c
(5) Sherman GM3/c.

Charles Howard Sherman, and information on the back of the picture.

Charles Howard Sherman (right) and a shipmate.

Charles Howard Sherman (left) and shipmates.

Copy of COMWOLFPAC cartoon from USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), 1 November 1943.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-372766.

Crhistmas Greetings, 1943, USS Manila Bay (CVE-61).

USS Manila Bay (CVE-61). Although "personalized" for each ship, this is in fact a generic image of the Casablanca-class CVEs.