CVE-64 was initially named Didrickson Bay for a bay (also known as Deep Bay) on the west coast of Chichagof Island, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska (NS0306409).

Renamed Tripoli, 3 April 1943, to commemorate a joint land-sea operation against Derna during the war between the United States and the Barbary state of Tripoli, which resulted in the capture of that fortress city on 27 April 1805 (NS0306409a). After a long and grueling march across the desert from Alexandria, William H. Eaton, the American naval agent in the Barbary states, led a polyglot force of some 300 Arabs and Bedouins, about 70 Greek mercenaries, and eight US Marines in storming the Tripolitan defensive positions. Gunfire from United States warships Hornet, Nautilus, and Argus, under Master Commandant Isaac Hull, and the valor of the Marines, commanded by Lt. Presley Neville O'Bannon, USMC, were instrumental in achieving the American victory which has been immortalized by the phrase from the Marine Corps hymn, "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli."

(Maps NS0306409 and NS0306409a courtesy of Google Maps.)

NS0306409b: "Attack on Derna," painting by Colonel Charles Waterhouse, USMC.

USS Tripoli (CVE-64), in a photo said to have been taken in San Francisco in 1943.

USS Tripoli (CVE-64) anchored at an unknown location circa 1944.

National Naval Aviation Museum Photo, No.1986.150.003.052.

View of the flight deck of the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Tripoli (CVE-64). Visible are seven General Motors TBM Avengers and nine General Motors FM-2 Wildcats of Composite Squadron (VC) 6, in 1944. VC-6 was assigned to Tripoli from May to November 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the Tripoli 1943–1945 Cruise Book.

Aerial view of USS Tripoli (CVE-64), April 1944.

Donation by Lynn McClain from the collection of Richard M. Newman during his naval service aboard Tripoli during WWII.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo, # 2016.11.01.

USS Tripoli departs Hampton Roads, May 24, 1944 with Composite Squadron 6 (VC-6; 12 Avengers and 9 Wildcats) aboard. She is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 4A (although there are deviations from the original Bureau of Ships design drawing).

"Note the HF/DF mast for North Atlantic ASW and the flat hangar deck, indicated by the straight line of the outboard sponsons. The prominent hangar-deck sponsons were used primarily for refueling at sea, the CVEs carrying substantial loads of cargo oil for destroyers and escort destroyers."

Photo and text in quotes from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

A U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, bounces over the crash barrier during a landing aboard the escort carrier USS Tripoli (CVE-64), circa 1944. Note that the aircraft wears the mid-1943 U.S. national insignia. In June 1944, Tripoli trained pilots off Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island. From January to November 1945, Tripoli was assigned to Carrier Division 11 and trained pilots off Hilo, Hawaii.

U.S. Navy photo from the Tripoli 1943–1945 Cruise Book.

A Radioplane TDD target drone is readied for launch from USS Tripoli (CVE-64), circa 1945.

A U.S. Navy Curtiss SB2C Helldiver landing aboard the escort carrier USS Tripoli (CVE-64) in 1945. Note that the aircraft is coming in too high and flies into the crash barrier. From January to November 1945, Tripoli was assigned to Carrier Division 11 and trained pilots off Hilo, Hawaii.

U.S. Navy photo from the Tripoli 1943–1945 Cruise Book.

A crashed U.S. Navy General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, after flipping over when it hit the crash barrier during a landing aboard the escort carrier USS Tripoli (CVE-64), in 1945. From January to November 1945, Tripoli was assigned to Carrier Division 11 and trained pilots off Hilo, Hawaii.

U.S. Navy photo from the Tripoli 1943–1945 Cruise Book.

A Vought F4U-1D Corsair is put on its wheels again, after flipping over when it hit the crash barrier during a landing aboard the escort carrier USS Tripoli (CVE-64) in 1945. Note that the elevator was lowered to assist the handling crew. From January to November 1945, Tripoli was assigned to Carrier Division 11 and trained pilots off Hilo, Hawaii.

Tripoli, date and location unknown.

USS Tripoli (CVE-64) underway circa 1953, location unknown.

Tripoli, operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and with a deck load of USAF North American F-86D Sabre fighters, circa 1954.

Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Carl M. Brashear, USN, served aboard Palau and Tripoli. BMCM(MDV) Brashear (1931–2006) was a pioneer in the Navy as the first black deep-sea diver, the first black Master Diver and the first Navy diver to be restored to full active duty as an amputee, the result of a leg injury he sustained during a salvage operation in January 1966, off the coast of Spain. His life story was immortalized on the big screen in the movie Men of Honor (2000). USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) is named after him.

USS Tripoli (CVE/CVU-64) underway, probably during the middle 1950s, while transporting Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighters. This image was received by the Naval Photographic Center in December 1959, but was taken several years earlier.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (# NH 106568).

USNS Tripoli (T-CVU 64) ferrying aircraft in the late 1950s.

Matchbook cover (doesn't the ship rather look like a Commencement Bay-class CVE?).