CVE-70 was named Fanshaw Bay for a bight that extends SW 3 miles from Whitney Island to Cape Fanshaw, 66 miles E of Sitka, Alaska. It was named in 1887 for Cape Fanshaw by LCDR (later RADM) Charles Mitchell Thomas, USN.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

Fanshaw Bay was launched on November 1, 1943. The launching party included (l to r) M. Miller; June Oliver, rate control department employee and flower girl; Mrs. Frances M. Frericks, matron of honor; Mrs. Jesse L. Kenworthy, sponsor; Lesley Cynthia Kenworthy and Captain Leland D. Webb.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 3, No. 21; November 11, 1943; page 7.)

Photo of the soon-to-be-commissioned Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) taken by LT Ralph F. Locke, USNR, of Blimp Squadron (ZP) 32, 26 November 1943, from an altitude of 1,000 feet, while the ship was running trials. Note the carrier's compact flight deck, which illustrates the lack of room to carry out flight operations, as well as the radar antenna surmounting the island superstructure and the multiple (covered to protect them from the elements) anti-aircraft gun mounts.

U.S. Navy Photograph now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Still Pictures Division, College Park, Md. Photo # 80-G-214084.

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) transporting aircraft on 17 January 1944. Among the planes parked on her flight deck are U.S. Army A-20, P-38 and P-47 types.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106573).

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) underway on 9 February 1944. This was two months after being commissioned and the carrier was preparing for her first Western Pacific deployment coming up in April.

Source: Australian War Memorial, photo No. 302596.

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) moored at Brisbane, Australia, 10 February 1944. Note the P-47 Thunderbolts still parked aft.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo #80-G-364211.

A U.S. Navy General Motors FM-2 Wildcat of Composite Squadron (VC) 68 in flight over the Pacific Ocean, in 1944. VC-68 was assigned to the escort carrier USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) from April to July 1944.

Cropped from photo 80-G-364254 (National Archives Identifier 175539974), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, 5 July 1944, showing a hole in the elevator (top) from a Japanese bomb. Note the size when compared to the sailor on the flight deck and the size of the sailors on the hangar deck, inspecting the damage. Also note the torpedo stowage.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), former Bureau of Ships collection, photo #BS-110053.

A barrier crash of a General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, BuNo 47395, of Composite Squadron (VC) 66 aboard the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), 7 August 1944. The pilot was LT(JG) M.W. Barrett.

From the ship's War Diary:

"7 August, 1944 [...] 1405 FM-2 Bu.No. 47395 crashed barrier on landing, plane moderately damaged, no injuries to personnel."

National Archives and Records Administration photo # 80-G-364222, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 175539970.

A surface underway view of USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) in her starboard pattern, camouflage Measure 33, Design 10A. Photo in a series from August and September 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-365617.

Barrier crash of General Motors FM-2 Wildcat, BuNo 47395, of Composite Squadron (VC) 66 aboard the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), 19 September 1944.

From the ship's War Diary:

"19 September, 1944 [...] 1552 Lt.(jg) Charles Taylor EDWARDS crashed through barrier on landing overturning and seriously damaging FM-2, Bu.No. 47395; personnel sustained no injuries."

National Archives and Records Administration photo # 80-G-364224, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 175539972.

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

UNITED STATES SHIP FANSHAW BAY

and her attached Air Squadrons participating in the following operations:

VC-68, Marianas Operation, June 15 to 18, 1944;
VC-66, Western New Guinea, September 15 to October 12, 1944;
VC-68, Leyte Operation, October 18 to 24, 1944;
VC-68, Leyte Operation, October 26 to 29, 1944;
VOC-2, Okinawa Gunto Operation, March 25 to June 23, 1945;
VOC-2, THIRD Fleet Operations against Japan, July 10 to 27, 1945,

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

   "For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore and afloat. Operating continuously in the most advanced areas, the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and her air squadrons destroyed or damaged hostile warships, aircraft, merchant shipping and shore installations despite frequent and sustained air attacks. She sent out her planes repeatedly in spotting and strike missions to annihilate the enemy's ground installations, troops, tanks, trucks and parked aircraft and to destroy his airborne planes. Operating as a highly disciplined and superbly coordinated team throughout 124 days of action, the FANSHAW BAY and her air groups achieved an illustrious record of performance in combat which reflects the highest credit upon her gallant officers and men and upon the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

(Signed)
John L. Sullivan
Secretary of the Navy

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the

TASK UNIT SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE, consisting of the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY and VC-68; U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY and VC-10; U.S.S. KALININ BAY and VC-3; U.S.S. KITKUN BAY and VC-5; U.S.S. SAINT LO and VC-65; U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS and VC-4; U.S.S. HOEL; U.S.S. JOHNSTON; U.S.S. HEERMAN; U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS; U.S.S. RAYMOND; U.S.S. DENNIS and U.S.S. JOHN C. BUTLER

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

   "For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait toward Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit's valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy's heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

For the President,

James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy

Composite Squadron (VC) 68, USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70). A photo signed by the squadron's pilots.

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), as seen from USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88). The photo is believed to have been taken by Vicki's father, a radarman. Location unknown.

"[Squadron] VC-66 Mississippi Gentlemen Cook, Mayo and Cope."

Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague aboard USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), off Okinawa, Japan, April 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), #80-G-371327.

Aboard USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), 10 September 1945.

MOMM3 Donald Edward Driver served aboard USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70).

Model of USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), The National World War II Museum, donated by Wm. "Bill" Waldorf, IPMS Ship Modeler; Commodore Thomas J. Lupo, VC-68, Fanshaw Bay (1943–1945); and Henry A. Pyzdrowski, VC-10, Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Association.

"U.S.S. Fanshaw Bay (CVE 70), Flagship of the Famous Task Force 'Taffy 3,' which held off and participated in the destruction of the last vestige of a powerful Japanese fleet at the historic Battle for Leyte Gulf off the island of Samar, Philippines, cited by all major historians as the 'greatest sea battle in naval history.'"

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70). Although "personalized" for each ship, this is in fact a generic image of the Casablanca-class CVEs.

USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70).