CVE-71 was named for an Alaskan Bay on the southeast coast of Prince of Wales Island. No previous U.S. warship had borne the name.

Image: Google Maps.

"'The navy needs this carrier,' says the sign facing Hull 317, the USS Kitkun Bay, scheduled to be one of the '18 or more' to see service by the year's end."

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

"Mrs. Edgar A. Cruise, wife of CAPT Cruise of the Seattle Naval Air Station, christened the USS Kitkun Bay, on November 8. Mrs. Viola Cruise, left, mother of CAPT Cruise, was matron of honor. The captain suggested during launching ceremonies, 'Your slogan now is '18 or more by '44.' I'd like to add 'Double the score in '44'."

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 3, No. 22; November 25, 1943; page 7.)

The island of USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) during her shakedown cruise in January 1944. The camouflage pattern visible in this port side shot is Measure 32, Design 12A.

US Navy photo now in the collections of the National Archives, College Park (# 80-G-373914).

Note: The "Subject:" written on the card where this photo is mounted reads: "View of bridge of USS KITKUN BAY (CVE-71) as seen from USS CORREGIDOR (CVE-58)." and dated 9 January 1944. This, however, cannot be correct since, according to their respective War Diaries, Kitkun Bay and Corregidor were hundreds of miles apart on said date.

USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), 5" gun and crew. Date and location unknown.

FM-2 Wildcat recovering aboard USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), circa 1944, location unknown.

Flight deck crash. FM-2 Wildcat. Date and location unknown.

Transporting aircraft in the Pacific, 10 February 1944. Camouflaged in Measure 14.

NS0307101a: The International date line was crossed on the 10th and 11th of February.

Japanese plane shot down as it attempted to attack a group of escort carriers, near Marianas Islands, June 1944. Photo taken from USS Kitkun Bay (NARA photo # 80-G-238363).

A Japanese twin-engine plane passes over USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) during an air attack off Saipan, Marianas Operation, 18 June 1944. USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) is in the center. Another plane is visible under the first one.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-243430.

A Japanese plane crashes astern of USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) during an attack on Task Group 52.11, 18 June 1944, Marianas Operation. Seen from USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-243432.

USS Sebec (AO-87) refueling an escort carrier at sea, 2 October 1944. The CVE is believed to be USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), three weeks before the Battle of Leyte Gulf. BuAer photo # 249014.

Allied fleet is attacked by Japanese off Leyte in the Philippines, 25 October 1944. Black smoke rising from funnels of CVEs. Seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). DDs and DEs lay smoke while being shelled by Japanese fleet.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-47038.

USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) launches Avengers to engage Japanese fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287425.

USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) launches Avengers to engage Japanese fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287426.

Japanese aircraft group ready to make suicide dive on USS St. Lo (CVE-63) and USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) during Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Photographed from abeam of CVE.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287431.

Salvos from ships of Japanese fleet moving toward Philippines fall wide of mark on carrier escort during Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Taken from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287438.

Japanese cruisers shell USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) during Battle of Leyte Gulf. As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), 25 October 1944. Salvo falls abeam from Gambier Bay.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287442.

Salvos from ships of Japanese fleet moving toward Philippines fall wide of mark on carrier-escort during Battle of Leyte Gulf. Taken from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), 25 October 1944. Taken from astern of CVE.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287446.

A Japanese fighter makes suicide dive on USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) during Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287465.

FM Wildcats begin their launch from the escort aircraft carrier USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), the only means the escort carriers had to defend themselves. TBM Avengers line the flight deck to starboard, bomb doors open, awaiting ordnance. In the background the escort carrier USS White Plains (CVE-66) dodges shell splashes from a Japanese cruiser visible as a smudge on the horizon, 25 October 1944. Photo from NARA (National Archives and Records Administration), College Park, MD.

A Japanese cruiser (on horizon), a unit of fleet moving on Philippines, shells an escort carrier during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Salvos from Tone-class cruiser dead ahead. As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71).

Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944 — USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) prepares to launch FM-2 Wildcat fighters during the action. In the center distance, Japanese shells are splashing near USS White Plains (CVE-66).

As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), USS White Plains (CVE-66) has an enemy salvo hitting off her port side on 25 October 1944. Note that White Plains is camouflaged in Measure 33, Design 10A.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.253.7387.016, Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection.

USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) as seen from USS White Plains (CVE-66) is hit on her port catwalk, just forward of her bridge structure, by a Shikishima unit Mitsubishi A6M5 Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 52 Zeke. Photo from NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) facility in College Park, MD.

Photo and text from Fire From The Sky, by Robert C. Stern.

Taken a moment later [this picture] shows a dense smoke cloud above the crash site. Photo from NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) facility in College Park, MD.

Photo and text from Fire From The Sky, by Robert C. Stern.

The fire at the port edge of Kitkun Bay's flight deck quickly burnt itself out, so that even as the fire, rescue and repair crews converged on the damaged catwalk, there was no more to be done. The damage was limited to a small area, leaving the flight deck and the Grumman Avenger parked in the foreground intact. Only one sailor was killed. Kitkun Bay headed for Pearl Harbor the next day on an already-scheduled visit to replace her air group. Photo from NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) facility in College Park, MD.

Photo and text from Fire From The Sky, by Robert C. Stern.

A Japanese cruiser (on horizon), a unit of fleet moving on Philippines, shells a carrier-escort during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). Shown as the salvo is put astern.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287503.

Salvos from ships of Japanese fleet moving toward Philippines fall wide of mark on escort carrier during Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) while the crew watches.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287512.

Japanese fighters break formation to make suicide dives on carrier escorts of US Fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287528.

Japanese fighters break formation to make suicide dives on carrier escorts of US Fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287529.

A Japanese fighter makes suicide dive on USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) during Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944. Note smoke trails from guns of fighter anti-aircraft fire.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-287536.

A photo of the damage, as viewed from the fligh deck (see above).

National Archives photo (# 80-G-289811).

This photo shows the temporary railing that was welded in place (see above).

National Archives photo (# 80-G-289812).

Starboard horizontal stabilizer from the tail of a Yokosuka D4Y Judy on the deck of USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). "At 1110 fifteen enemy aircraft were sighted [...] the planes made their attack at 1123, the Judy making a run on this ship approaching from dead astern. This pilot apparently also had suicidal intent with destruction of the radar mast and island in mind, but was met by effective fire and the plane passed over the island and exploded when opposite the forward end of the flight deck. Parts of the plane and the pilot were scattered over the flight deck and the forecastle." History of USS Kitkun Bay CVE-71.

U.S. Navy photo from the personal collection of Gilbert J. Raynor and the USS Kitkun Bay Association, courtesy of Robert Jon Cox & www.bosamar.com.

"Enc. 'L-19' to Kitkun Bay Ser. 005 of 10/28/44. Damage done to catwalk by suicide dive of Jap fighter. (Note temporary repair safety railing)"

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

LT Ray J. Koep, USNR, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross because of his "heroism and extraordinary achievement in action over Leyte Island 24 October 1944, and against a large enemy fleet off Samar Island on 25 October 1944."

Seen smoking after kamikaze hit, 8 January 1945.

USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) after a damaging suicide attack on the ship. Body of Japanese bomb is shown after having been removed from the boiler. Photograph released 20 January 1945. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-273160.

Commanding officers of USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). Left to right: CAPT John P. Whitney, CAPT Albert Handly, and CAPT John F. Greenslade.

USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) and her three Composite Squadrons (VC): VC-5, December 1943–November 1944, VC-91, November 1944–February 1945, and VC-63, May–September 1945.

Composite Squadron (VC) 5 was assigned to USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71), December 1943–November 1944.

The 4,000th landing aboard USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). The only crewmember identified is AO1 Turrets Roy Leon Smith, far right.

Crew of USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71). Gilber Sidney Raynor is on the back row, 4th from the left of the white hats.

Seaman First Class Donald Wojnar enlisted on 22 June 1943 and served aboard USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) from 17 April 1944 to January 1945. He was aboard during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Donald was discharged at US Naval Hospital San Diego on 26 June 1945.

(Donald Wojnar was born in 1924 and died in 1997.)