CVE-80 was named Petrof Bay for a bay on Kuiu Island, at the south end of Tebenkof Bay, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska (NS0308012). The bay was named in 1928 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), for Ivan Petroff, special census agent for Alaska in 1880, "who contributed largely to the written history of Alaska."

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

Petrof Bay was sponsored on Wednesday, January 5, 1944 by Mrs. J. G. Atkins, wife of Captain Atkins, executive officer of the Naval Air Station, Farragut, Idaho. Principal address was by Captain C. E. Ekstrom, Executive Officer, USN.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 2; January 28, 1944; pages 4–5.)

"To the first Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Petrof Bay, Captain J.L. Kane USN, with the compliments of the CVE Pre-Commissioning School."

Robert explains: "This picture hung on our basement wall for years. My Dad Joseph Morrison was a plank owner on CVE 80."

Naval Station Astoria, Oregon, oblique view looking northeast, altitude 1000 feet, 19 February 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-218308.

Three CVEs can be seen in the lower half of the picture, fitting out. They are, top to bottom, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80), commissioned the day before; USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79), that had just shifted berth from pier 3 to pier 2; and USS Savo Island (CVE-78).

USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) underway. Photo is dated 18 March 1944—the escort carrier was off the West Coast on that date.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.032.003. Robert L. Lawson Photograph Collection.

USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) on 21 June 1944 in the Eastern Pacific, showing different radar antennas. Camouflaged in Measure 33, Design 10A (thanks to Aryeh Wetherhorn.)

A U.S. Marine Corps Convair OY-1 Sentinel being manhandled on the flight deck of the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) on 19 September 1944, during the Peleliu operation (Operation Stalemate II). Note the motto on the cowling: "It flies, don't it?".

(The OY-1 originated as the Stinson Model V-76, adopted by the Army in 1942 as the L-5 after the Stinson company had become a division of Vultee Aircraft. By 1943, when Marine acquisition of the type began, Vultee had merged with Consolidated, hence the use of Consolidated's letter Y in the designation.)

National Archives and Records Administration photo, # 80-G-378466.

A near miss by a Japanese Zero on USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) off Leyte Gulf, as seen from USS Suwannee (CVE-27), 25 October 1944. Bomb is hitting the water.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-270668.

With its tail and part of a wing shot off by AA fire, a Kamikaze dives on and misses USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) on 26 October 1944.

Source: Navy Department Library, 1945 Antiaircraft Action Summary.

Kamikaze plane on fire barely missed USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) (see above).

Official US Navy photograph of USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) underway, exact date and place unknown. The four-leaf shamrock symbol on its tail identifies the FM-2 Wildcat as assigned to Composite Squadron 93 (VC-93.) VC-93 operated from Petrof Bay between March 10 and May 30, 1945 in support of the invasion and capture of Okinawa.

Composite Squadron 93 (VC-93) group picture aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80). The squadron embarked 10 March 1945.

(Larger copy available on request.)

VC-93 crew: H. Foster (Pilot), S. Orlowski (Gunner) & ARM/1c Roger W. Goodwin (1945).

General Motors FM-2 Wildcats of Composite Squadron (VC) 93 aboard USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) prepare for a mission supporting the invasion of Okinawa, 25 March 1945.

Image from Storm of Eagles: The Greatest Aviation Photographs of World War II, by John Dibbs, Kent Ramsey, and Robert "Cricket" Renner (Osprey Publishing).

LCI(L)-192 drydocked at Long Beach Naval Shipyard during conversion to an LCI(G). She is in the drydock along with nine other LCIs, USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) and USS Mustin (DD-413), circa June–August 1945.

Mustin departed Okinawa 28 May for Guam, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and San Pedro, arriving 18 June for a yard overhaul and alterations. The war ended six days before she left San Pedro. On 19 June Petrof Bay moored at the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island, San Pedro, for a general overhaul. Petrof Bay sailed for Pearl Harbor 14 August.

A beautiful ship display commemorating USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) and all those who served aboard.

Replica of the ship's bell, by J. and L. Mayall.