AVG-83 (later ACV-83, CVE-83 and CVU-83) was named Sargent Bay for an estuary off Behm Canal, between Cactus and Tramp Points, on the east coast of Revillagigedo Island (opposite Rudyerd Bay), Alexander Archipelago, Alaska (NS0308320). Sargent Bay was a local navigators' name obtained in 1904 by Henry Clifford Fassett, U.S. Bureau of Fisheries.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

Mrs. Rissie Farrnick of the Salvage shop, flower girl, presents flowers to the sponsor. Sargent Bay, Vancouver's 29th escort carrier, was launched on Monday, January 31, 1944 and sponsored by Mrs. Edith W. DeBaun, wife of Captain George H. DeBaun, a ranking naval flier. Attendants were Mrs. O. M. Mikkelson, matron of honor, and Mrs. Farrnick.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 3; February 11, 1944; page 7.)

Commissioned on 9 March 1944, USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) is being moved by tugs at the Kaiser Shipbuilding Yard at Vancouver, Washington, 25th March.

Susan Weikel Morrison, daughter of LT Weikel, comments:

This photo shows the aft configuration quite well and reminds me of something else Dad said about his experience aboard [Sargent Bay]. When the ship was under attack, his position was gunner on the aft deck below the flight deck. He said it was a lousy position because you had to be very careful not to pivot the gun too high or you would hit the end of the flight deck above you, and since attacks were from the air, this was a big problem!

Undated overhead view of USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) during World War II.

Courtesy of William H. Davis, 1976.

Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NH 84836.

Undated photo of an FG-1D Corsair launching from USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83).

Undated photo of FM Wildcats on patrol.

USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) at anchor, circa 1944, location unknown. USN photo.

Bow and stern views, 30 May 1944, off the California coast. Painted in Measure 32, Design 15A camouflage. Part of the 40-mm AA battery is under tarpaulins.

Aerial view of USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) at San Pedro, 30 May 1944, wearing camouflage scheme Measure 32, Design 15A. The colors are dull black, ocean gray and light gray with some pale gray for counter shading.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo # 19-LCM-CVE83-1.

This is a photo of FM-2 Wildcat D-12. It has just crashed into the barrier on USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83). The date is August 27, 1944. The pilot was LT(JG) Bob Hambley of VC-79. He survived the crash,and is still with us.

USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) underway, 250 miles from the Philippines, 1,000 feet height, 26 October 1944.

Commander Eddie Peabody, playing the banjo (right) is shown aboard USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), 14 November 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-263895.

Cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 1,000th landing on USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), made by Ensign Thomas L. Clary, Jr., A-V(N), USNR, Composite Squadron (VC) 79, 28 November 1944. The 1,000th landing on the ship was made by ENS Clary on 25 October, but due to the carrier's anchorage for three weeks thereafter, and exigencies of war, the ceremony had to be deferred.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-263901.

A Christmas program on hangar deck of USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) during "Happy Hour," 24 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-263928.

Barrier crash of FM-2 Wildcat, D-4, Bu# 47301, Composite Squadron (VC) 79, on the flight deck of USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), 20 January 1945. Pilot was Lieutenant Robert M. Johnson.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-263975.

Composite Squadron (VC) 79 plane over the side. VC-79 operated from USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) between March 1944 and February 1945.

USS Robert F. Keller (DE-419) collided with USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), 3 January 1945.

Sargent Bay's War Diary reads:

At 1516 U.S.S. Robert F. Keller, by direction of OTC, made approach to deliver official mail. During the approach the DE struck the side of this ship aft of frame 126, directly below the main deck. A 16" hole between frames 125 and 126, three feet (3') below the main deck, resulted.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-263933.

Loading two Marine OY-1 Sentinels aboard USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) at Saipan, Mariana Islands, 13 February 1945.

From the ship's War Diary:

In order to load two OY-1 aircraft aboard, by arrangement of COMPHIBSPAC representative with CTU 94.4.2, it was necessary, because of unfavorable sea condition in the outer harbor, for the ship to get underway and anchor in berth L-51, Saipan inner harbor, where the planes were received from an LCT.

Two second lieutenants from Squadron VMO-5, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, reported on board for temporary duty as observers.

NS0308331: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264005.

NS0308331a: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264006.

NS0308331b: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-264007.

Aboard USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), an ordnanceman is pushing a bomb dolly loaded with two 100 lb. bombs to a plane for a strike on Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-264024.

Okinawa Campaign, 1945 — Ships in Kerama Retto anchorage spread an anti-kamikaze smoke screen, 3 May 1945, seen from USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83). TBM and FM-2 aircraft are on her flight deck. Ship in left center is USS Pinkney (APH-2), which had been damaged by a Kamikaze on 28 April. Photographed by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Oliver E. Pfeiffer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-342629).

Lt. McNinch, VC-83, leaves VF-4 after water landing, 30 May 1945.

Lt. McNinch, VC-83, returned to USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) after rescue from water by USS Richard S. Bull (DE-402), 30 May 1945.

Ensign H.O. Cullen, VC-83, abandons his sinking FM-2 Wildcat (BuNo 75028).

Note: There must be an error here, since this is the same photo as NS0308307.

Susan Weikel Morrison, daughter of LT Weikel, recalls:

My father said this [type of accident] happened fairly often because the escort carrier deck was far too short for these relatively slow propeller driven planes to get up enough airspeed and thus wing lift to fly. Even though the ship was headed into the wind at maximum speed during take off operations, he said the planes would drop down the water's surface once they left the flight deck and skim the water as they struggled to ascend.

USS Spikefish (SS-404) rescues Ens. Cullen (in raft, lower right), VC-83, off Ishigaki Jima, 7 June 1945.

Picture was posted in the ship's library where I was assigned as Chaplain's assistant.

USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), kamikaze suicide plane, Zeke, diving for her target, 7 July 1945. U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-344638).

USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), anchored at San Pedro, California, 29 September 1945. Her simple lines and relatively uncomplicated machinery were designed for rapid mass production. While Pacific Fleet escort carriers shared the antisubmarine mission of their Atlantic counterparts, their major combat task was air support of amphibious operations.

Photo and text from Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS).

LT Charles P. Weikel served aboard USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), as the communications officer, in 1944–1945.

Susan shares with us a couple sea stories:

Shortly after its shakedown cruise, the Sargent Bay was part of the 3rd Fleet under command of "Bull" Halsey. Everyone aboard was pretty inexperienced at what they were doing. Dad, was on the signal light as the ship attempted to get its planes into the air.

A message came in from Halsey: "What's the problem with you? Pull up your pants and get those planes off!" (Or something similar. I definitely recall the pants part of the story.) Dad had to write down the message and take it to the captain who was on an outside walkway with a helmeted gunner stationed under him. The captain turned as red as a beet and pounded on the gunner's helmet for emphasis as he yelled at his crew to hurry up!

 

The Sargent Bay had finished landing operations for the day, so the landing officer had the Fox flag, a red diamond on a white background, hauled down. When the Fox flag was flying, that meant the carrier was ready to land airplanes.

A plane came in low over the horizon toward the carrier. Thinking it was a plane that couldn't find its ship (a common occurrence back then), the officer had the flag run up again. As the plane came closer, almost to the end of the flight deck, the landing signal man yelled, "Meatballs!" and dove headfirst into a compartment at the edge of the flight deck.

The Japanese bomber, sporting a red rising sun on each wing, flew down the flight deck with its bomb bay doors open as everyone frantically ran to their battle stations. It dropped the bombs just beyond the fantail and flew away, its engines roaring.

"Christmas Greetings from the officers and men of the U.S.S. Sargent Bay."

This Christmas card was among the possessions of Delmar D. Day, who served aboard Sargent Bay during WW II, when he died. Delmar was Jason's wife's grandfather.

USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83). Although "personalized" for each ship, this is in fact a generic image of the Casablanca-class CVEs.

Plank Owner's Certificate for LT(JG) Charles P. Weikel, USNR.

In reserve. South Boston Naval Annex, 1959.

As above.