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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

USS TAKANIS BAY   (CVE-89)
(later CVU-89 and AKV-31)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Yankee - Quebec

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

   

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: American Campaign Medal
2nd Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal / World War II Victory Medal / Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp)

CLASS - CASABLANCA
Displacement 7,800 Tons, Dimensions, 512' 3" (oa) x 65' 2" x 22' 4" (Max)
Armament 1 x 5"/38AA 8 x 40mm, 12 x 20mm, 27 Aircraft.
Machinery, 9,000 IHP; 2 Skinner, Uniflow engines, 2 screws
Speed, 19 Knots, Crew 860.

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For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By and/Or Copyright
Name
Takanis Bay
NS0308914
71k

CVE-89 (later CVU-89 and AKV-31) was named Takanis Bay for a bay on the southwest coast of Yakobi Island, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska (NS0308914). Takanis (also spelled Takhanis) is a Tinglit Indian name published by Captain Mikhail Dmitrievich Tebenkov, IRN, in 1852.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps.)

NavSource
Construction
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308903
45k

"Concerted Action Gets Results. Close cooperation and planning paid dividends again to riggers, shipwrights and shipfitters on Berth 2 of the Outfitting dock, who set a new record in the installation of the gun buckets on carriers. Shown above from left: (first row) B. Coverdale, L. Ochs, F. Thrall, B. Adams, D. Payne, C. Lamb, F. Rogers, Young, R. Stark. (Second row) L. Garner, R. Whitney, L. j Jaynes, S. Moore, R. Johnson, A. Black, J. Ammerman, G. Nevitt, C. Morgan. (Third row) Y. Cole, Q. Nims, J. Owen, E. Clawson, J. Udell. (Vancouver Photo)"

[...]

"The gun turrets on the U.S.S. Takanis Bay were all hung in the record time of two hours and 10 minutes. The two previous ships were completed in eight hours each but, to the three crews engaged on the work, that was only a beginning. [...]"

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 7; March 24, 1944; page 5).

Courtesy of Ron Gough,
Bea Dee, Ltd.,
Kaiser Vancouver / Swan Island & Oregon Shipyards website
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308904
4k

Takanis Bay was sponsored on Friday, 10 March 1944, by Mrs. Alden Ream Sanborn. Her mother, Mrs. Don M. Wright, was matron of honor, and her son, Donald Sanborn (photo) was flower boy.

(From "Bo's'n's Whistle," Vol. 4, No. 6; March 17, 1944; page 8).

Courtesy of Ron Gough,
Bea Dee, Ltd.,
Kaiser Vancouver / Swan Island & Oregon Shipyards website
World War 2
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308901
155k Aerial view of USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89) underway on 5 May 1944, as commissioned. Based in San Diego, California, with Fleet Air West Coast through August 1945 as a training ship for pilots, from 24 May 1944 through 28 August 1945 the ship qualified 2,509 pilots.

US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.034.013.

Mike Green
Robert Hurst
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308910
138k

A milestone in the carrier's history: the first take off, by a Wildcat.

Steve Kovacs
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308910a
155k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308911
199k

Undated photograph of USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89) in dry dock.

Steve Kovacs
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308911a
196k

USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89) in a dry dock (same as above?), circa 1945. The ship wears camouflage Measure 32, Design 12A.

U.S. Navy photo from the Takanis Bay World War II Cruise Book.

Robert Hurst
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308905
224k

A Grumman F6F Hellcat in trouble. Good detail of the ship's island and SK radar antenna.

Steve Kovacs
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308906
141k

F4U Corsair making 5,000th "trap" aboard USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89).

Steve Kovacs
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308918
252k

A view of the single 5"/38 gun aboard USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89), circa 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the Takanis Bay World War II Cruise Book.

Robert Hurst
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308912
134k

SB2C Helldiver during barrier crash aboard USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89), 5 February 1945. Pilot was Ensign E.E. Wood. Photographs by PHOM2/c George Dekoven.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photos, # (top-down) 80-G-372692, 80-G-372693, 80-G-372694 and 80-G-372695.

NARA
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308912a
122k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308912b
129k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308912c
141k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308917
378k

View of 40mm twin gun mounts firing during a gunnery drill aboard USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89), circa March 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the Takanis Bay World War II Cruise Book.

John Spivey
Robert Hurst
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308915
878k

FM Wildcat going over portside of USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89) on take-off. Pilot was Lieutenant Junior Grade F.R. Sharp. Photographed by PHOM2/c George Dekoven, 6 March 1945. Note pilot and life-raft in the water (NS0308915b).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photos, # 80-G-372696 (top), 80-G-372697 (center), and 80-G-372698 (bottom).

NARA
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308915a
885k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308915b
869k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308913
174k

F6F Hellcat crashed on deck of USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89), 18 March 1945. Shown after tailhook pulled out in landing.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photos, # (top-down) 80-G-372703 and 80-G-372704.

NARA
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308913a
914k
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308907
192k

CAPT Courtney Shands relieves CAPT Anthony R. Brady as Commanding Officer, USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89), 3 June 1945.

Steve Kovacs
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308909
205k

CAPT Brady presents the Silver Star to CAPT Shands, probably on 3 June 1945.

Steve Kovacs
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308908
150k

Another milestone in the carrier's history: the 20,000 landing, made by an Avenger. According to the source "Takanis Bay holds the record for landings aboard vessels of her class. From commissioning to inactivation over 20,000 landings were made. A record only topped by a very few first line carriers."

Steve Kovacs
Post-War
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308902
56k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, May 23, 1946. Port side view of USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89) at time of inclining experiment. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo #871-46.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives. Record Group 181.

Tracy White,
Researcher @ Large
CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308902a
45k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, May 23, 1946. Bow view of starboard side at time of inclining experiment. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo #873-46.

CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308902b
69k

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, May 23, 1946. Topside view of island structure at time of inclining experiment. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard photo #882-46.

CVE-89 Takanis Bay
NS0308916
448k

Ship's Mess personnel seen aboard USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89). African-Americans and Asian-Americans. Photograph received 6 June 1946.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-372709.

NARA

For more photos and information about this ship, see:

Read the USS Takanis Bay (CVE-89 / CVU-89 / AKV-31) DANFS History entry

Crew Contact and Reunion Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Charlie Rankin,
89 Chairman
Address: 500 Wichita Ave. Unit 11,
McAllen, Tx. 78503
Phone: (956)686-0113
Fax: (956)686-4943
Cell: (956)279-6313
E-mail: charbillrank2000@yahoo.com
Web site:  
Remarks:  

Related Links
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages by Andrew Toppan.
Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen Association
U.S.S. Takanis Bay: A Short History, at the Bangor Public Library

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This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Peña
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Last update: 16 July 2024