CVE-92 was named for a bay on the southeastern coast of Alaska, that extends from Windham to Stephens Passage, south of Holkham Bay and southeast of Juneau. Name derived from Point Windham by W.H. Dall, USC&GS, published in the 1883 Coast Pilot.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman..)

Officers of USS Windham Bay (CVE-92) and Astoria Navy Base salute during the escort carrier's commissioning ceremony on 3 May 1944. The podium is set up just aft of her lowered forward elevator.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-262632.

Looking aft inside Windham Bay's hangar bay at her officers and sailors during her commissioning ceremony on 3 May 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-262635.

Sister ships USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), USS Makin Island (CVE-93), and USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) tied up at Pier #2, U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon, 19 May 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-262638.

Aerial forward oblique view taken from 500 feet altitude in the Columbia River as USS Windham Bay (CVE-92) steams away from her builder's yard on 25 May 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-262639.

USS Windham Bay's starboard side on 25 May 1944, as she steams in the Columbia River towards Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for final outfitting and supplies.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-262640.

F4U-2 Corsairs of Marine Night Fighter Squadron (VMF(N)) 532 "Night Fighters" photographed being transported on the flight deck of USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), 12 July 1944 (date is often given as 12 July 1945, but Windham Bay was moored at Naval Repair Base, San Diego, on that date, undergoing repairs after the 5 June typhoon).

The ship's War Diary for 12 July 1944 reads:

0602 Commenced flight operations launching aircraft of VMF(N) 532 in sections of three planes each. 0654 Completed launching aircraft, a total of 12 F4Us of VMF(N) 532. Such aircraft orbited over the ship until the squadron formed and then departed for Isely Field (Aslito Airfield) on Saipan Island.

San Diego Air & Space Museum photo, Ray Wagner Collection.

"January 1945 — At Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, F4U's on the flight deck."

From the collection of then Radioman 3rd Class W.F. Cahill, who served on the WWII escort carrier USS Windham Bay (CVE-92).

Tugs push USS Windham Bay (CVE-92) against one of Midway Island's piers on 9 January 1945 to unload a shipment of F4U Corsairs during one of her many aircraft ferrying missions. She departed the next day to return to Pearl Harbor. US Navy photo now in the collections at the US National Archives, College Park, MD (# 80‑G-345406).

Starboard bow view of USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), 16 January 1945, moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. The camouflage pattern is Measure 33 Design 18A. The vertical colors are dull black, navy blue, haze gray and pale gray.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-262867.

Starboard view of USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), 16 January 1945, moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. The camouflage pattern is Measure 33 Design 18A.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-262868.

Ernie Pyle, War Correspondent, aboard USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), February 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-473687.

SB2C-4 Helldiver partially in Windham Bay's after elevator pit following the 5 June 1945 typhoon that hit Task Force 38. Heavy seas tossed the aircraft carrier so much that several airplanes broke free of their tie downs and this one proved to be more than a match for the light pipe stanchions and chains serving as a railing over the elevator pit. The airplane appears to have come to rest in a pile of external drop tanks for fuel; the cargo net around at least one drop tank would suggest it came loose from the overhead, which was a widespread storage method in USN carriers at the time. This view is looking to starboard—note the welding gas tanks stored in the forward corner of the pit.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-262729.

View from the starboard side of the forecastle deck showing the forward flight deck collapsed down on to the bulwarks and almost to the anchor windlass on the bow. Windham Bay's War Diary notes high winds with gusts estimated up to 150 knots, although the Task Force 38.1 report listed a maximum of 120 MPH.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-262737.

Heavy seas and winds from the typhoon broke two Avengers partially free of their securing lines and allowed them to roll on to their backs against other Avengers, as this photo taken after the storm passed shows. USS Windham Bay (CVE-92) was tasked with replenishing carrier aircraft and refueling the destroyers of Task Force 38 at the time of the typhoon and had 32 of the 64 aircraft she had left Apra Harbor with on May 20th and an additional four "flyable duds" she had picked up from other carriers on June 1st.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-262738.

Port bow view of USS Windham Bay (CVE-92) while anchored in Apra Harbor, Guam, between June 10th and June 16th, 1945. Port and starboard forward lookout platforms at the very corners of the flight deck were carried away as well as the forward twin 40mm mounts on each side. The port side mount would have normally been mounted from where the flight deck collapse starts to the catwalk just aft of the open door in the bulkhead. Despite this damage Windham Bay was able to fly off six aircraft the following day for other carriers and take aboard eleven "flyable duds" for transport to rear repair units before heading back to Apra Harbor.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-262743.

USS Windham Bay (CVE-92), damaged in typhoon, at Apra Harbor, Guam, Mariana Islands. Photographed by A.I. Melvin, 4–5 June 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-331050.

Starboard bow close-up showing flight deck damage of USS Windham Bay (CVE-92) moored at Guam about 11 June 1945, after going through typhoon off Okinawa, 5 June 1945.

Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC), Bruce A. Blegen Collection, photo # UA 460.16.

NS0309215: "Captain's Inspection"

NS0309215a: "A Sailor's _______"

NS0309215b: "What Is a Sailor"

Written by then Radioman 3rd Class W.F. Cahill, who served on the WWII escort carrier USS Windham Bay (CVE-92).

NS0309215c: Cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the one year anniversary of the commissioning of CVE-92. The photo is stamped "RELEASED".

NS0309215d: Portrait of Radioman Cahill. Written on back: "July 1944, Los Angeles, Calif., Just back from Battle of Saipan".

USS Windham Bay at Saigon, delivering aircraft to the French, February 1951.

Original Vietnam War press photo. Photo was made from a halftone image (note dots). Circa 1961.

"An American aircraft carrier in Saigon. South Vietnam: place of arms of aggression."

Actually, the "aircraft carrier" (aircraft transport, in fact) is USNS Windham Bay (T-CVE 92), 1–3 February 1951. Location is Saigon, that is true.

"NY8-8370, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 3 June 1953, USS Windham Bay (TCVE92), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, Port View (225°), (Per BuShips' Manual Chapter 67-44), BS143797"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-007.

"NY8-8371, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 3 June 1953, USS Windham Bay (TCVE92), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, Aft View (190°), (Per BuShips' Manual Chapter 67-44), BS143798"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-008.

"NY8-8372, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 3 June 1953, USS Windham Bay (TCVE92), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, Bow View (350°), (Per BuShips' Manual Chapter 67-44), BS143799"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-009.

"NY8-8373, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, 3 June 1953, USS Windham Bay (TCVE92), Radio/Radar Antenna Arrangement & Rigging, Port View (315°), (Per BuShips' Manual Chapter 67-44), BS143800"

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-010.

"NY1-253-(G-S)-1-25-54 USS Windham Bay CVE-92, Antenna arrangement, starboard view 90°. San Francisco Naval Shipyard" 25 January 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-011.

"NY1-254-(G-S)-1-25-54 USS Windham Bay CVE-92, Antenna arrangement, forward, port view 320°. San Francisco Naval Shipyard" 25 January 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-012.

"NY1-255-(G-S)-1-25-54 USS Windham Bay CVE-92, Antenna arrangement, looking aft on centerline of ship. San Francisco Naval Shipyard" 25 January 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-013.

"NY1-256-(G-S)-1-25-54 USS Windham Bay CVE-92, Antenna arrangement, port view 240°. San Francisco Naval Shipyard" 25 January 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-014.

"NY1-258-(G-S)-1-25-54 USS Windham Bay CVE-92, Antenna arrangement, starboard side looking aft at frame 100. San Francisco Naval Shipyard" 25 January 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-015.

"NY1-260-(G-S)-1-25-54 USS Windham Bay CVE-92, Antenna arrangement, starboard view 120°. San Francisco Naval Shipyard" 25 January 1954.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # rg19nn-b1584-005-016.

"SXP763–4/28–ALAMEDA, CALIF: US Navy fighter planes are loaded aboard escort carrier USS Windham Bay, for shipment to beleagu[e]red French forces in Indo-China. The carrier departs 4/28 [April 1954] for San Diego, from where she'll sail for Indochina. UNITED PRESS TELEPHOTO jrh"

"SXP771–4/28–SAN FRANCISCO: The carrier USS Windham Bay, loaded down with fighter planes for the beleagu[e]red French forces in Indochina, passes by the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on it's [sic] way to San Diego. From San Diego the carrier will proceed to Indochina. UNITED PRESS TELEPHOTO" (28 April 1954.)

USS Windham Bay (CVE-92/T-CVU 92) ferrying aircraft, sometime in the 1950s.

CAPT Charles J. Odend'hal, Jr., was commanding officer of USS Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), 21 September 1955–3 October 1956. (Read his biography.)

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, port view 235°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741711; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152645; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, port view 315°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741713; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152646; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, looking aft 30°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741715; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152647; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, looking aft on centerline of ship.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741717; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152648; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, starboard view 45°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741719; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152649; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, starboard view 90°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741721; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152650; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, [starboard] view 135°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741723; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152651; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, port view 225°.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741725; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152652; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

[USNS] Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), antenna arrangement, looking forward on centerline of ship.

Exact date (1955–1958) and location unknown.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Identifier: 24741727; Local Identifier: 19-NN - CVL-92 Windham Bay - 152653; Container Identifier: Box 1585, Folder 374.

Three-quarter aerial view of USNS Windham Bay (T-CVU 92), circa 1958 with a deckload of what appears to be Republic F-84 Thunderjets on the flight deck, forward. Note that the ship retains the 5"/38 mount on the centreline at the fantail, and what appears to be a few 20-mm mounts; also note the protective "igloos" covering the four twin 40-mm Bofors mounts aft. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Still Pictures Branch, College Park, Md. Photo #80-G-1046213.

Photo and text courtesy of DANFS, "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships."

Visible are 24 U.S. Air Force North American F-86D/L Sabre interceptors and two liaison aircraft. Four U.S. Navy aircraft are also on deck: two McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee fighters (one is BuNo 127575) and two Grumman F9F-5 Panther fighters (BuNo 125253, 125627). Note that her SK-1 radar has been removed. (Thanks to Robert Hurst.)