CVE-94 was initially named Alazon Bay for the northeastern arm of Baffin Bay, which in turn is an estuary emptying into Laguna Madre, a sound paralleling the coast of Texas in the vicinity of Corpus Christi (NS0309415).

Renamed Lunga Point, 6 November 1943, well in advance of her keel-laying, to commemorate a World War II battle fought on a promontory on the northern coast of Guadalcanal (NS0309415a). Eleven thousand US Marines landed at Lunga Point on 7 August 1942 in order to capture the airfield (later renamed Henderson Field) being constructed by the Imperial Japanese Navy before it could become operational, beginning the Guadalcanal Campaign.

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

A double bottom section of U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) is installed at Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, circa January 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 21, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

A flight deck section of the future USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) is installed at Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, circa March 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 21, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

Escort carriers under construction at Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, circa March 1944. The future USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) is the second to last in the row.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 21, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

Escort carriers fitting out at Kaiser Shipyards, Vancouver, Washington, between 11 April 1944 and 14 May 1944. One of the carriers is the future USS Lunga Point (CVE-94).

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 21, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

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.

"Morning Arrival." USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) arriving in San Diego en route to the Pacific Theatre, 1944. Painting by Wayne Scarpaci, 16"x24".

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) underway whilst preparing to accept a TBM Avenger as a second passes overhead, location and date unknown (USN photo).

"Ensign Paul Max Harbaugh was an 'Accomplished Naval Aviator and Senior Landing Signal Officer at age 20 on the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) in 1944.'"

"The first published NATOPS manual had Paul Max Harbaugh featured as the LSO."

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 18A. Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for escort aircraft carriers of the CVE-55 (Casablanca) class. This plan, approved by Captain Torvald A. Solberg, USN, is dated 26 June 1944. It shows the ship's starboard side (compare to photo NS0309402, above), bow, stern and superstructure ends.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-174771).

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 18A. Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for escort aircraft carriers of the CVE-55 (Casablanca) class. This plan, approved by Captain Torvald A. Solberg, USN, is dated 26 June 1944. It shows the ship's port side.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-174770).

Gunnery drill aboard USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), circa 1944: After starboard batteries at anti-aircraft practice.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 43, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

CVE-94 Lunga Point's first foray into the war was the delivery of Army Air Corps aircraft to New Guinea and removal of war-weary P-47s for the return back to the US. Here, P-38s and personnel are tightly packed into her hangar bay in July of 1944. Blackout curtains are strung across the top of the photo so that lights could remain on in the dark while elevators were operating.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo # 80-G-335688.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) loading a U.S. Army Air Forces Republic P-47 Thunderbolt at Finschhafen, New Guinea, on 15 July 1944. Lunga Point transported worn out USAAF planes to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, for further transportation to the United States.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 Cruise Book, p. 41, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

Neptune party on USS Lunga Point's flight deck in July of 1944. The aft fuselage of an Army A-20 Havoc bomber is in the background.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo # 80-G-335700.

A view of the hangar bay of USS Lunga Point (CVE-94). She transported 1,158 passengers from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, to Naval Base San Diego, California, between 21 July and 5 August 1944.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 43, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

The crewmembers of the U.S. Navy Composite Squadron (VC) 85 pose for a photo with one of the squadron's TBM Avengers aboard the escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94). VC-85 operated from Lunga Point from 16 October 1944 to 11 May 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 141, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), port side, September 1944. The camouflage is Measure 33 Design 18A using dull black (BK), navy blue (5-N), haze gray (5-H) and pale gray (5-P). Lunga Point was transporting a deck load of replacement aircraft. Photo taken from USS Altamaha (CVE-18).

United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-286225.

Santa Claus delivers presents in the hangar bay of USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), in a Navy issued sleigh, on 24 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335702.

Christmas dinner for enlisted sailors aboard USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), 25 December 1944.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-335701.

U.S. Navy General Motors TBM-3 Avengers and FM-2 Wildcats of Composite Squadron (VC) 85 aboard the escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), circa 1945. VC-85 operated from Lunga Point from 16 October 1944 to 11 May 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 143, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) underway, circa 1945. Photographer unknown.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) 1944–1945 cruise book, p. 178, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) operating with Task Force 77.4 in the Mindanao Sea, Philippines, 3 January 1945. Photographed from USS Makin Island (CVE-93). Lunga Point is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 18A.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History & Heritage Command, # NH 99106.

A General Motors FM-2 Wildcat of Composite Squadron (VC) 85 is rearmed after landing aboard the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) off Iwo Jima, February 1945. Note the flak damage to the left wing.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 cruise book, p.82, available at the Bangor, Maine, Public Library.

Burning Japanese Kamikaze airplane slides across the flight deck of USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) before falling into the sea, off Iwo Jima on 21 February 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-430121).

"Wing and wheel of third plane. From these pieces plane was identified as a Jill. Iwo Jima 22 February 1945."

Painting kill markings on the island of USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) following the shoot down of three Japanese Jill aircraft off Iwo Jima on 21 February 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration, photo # 80-G-335691.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) underway off Okinawa, sometime between 24 March and 27 June 1945.

USN photo.

Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, Commander Escort Carrier Force, Pacific (left) is assisted from a TBM Avenger aircraft as he arrives on board USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) on 3 April 1945, during the Okinawa campaign.

Collection of Vice Admiral Calvin T. Durgin. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Durgin Sherrill, 1969.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 69404).

Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, Commander Escort Carrier Force, Pacific (left) is welcomed aboard USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) after arriving in a TBM Avenger aircraft on 3 April 1945, during the Okinawa campaign.

Collection of Vice Admiral Calvin T. Durgin. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Durgin Sherrill, 1969.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 69405).

The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) enters a floating drydock at Guam, in May 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 Cruise Book, p.104, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

"High and dry," USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) in a floating dry dock at Guam, May 1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 Cruise Book, p.104, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

Officers of the U.S. and British Navies on board USS Lunga Point, 11 September 1945. They are (from left to right, front): Rear Admiral Ralph S. Riggs, USN, Commander Cruiser Division 12; Captain R.A.B. Edwards, RN, Commanding Officer, HMS Gambia; and Captain Joseph L. Kane, USN, Chief of Staff for Commander Escort Carrier Forces, Pacific.

Collection of Vice Admiral Calvin T. Durgin. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Durgin Sherrill, 1969.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 69409).

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) in heavy seas during a western Pacific storm, October 1945.

Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC) Photograph (# NH 94874).

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) pitching heavily during a western Pacific storm, October 1945. Another escort carrier is steaming astern, beyond her starboard quarter. Photographed from USS Makin Island (CVE-93).

Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC) Photograph (# NH 94876).

The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) in a Western Pacific storm off Wakayama, Japan, 3–7 October 1945. The carriers were searching for a Martin PBM-5 Mariner (BuNo 59336) of Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB) 205, lost on 2 October with Rear Admiral William D. Sample as passenger. The wreck was finally found in 1948.

Photographer PHC John Highfill, USN.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 Cruise Book, p.227, available at the Bangor, Maine Public Library.

CAPT George A.T. Washburn was the first commanding officer of USS Lunga Point (CVE-94), 14 May 1944–5 July 1945.

George Arthur Tappan Washburn was born on 4 August 1902, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1923, and retired as a Rear Admiral. During his career he was awarded a Legion of Merit with Combat "V," "for exceptionally meritorious conduct" as commanding officer of Lunga Point during the invasion of Luzon, Philippine Islands, 3–18 January 1945; a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit with Combat "V", "for exceptionally meritorious conduct" as commanding officer of Lunga Point while in support of the Iwo Jima Campaign, 10 February–14 March 1945; a Navy Cross "for extraordinary heroism" as commanding officer of Lunga Point at Okinawa, 2 April 1945; and other decorations. RADM Washburn died on 27 May 1978.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) transports American P.O.W.'s in her hangar deck en route to Okinawa from Nagasaki, Japan following the end of hostilities in the Pacific, to receive medical care.

USS Lunga Point (CVE-94) flying a long "homeward bound pennant." The pennant was 604 feet (184 m) long and with 38 stars: A foot for every enlisted man and a star for every officer aboard who had been away from the United States a year or more. She left Japan on 28 October, reached Pearl Harbor on 7 November and San Diego, California, on 15 November 1945. Note that she had been repainted in Camouflage Measure 22. Photographer unknown.

U.S. Navy photo from the Lunga Point 1944–1945 cruise book, p.237, available at the Bangor, Maine, Public Library.