CVE-113 was initially named Hobart Bay for a bay along the coast of Alaska, on the East shore of Stephens Passage, southeast of Rocky Point and northeast of Sitka (NS0311312). It was named in 1889 by LCDR Henry B. Mansfield, USN.

Renamed Puget Sound, 5 June 1944, for an arm of the Pacific Ocean extending some 80 miles south into Washington State (NS0311312a). An important U.S. Navy Yard is located in the sound, at Bremerton. (AV-13, initially named Puget Sound, was renamed Salisbury Sound on the same date, 5 June 1944.)

(Maps NS0311312 and NS0311312a courtesy of Google Maps.)

Christening of CVE-113 at Todd Pacific Shipyards, Tacoma, Washington; bow-on passing down ways (note that she is being launched into the body of water that bears her name).

National Archives photo # 80-G-291118.

Puget Sound (CVE-113) was christened by Mrs. Bert A. Teats (née Jenni Alice Waugaman), mother of ENS Grant Wayne Teats, who, serving with Torpedo Squadron (VT) 8, was killed in action during the Battle of Midway and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Puget Sound (CVE-113) at sea on builder's trials, June 1945. She is camouflaged in Measure 22.

National Archives photo # 80-G-369822.

Commissioning ceremony, Monday, 18 June 1945, Tacoma, Washington.

CAPT Charles F. Coe, USS Puget Sound's first commanding officer, and his wife, Charlotte Wyman Sells Coe, cut the ceremonial cake.

First landing aboard USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), 20 July 1945. CAPT Charles F. Coe, USN, ship's commanding officer (center, left), and Maj. Robert G. Owens, Jr., USMC, commanding officer, Marine Carrier Air Group (MCVG) 6 (center, right).

Maj. Owens was a highly-decorated US Marine Corps aviator, and retired as a Major General in 1972. He became an Ace during Word War II, with seven victories. His personal decorations include: a Navy Cross, five Legions of Merit, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, seven Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and a Presidential Unit Citation.

A U.S. Marine Corps Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat aircraft of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 321 being readied on the deck of USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), 1945. Note that the F6F is armed with a Tiny Tim rocket.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, No. 1996.253.7189.025.

F6F Hellcat mishap, date (probably summer 1945) and location (probably near Hawaii) unknown. The Hellcat appears to be attached to a Marine Fighter Squadron based at MCAS Ewa (note identification letter "W").

Landing operations.

NS0311313: Landing Signal Officer (LSO).

NS0311313a–NS0311313d: F4U Corsair.

NS0311313e: F6F Hellcat.

Flight deck operations.

NS0311316–NS0311313c: F4U Corsair.

NS0311316d: TBF/TBM Avenger.

NS0311316e: Catapult officer and Corsair.

NS0311316f: Corsair.

NS0311316g: Corsair.

An F6F Hellcat "in the drink."

With patrol and anti-submarine blimp (non-rigid airship) [ZNP-]K-85 (BuNo 33477).

USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), Tokyo Bay, October 1945.

National Archives photo # 80-G-369815.

USS Puget Sound (CVE-113) at anchor in Tokyo Bay, Japan, October 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command (#NH 106719).

Hiroshima.

Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka ("cherry blossom") rocket-powered, human-guided kamikaze bombs. The Allied nickname was "Baka Bomb" ("Baka" is a Japanese word meaning "foolish" or "idiotic").

Vertical view, USS Puget Sound (CVE-113).

National Archives photo # 80-G-369796.

TBF/TBM Avenger.

Planes (P-80 Shooting Stars?) preserved for transportation.

"Photo taken by Lt James W Merchant, Chaplain on the USAT Chirikof, which was probably heading into Seattle. Seems to be native people in canoes greeting the ship."

Men on bridge of USS Puget Sound (CVE-113).

National Archives photo # 80-G-369840.

USN photo of Puget Sound (CVE-113) underway, 1945, location unknown.

Paul Bronken and some of his shipmates aboard USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), Tokyo Bay, 1 Novermber 1945.

(Larger copy available on request.)

Paul Bronken

USS Puget Sound (CVE-113), CAPT Charles F. Coe reassigned—CAPT Walter F. Rodee assuming command, 11 February 1946.

(Larger copy available on request.)

The Commencement Bay-class escort carrier Puget Sound (CVE-113), newly completed, in January 1946. She was armed with two 5-in/38, three quadruple and twelve twin 40-mm, and twenty single 20-mm guns. Radars were the SK-2, SP, and SG.

From U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

USO shows (1946?).

If you have any additional information, please let us know.

(Larger copies available on request.)