USS Makassar Strait ( CVE - 91 ) USS " Makassar Strait " ( CVE – 91 ) was a " Casablanca " class escort carrier of the United States Navy . She was named after Makassar Strait , the strait between Kalimantan and Sulawesi , Indonesia . She was originally classified AVG - 91 , reclassified ACV - 91 on 20 August 1942 , and reclassified CVE - 91 on 15 July 1943 ; originally named " Ulitaka Bay " and renamed " Makassar Strait " 6 November 1943 ; laid down by Kaiser Co . , Inc . , Vancouver , Washington , under Maritime Commission contract 29 December 1943 ; launched 22 March 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . Truman J . Hedding ; and commissioned at Astoria , Oregon , 27 April 1944 , Captain Warren K . Berner in command . Service history . After shakedown along the west coast , " Makassar Strait " departed San Diego 6 June and steamed via Pearl Harbor to the Marshalls carrying replacement aircraft and passengers ; there , she transported military casualties to Pearl Harbor and the west coast where she arrived San Diego 13 July . During much of the next 2 months she trained carrier pilots off southern California . Between 25 September and 15 October , she ferried 129 planes to Hawaii and to Manus , Admiralties . After returning to Pearl Harbor 26 October with 70 damaged F4F Wildcat s on board , she resumed pilot training operations out of Pearl Harbor . During the next 3 months , " Makassar Strait " rendered valuable service in the training of naval and marine aviators . Pilots from a dozen air groups and squadrons made more than 6 , 700 landings , as she participated in combat air patrol and hunter - killer training exercises and night carrier operations , as well as defensive training against simulated bomb and torpedo attacks . With Composite Squadron 97 embarked , " Makassar Strait " departed Pearl Harbor 29 January 1945 and steamed via Eniwetok for combat duty in the western Pacific . Assigned to TG 50 . 8 , between 9 February and 8 April she protected logistics ships operating in support of the Fast Carrier Task Force during devastating airstrikes against enemy targets from the Bonins to the Ryukyus . Assigned to a support carrier group 8 April , " Makassar Strait " began air operations in the intense fighting on Okinawa . During the next 4 weeks she launched scores of sorties against targets in the Ryukyus . Her planes provided close air support for American ground troops and struck with effective and devastating force against enemy gun emplacements , ground installations , and airfields as the Americans drove to capture Okinawa — one of the last bastions of the crumbling Japanese defenses . In addition , the escort carrier ’ s planes destroyed four enemy aircraft . Makassar Strait transferred her air squadron to at Kerama Retto 7 May and departed later that day for Guam where she arrived the 11th . She now operated in the Marianas between Guam and Saipan providing refresher training for carrier pilots , until departing for Hawaii 19 July . Steaming via Kwajalein where she loaded 50 planes , she reached Pearl Harbor 29 July . There she embarked 387 military passengers and sailed 14 August for the United States . Arriving San Diego 21 August , " Makassar Strait " had steamed more than in support of the Allied victory in the Pacific . She continued to train carrier pilots during the next 2 months ; by the end of October the total number of landings on her flight deck since her commissioning had surpassed 15 , 500 . " Makassar Strait " departed San Diego 4 November for “ Magic Carpet ” duty . Steaming via Pearl Harbor , she transported replacement troops to the Marshalls ; and after embarking 1 , 092 veterans at Kwajalein , returned to San Diego 29 November . Between 4 December and 3 January 1946 , she made a similar cruise to Guam and back , transporting 1 , 123 officers and men to the United States . Departing San Diego 5 January , " Makassar Strait " steamed via San Francisco to Tacoma , Washington , where she arrived 12 January . Assigned to the 19th Fleet , she underwent deactivation and decommissioned 9 August 1946 . She entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Tacoma ; and , while berthed there , was reclassified CVU - 91 on 12 June 1955 . On 28 August 1958 the Secretary of the Navy authorized her to be used as target for destruction . Her name was struck from the Navy list 1 September 1958 . In April 1961 while under tow to San Clemente Island , CA she ran aground on San Nicholas Island , and was then sold for breaking up in situ on 2 May 1961 buyer unknown . As late as Fall 1965 it had not been broken up , and was being used as a target . Awards . Makassar Strait received two battle stars for World War II service .