USS Wake Island ( CVE - 65 ) USS " Wake Island " ( CVE - 65 ) was an " Casablanca " class escort carrier of the United States Navy . She was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract ( MC hull 1102 ) on 6 February 1943 at Vancouver , Washington , by the Kaiser Shipyards ; launched on 15 September 1943 , sponsored by Mrs . Frederick Carl Sherman , the wife of Rear Admiral Frederick Sherman ; and commissioned on 7 November 1943 , with Captain Hames R . Tague in command . Service history . World War II . Atlantic . Following commissioning , " Wake Island " received supplies , ammunition , and gasoline at Astoria , Oregon , and got underway on 27 November 1943 for Puget Sound and anchored the following day at Bremerton , Washington , where she continued to load supplies and ammunition . The carrier operated in the Puget Sound area conducting structural firing tests and making stops at Port Townsend , Sinclair Inlet , and Seattle before sailing south on 6 December . She arrived at San Francisco , California on 10 December , took on fuel , and , two days later , headed for San Diego , arriving there on 14 December for shakedown and availability . Before departing , the carrier took on board the personnel and planes of Composite Squadron 69 ( VC - 69 ) . On 11 January 1944 , " Wake Island " got underway and steamed , via the Panama Canal , to Hampton Roads , Virginia , arriving at Norfolk , Virginia on 26 January . Following availability , the carrier sailed on 14 February for New York in company with , , and . On 16 February , after loading supplies and embarking Army and Navy officers for transportation , " Wake Island " set course for Recife , Brazil , the first stop on her voyage to Karachi , India . She arrived at Recife on 1 March and made stops at Cape Town , South Africa , and Diego Suarez Harbor , Madagascar , before arriving at Karachi on 29 March . The carrier began her return trip on 3 April and arrived back at Norfolk on 12 May . She spent the remainder of May and part of June undergoing alterations and an overhaul . She then took on board the planes and personnel of VC - 58 and , on 15 June , set course toward Bermuda for duty as the nucleus of Task Group 22 . 6 ( TG 22 . 6 ) , a combined , air - and - surface , anti - submarine , hunter - killer group . The highlight of her cruise came on 2 July , when one of her TBM Avenger s intercepted " U - 543 " off the coast of Africa between the Canary and Cape Verde Islands , making its way home after an unsuccessful patrol in the Gulf of Guinea . The pilot , Ensign Frederick L . Moore , braved heavy anti - aircraft fire from " U - 543 " , while making two bombing attacks which sank the U - boat . However , no evidence appeared to confirm the kill , so the carrier and her escorts spent the next two weeks hunting the already - destroyed submarine . TG 22 . 6 began her next serious encounter with the enemy two minutes before noon on 2 August , when sighted a U - boat ' s conning tower some eight miles ( 13 km ) away . She and were detached to investigate , while all planes in the area were recalled . An Avenger , armed with depth bombs , was catapulted at 1209 . At 1235 , a torpedo , apparently fired by a second submarine , hit " Fiske " midships and broke her in two . The ships of the group managed to maneuver clear of two more torpedoes which were fired at the force . The first report of casualties listed 4 dead , 26 missing , and 55 seriously injured . was detached to support " Howard " and later to pick up survivors . As the group was preparing to avenge the loss of " Fiske " , heavy fog and rain stopped all operations . On 4 August , TG 22 . 6 was dissolved , and four days later , " Wake Island " made rendezvous with Convoy UC - 32 as it steamed westward . She left the convoy on the 11th and headed for Hampton Roads . She arrived at Norfolk on the 15th for alterations and repairs which lasted through the 25th . Following post - repair trials and a brief availability , the escort carrier sailed on 29 August for Quonset Point , Rhode Island , to relieve on carrier aircraft qualification operation duty which lasted until 30 October . The next day , the carrier sailed for Norfolk with and as escorts , and arrived on 1 November for a period of availability . Pacific . Philippines . On the 11th , she stood out of Norfolk in company with and escorts bound via the Panama Canal for the west coast . The carrier entered San Francisco Bay on 28 November , and moored at the Naval Air Station Alameda , California , where she embarked two new aircraft squadrons before heading for Hawaii the following day . She moored at Ford Island , Pearl Harbor on 5 December , detached squadrons VC - 9 and VPB - 149 , and disembarked personnel , planes , and equipment . Ten days later , " Wake Island " , her flight deck laden with cargo and unable to launch or receive planes , got underway for the Admiralty Islands with escorts and . She arrived at Manus Island on 27 December , discharged all cargo and passengers , sailed for the Palau Islands , and arrived at Kossol Roads on New Year ' s Day 1945 . Late that evening , she loaded ammunition from a barge and got underway at 0642 , bound for the Philippines and the forthcoming invasion of Luzon , in company with a tremendous fleet which had gathered for the operation . Two days later , " Wake Island " passed through Surigao Strait and launched both SNAP ( anti - snooper air patrol ) and LCAP ( local combat air patrol ) aircraft . On 4 January 1945 , she was operating in the Sulu Sea and launched a three - hour SNAP . The American planes sighted a single - engine Japanese float plane on the water off the southeastern tip of Panay Island . It appeared to be in the hands of a salvage crew . Two of the scout planes made two strafing runs each and left the plane riddled and the salvage crew dispersed . The Fleet entered Panay Gulf about 100 miles ( 160 km ) northwest of Manila . " Wake Island ' s " surface search radar was jammed by enemy transmission , and the escort carrier went to general quarters at 1714 . One minute later , a Japanese single - engine plane appeared overhead in a steep diving attack on , some away . Fire immediately flared from that carrier ' s flight and hangar deck s , and after 20 minutes , her crew abandoned " Ommaney Bay " under a dense cloud of black smoke . She burned with explosions of ammunition and was finally scuttled astern of the fleet by a torpedo from an American destroyer . On 5 January , " Wake Island " received 19 survivors of " Ommaney Bay " who had been rescued by . The ship went to general quarters with bogies on the radar screen , but three threatened raids failed to develop . At 1502 , eight LCAP fighters from " Wake Island " pounced upon a division of Japanese Army fighters . When the melee was over , the Americans claimed three certain kills and a probable without suffering any loss themselves . In all , " Wake Island " launched three LCAP ' s during daylight . At 1655 , the ship again went to general quarters to repel an air attack and for the next hour was under severe attack . At one time , six single - engine planes were simultaneously diving on carriers off " Wake Island " s port side . Five were knocked down by anti - aircraft fire , narrowly missing their targets , but one managed a hit on . She caught fire and dropped behind , but her efficient damage control efforts enabled her to resume her position in the formation in only 51 minutes , with her flight deck out of commission . During the attack , at least 10 enemy planes splashed within of " Wake Island " , and her own anti - aircraft gunners claimed three . On 13 January , two enemy planes attacked , cruising about eight miles ( 13 km ) astern of " Wake Island " . One of the attackers was shot down , but the other scored a hit which briefly slowed that carrier . She soon regained speed and controlled a fire on her hangar deck without losing her position in the formation . Four days later , " Wake Island " was detached and left Lingayen Gulf in TG 77 . 14 , a force consisting of eight escort carriers and their screen to retire to Ulithi , Caroline Islands . She anchored at Ulithi ' s southern anchorage from 23 – 31 January , undergoing availability and preparing for further operations . During this period , her home port was changed from Norfolk to Puget Sound , Bremerton , Washington . Iwo Jima . On 10 February 1945 , the carrier got underway to join TG 52 . 2 , which had been established to provide air cover and support while escorting major units to the Volcano Islands and then to furnish naval gunfire , spotting , and direct air support for landing forces . The following day , she steamed to an area off Saipan - Tinian where rehearsals for the invasion took place . On 13 February , " Wake Island " s commanding officer was designated OTC of Task Unit 52 . 2 . 1 ( TU 52 . 2 . 1 ) . On 14 February , the carrier set course for Iwo Jima and , two days later , arrived at her operating area 49 miles ( 79 km ) from the southwestern tip of Iwo Jima . Shortly after daylight , the heavy bombardment group began shelling shore installations on the island . Planes from " Wake Island " flew spotting sortie s , attacked defensive works with rocket fire , and flew local antisubmarine patrols and hydrographic observation flights over the beaches . D - day for the invasion of Iwo Jima was 19 February ; and on that day , " Wake Island " operated as before , flying 56 spotting sorties and firing 87 rockets . , a carrier in her group , was sunk by a " kamikaze " attack on 21 February . The next day , " Wake Island " was detached and ordered to proceed to a rendezvous point east of Iwo Jima . There , she refueled on 23 February and set course to return to the operating area east of Iwo Jima . The following day , she took station some 35 miles ( 56 km ) from the southern tip of Iwo Jima and flew 55 spotting sorties , expending 205 rockets . In the ensuing weeks , " Wake Island " continued her operations supporting the Marines . On 5 March , she received a message of special interest from Commander , TU 52 . 2 . 1 , Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague : " If your ship is as good as your Air Department and Squadron , it is a standout . I have seen nearly all the combat CVEs ' work and I must say the Wake tops them all for efficiency , smoothness and good judgement . I hope we are together again . " After 24 consecutive days of operations , " Wake Island " retired on 8 March from her station off Iwo Jima and rendezvoused with west of the island . The next day , they headed for Ulithi and arrived there on 14 March . Okinawa . The carrier spent the next five days at anchor , preparing for another operation . She got underway on 21 March to supply air support for forces about to invade Okinawa . On 25 March , she arrived in the operating area roughly 60 miles ( 100 km ) south of Okinawa Jima and began sending flights over Kerama Retto beaches and Okinawa . " Wake Island " continued her support of the campaign through the initial landings at Okinawa on 1 April . On the 3rd , the carrier was operating southeast of Okinawa . At 1722 , she completed the landing of her fifth spotting sortie , and all her planes were back on board . Eight minutes later , she went to general quarters , and enemy bogies were reported . At 1742 , a violent wave hit the ship while planes were being moved for spotting on the flight deck . Two FM - 2 Wildcat s were thrown off the flight deck into the water . Two fighters were flipped over on their backs , and two others received severe damage when tossed about . At the same instant , two Wildcats broke loose from their lashings on the hangar deck and collided , with major damage to both . At 1744 , a Japanese single - engine aircraft plunged at the ship from a high angle and missed the port forward corner of the flight deck , exploding in the water abreast the forecastle . Thirty seconds later , a second similar aircraft whistled down on the starboard side at tremendous speed , narrowly missing the bridge structure and plunging into the water about 10 feet ( 3 m ) from the hull . The aircraft exploded after impact , ripping a hole in the ship ' s side below the waterline , about 45 feet ( 14 m ) long and about 18 feet ( 5 . 5 m ) from top to bottom , and making many shrapnel holes . Parts of the aircraft were thrown onto the forecastle and into the gun sponsons . Various compartments were flooded , and the shell plating cracked between the first and second decks . Other shell plating buckled , and the main condensers were flooded with salt water , contaminating some 30 , 000 US gallons ( 110 m³ ) of fresh water and 70 , 000 US gallons ( 260 m³ ) of fuel oil . At 1824 , salting made it necessary to secure the forward engine , and the ship proceeded on one propeller . Remarkably , there were no injuries ; and , by 2140 , corrective measures had been taken , and the ship was again steaming on both engines . The next day , " Wake Island " steamed to Kerama Retto anchorage with and . While she remained there undergoing inspection by the fleet salvage officer , special precautions were taken to guard against possible Japanese suicide swimmers from islands of the cluster not yet secured . The carrier set course for Guam on 6 April 1945 , and , four days later arrived at Apra Harbor for repairs in drydock which lasted through 20 May . The next day , the ship , in company with , headed for Okinawa where she resumed her mission of supporting the troops on the island . " Wake Island " was then detached on 2 June , and escorted by , proceeded to Kerama Rettofor replenishment . At Kaika Harbor , Kerama Retto , she loaded bomb s , rocket s , and dry and fresh provisions , despite many enemy aircraft in the vicinity . The carrier made rendezvous with for refueling , and once her tanks were full , returned to the operating area off Okinawa on 6 June 1945 . The following day , " Wake Island " , as part of the task unit , engaged in strikes on Sakashima Gunto . was hit by a " kamikaze " , and was attacked by a second . " Wake Island " continued on support operations until 15 June when Rear Admiral Durgin landed on the carrier for an official visit . In a ceremony held on the flight deck , he presented citations and awards to 16 pilots of VOC - 1 . The following day , " Wake Island " and " Dennis " were detached , proceeded independently for Kerama Retto , and arrived there on 17 June . She was replenished and then returned to the area southwest of Okinawa to resume flight operations . Two days later , " Wake Island " received a message detaching her from TG 32 . 1 due to battle damage received on 3 April and a subsequent finding by the Bureau of Ships that " pending yardwork , this vessel is considered unsafe for operations in a forward area . " She headed for Guam and conducted firing practices and launched LASP sorties en route . Upon her arrival at Port Apra on 24 June , all personnel of squadron VOC - 1 were transferred to Naval Air Base Agana . From 25 June - 3 July , " Wake Island " , loaded with nine F6F Hellcat s , 24 F4U Corsair s , 11 Avengers , and two Piper J - 3 Cub s , made a round - trip to Okinawa and delivered aircraft with 46 ferry pilots to Tactical Air Force , Yontan Field , Okinawa . Arriving back at Guam , the carrier unloaded ammunition and aviation spares and took on board 300 sacks of United States mail along with 10 Corsair and 20 SB2C Helldiver duds for transportation , then sailed for Pearl Harbor in company with and . On 10 July , she detached " Bull " and " Cape Esperance " and proceeded independently to Hawaii . A week later , the ship arrived at Ford Island , Pearl Harbor , where she unloaded her cargo and took on board 138 enlisted men and 49 officers as passengers to the continental United States . On 18 July , " Wake Island " cleared the channel at Pearl Harbor , bound for southern California . She arrived at San Diego , California on 25 July , and discharged her passengers and planes . Post - War . While moored at North Island , San Diego , the carrier took on board six Avengers , 10 Wildcats , 53 officers , and 13 men of VC - 75 for training and carrier aircraft landing qualifications off San Nicholas Island . She continued to conduct flight qualifications through December 1945 . This period was distinguished on 5 November when the first jet - propelled landing on an aircraft carrier was made on " Wake Island " . Personnel of VF - 41 and representatives of Ryan Aeronautical came on board during the morning , and the escort carrier got underway from the Naval Air Station , San Diego , in company with . For two days , she conducted tests and landing qualifications for the FR Fireball . In 1946 , " Wake Island " prepared for inactivation . She was decommissioned on 5 April ; struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the 17th ; and subsequently sold for scrap to the Boston Metals Company , Baltimore , Maryland , on 19 April 1946 . Awards . " Wake Island " earned three battle star s during World War II .