USS Fanshaw Bay ( CVE - 70 ) USS " Fanshaw Bay " ( CVE - 70 ) was a Casablanca - class United States Navy escort aircraft carrier , launched 1 November 1943 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company , Vancouver , Washington , sponsored by Mrs . J . L . Kenworthy , Jr . ; and commissioned 9 December 1943 , Captain Douglass P . Johnson in command . She was reclassified CVHE - 70 on 12 June 1955 . Service history . " Fanshaw Bay " sailed from San Diego 6 April 1944 with Rear Admiral Gerald F . Bogan , Commander Carrier Division 25 , embarked , and reached Majuro 20 April . After 10 days of antisubmarine patrols and air searches out of Majuro , she returned to Pearl Harbor for replenishment and training . She sailed 29 May for Eniwetok and final preparations for the assault on Saipan , for which she sailed 11 June . Operating about 30 miles east of Saipan , " Fanshaw Bay " launched antisubmarine patrols , combat air patrol , and photographic reconnaissance flights as well as raids on Japanese positions to pave the way for the invasion on 15 June . During an attack by five enemy aircraft on that day , " Fanshaw Bay " saved herself from a torpedo by prompt maneuvering , but two days later in a melee of raids from all sides which included about 70 Japanese planes , " Fanshaw Bay " was struck by a bomb , after her antiaircraft guns and fighter planes had splashed many of the attackers . The bomb penetrated the after elevator and exploded in midair above the hangar deck , killing 14 and wounding 23 . Fires broke out , and the fire main was ruptured , flooding several compartments aft . In just under an hour the damage was brought under control , but " Fanshaw Bay " listed 3° to port and settled 6 feet by the stern . She transferred Rear Admiral Bogan to a destroyer , and sailed for Pearl Harbor for battle damage repairs . " Fanshaw Bay " arrived at Manus on 28 August 1944 for training in preparation for the invasion of Morotai , for which she sailed 10 September , with Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague , the new division commander , embarked . Her planes flew combat air patrol and support missions , and on 16 September provided air cover for one of the pilots , down just a few hundred feet off the enemy - held shore of Wasile Bay . Diving low , they provided protection until two daring motor torpedo boats dashed in to snatch him out from under enemy shore guns . The escort carrier replenished at Manus from 7 October to 12 October , then put out for the invasion of Leyte on 20 October . Battle off Samar . Through the first four days of the invasion , " Fanshaw Bay " operated off Samar , launching combat air patrol , antisubmarine patrols , observation flights and drops of psychological warfare material , as well as raids and strikes in direct support of the troops ashore . Warned on 24 October that Japanese surface ships were on the move , she flew off early the next morning all her aircraft to attack the enemy while the escort carriers retired from the threat of the Japanese surface ships , far faster , and with far greater firepower . Just 6 minutes after her planes were ordered away , she came under fire from the Japanese cruisers , and although a heavy rain squall shielded the escort carriers briefly , she soon began receiving hits . By 0855 , when she took the third hit , she was under fire from two cruisers and two destroyers , later joined by a third destroyer whose torpedo attack she avoided . All through this battle , the American destroyers fought gallantly to protect their vulnerable charges , and at 0924 , the Japanese battle line at last broke formation to avoid an air attack . Later , " kamikaze " planes attacked and sunk . " Fanshaw Bay " fired effectively in this attack , splashing among others a plane just about to crash into . With her screen detached to rescue " St . Lo " ' s survivors , " Fanshaw Bay " shaped her course for Manus , unprotected , and throughout the day landed planes from her sunk or damaged sisters . In this Battle off Samar phase of the Battle for Leyte Gulf , " Fanshaw Bay " lost four men killed , and four wounded , but won enduring esteem and a Presidential Unit Citation for the distinguished role she played in this and other actions . " Fanshaw Bay " replenished at Manus from 1 November 1944 to 7 November , then returned by way of Pearl Harbor to San Diego for battle damage repairs . After refresher training and patrol duty in Hawaiian waters , " Fanshaw Bay " arrived at Ulithi 14 March 1945 to re - embark Admiral Sprague , now Commander Carrier Division 26 . She sortied for the invasion of Okinawa 21 March , and four days later her planes began pre - invasion attacks on the island . " Fanshaw Bay " flew cover for the landings 1 April , and continued daily operations in support of the advance of troops on the island until 28 May when she arrived at San Pedro Bay to replenish . Between 9 June and 27 June , she sailed off the Sakishima Gunto , between Okinawa and Taiwan , to launch air strikes , then provided air cover for minesweeping in the East China Sea through July . After calling at Guam and Eniwetok to load aircraft and replenish , " Fanshaw Bay " sailed to Adak , and from there took part in the occupation of northern Japan until returning to Pearl Harbor 24 September 1945 ; here she landed Rear Admiral E . W . Litch , who had relieved Admiral Sprague during the Okinawa operation . She arrived on the west coast with Marine Corps passengers 3 November , and after a voyage to Tokyo Bay to return men of all military services to San Diego , was placed out of commission in reserve at Tacoma , Washington , 14 August 1946 . She was sold 26 September 1959 . Awards . In addition to the Presidential Unit Citation , " Fanshaw Bay " received five battle star s for World War II service .