USS Kadashan Bay ( CVE - 76 ) USS " Kadashan Bay " ( CVE - 76 ) was an " Casablanca " class escort carrier of the United States Navy . She is named for Kadashan Bay Alaska . " Kadashan Bay " was launched 11 December 1943 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company in Vancouver , Washington , under a Maritime Commission contract ; sponsored by Miss Audrey Ackerman and commissioned 18 January 1944 , Captain R . N . Hunter in command . After shakedown " Kadashan Bay " departed San Diego 6 March 1944 on the first of two cruises to Espiritu Santo . She transported a total of 154 aircraft on these assignments before returning San Diego 13 May . Following repairs and training , the escort carrier sailed 10 July to join a carrier division at Pearl Harbor . One month later she sailed for Tulagi and final preparations for the September assault on the Palaus . " Kadashan Bay " departed Tulagi 6 September and six days later her air group launched a pre - invasion air attack against enemy positions on Peleliu . Ground forces landed 15 September to gain control of the island as an air base to support the Philippine operation . After preparations were concluded at Manus , the escort carrier steamed toward the Leyte Gulf 14 October . Arriving there 21 October she immediately commenced raids and strikes in support of troops ashore . Four days later one of her patrol planes , piloted by Ensign Hans L . Jensen , sighted the Central Force of the Japanese fleet off Samar . After reporting his sighting he launched an unsupported attack against the leading cruiser , beginning the famous battle off Samar . The carrier ' s air group launched three fighter and three torpedo strikes against Kurita ' s force . The flyers ' courage and gallantry contributed greatly to the sound defeat from which the Japanese never recovered . Upon completion of this mission , " Kadashan Bay " steamed toward Manus , arriving 3 November . As the action in the Philippines continued , " Kadashan Bay ' s " air group accounted for 11 planes in encounters with the enemy during mid - December . Preparations were now underway for the Luzon landings and the escort carrier rendezvoused with the main force 3 January 1945 . She arrived off Luzon five days later and commenced an early morning air attack . That same morning a kamikaze aimed his death dive at " Kadashan Bay " . Despite repeated hits the enemy plane plunged into the ship amidships directly below the bridge . After an hour and a half of feverish damage control effort , fires and flooding were checked , and the escort carrier returned to Leyte on 12 January for temporary repairs before returning San Francisco 13 February for complete overhaul . " Kadashan Bay " sailed for Pearl Harbor 8 April , arriving 14 April . She then commenced ferrying aircraft and passengers among the Pacific islands . During July the escort carrier was assigned as a replenishment carrier for the Third Fleet and was on her way from Pearl Harbor to begin her new duty when news of Japan ' s collapse came . " Kadashan Bay " joined the " Magic - Carpet " fleet at Guam in September and arrived San Francisco 26 September with her first group of veterans . For the next three months the escort carrier made runs from Pearl Harbor , Guam , Okinawa , and China to return battle - weary Americans home . She arrived San Pedro 22 December from her last Pacific cruise , and departed San Diego 10 January 1946 for Boston . " Kadashan Bay " arrived Boston 29 January , decommissioned 14 June 1946 , and was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet there . She was reclassified CVU - 76 on 12 June 1956 and scrapped 13 August 1959 . " Kadashan Bay " received two battle star s for World War II service .