ARSENAULT, Tilmon J. HullNumber.com's mission is to provide a means for shipmates to keep in touch with one another. Prepared by CAPT R. O. This trip was to be a non-stop return to Okinawa, to pick up 1,500 troops on an overnight stop, and then return to Seattle. Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 868. CARKOSKI . In 1942, she was converted to a Sangamon-class escort carrier. Frederick W. McMahon 21 January 1943, Capt. 1 208 This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. accident apparently was caused by the explosion of a 100# bomb in the bomb bay." His bomb compounded the fracture when it exploded between the flight and hangar decks, tearing a 25-foot gash in the ship causing a number of casualties. 1 172. Aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27), Lieutenant Edward P. Looney, a Catholic Chaplain, This drew Vice Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf's Bombardment Group south to meet that threat in the Battle of Surigao Strait. They hit the enemy, but he rolled over, dove at Suwannee and crashed into her at 08:04 about 40ft (12m) forward of the after elevator, opening a 10ft (3.0m) hole in her flight deck. The resulting blaze burned for several hours, but was finally brought under control by the concerted efforts of her crew and air group. U.S. On 20 August, she was redesignated an "Auxiliary Carrier", ACV-27, and was recommissioned as such on 24 September 1942, Captain Joseph J. Clark in command. Against that backdrop of the United States being at war in both oceans, the oiler sailed from Hampton Roads on 13 December and set course for New Orleans, and there loaded a cargo of oil. One salvo from Japanese cruiser Nagara had put both firerooms out and toppled the afterstack. She was reclassified as an "Escort Carrier", CVE-27, on 15 July 1943. Electronics on mast have been censored. Help| Looking for US Navy memorabilia? For the next one and a half months, she supported the invasion of the Marianas, participating in the campaigns against Saipan and Guam. She departed Hawaii, on 22 January 1944, and headed for the Marshalls. choose to come to an honorable understanding with us will find that we treat them as human beings, Renamed Suwannee (AO-33), the ship was commissioned "in ordinary", an inactive status, on 9 July 1941, then placed in commission, on 16 July 1941. the National Archives and Records Administration United States National Archives, Photo #80-G-30228. Upon detecting the Japanese force Sterett and her colleagues increased speed changed course and threaded their way into the enemy formation. On 3 August, she got underway for Okinawa, arriving in Buckner Bay three days later. listens to confessions of a crew member. Her fires made an easier target and shells came in from both port and starboard. off Samar, Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944). She returned to Manus on 5 May. 1943. She arrived back at Hampton Roads on 24 November and stayed until 5 December when she got underway for the South Pacific. The vessel decommissioned shortly thereafter in Newport News to be converted to an escort carrier. by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft. (Quoted from the Naval Hospital, Balboa, and an MM2c to the gunboat Erie, on 6 October (in addition to Capt. The carrier reentered San Pedro Bay, Leyte, on 6 July and spent the next month there. Joseph J. Clark 24 September 1942, Capt. For ship's logs and personnel records, see the Reference Page. The project was subsequently canceled and in May 1961, her hulk was resold to the J.C. Berkwit Company, also of New York City. (NARA), # 80-G-349434. Then it was back to Operation Magic Carpet, on 4 December. A week later, she put into Espiritu Santo, for four days. This leaflet was aboard the carrier the moment she was hit by the Mitsubishi Zero (Mitsubishi USS Suwanee or Suwannee may refer to one of these United States Navy ships: . On 13 November, she departed to participate in the Gilbert Islands operation. USS Suwanee (1864), a double-ended side-wheel gunboat commissioned in February 1865, sent in pursuit of Confederate States Navy commerce raiders until the end of the American Civil War, and wrecked in 1868 USS Suwanee (1897), the United States Lighthouse Service lighthouse tender USLHT Mayflower, which served the U.S . Search for Crew Members Please fill at least one field. USS Suwannee (CVE-27) (originally an oiler AO-33, converted to an escort carrier AVG/ACV/CVE-27) was laid down on 3 June 1938 at Kearny, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, under a Maritime Commission contract as Markay (MC hull 5); launched on 4 March 1939, sponsored by Mrs. Howard L. Vickery; delivered to the Keystone Tankship Corporation and operated by that company . (AO-33) available at NavSource. Suwannee (and her embarked air units for the pertinent periods: VGS-27, VGF-27, VGS-30, VGF-28, CVEG-60 and CVEG-40) received the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars for her World War II service: North Africa occupation, Algeria-Morocco Landings (811 November 1942), Anti-submarine action (planes S-10, S-11, and S-12 of VGS-27) (11 November 1942); Battle of Rennell Island (2930 January 1943); Gilbert Islands operation (20 November8 December 1943); Marshall Islands occupation: Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (31 January8 February 1944) and Eniwetok (1724 February 1944); Pacific Raids: Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai (30 March1 April 1944); Hollandia operation (Aitape, Humboldt Bay, and Tanahmerah Bay) 22 April5 May 1944); capture and occupation of Saipan (23 June11 July 1944); occupation and capture of Tinian (12 July1 August 1944); Morotai Landings (15 September 1944); Leyte landings (10 October29 November 1944); Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (25 March4 June 1945); and Balikpapan operation (26 June6 July 1945). In 1942, she was converted to a Sangamon -class escort carrier and retained her name. 346477 entries available online. Prepared by CAPT R.O. the National Archives and Records Administration Many photos show crew members on duty and on shore leave, portraying both the routine and the exciting experiences the Sailors have had. U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives by Robert C. Stern. On 12 October, the escort carrier got underway from Manus, in Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague's Escort Carrier Group to provide air support for the landings at Leyte Gulf. History and Heritage Command, # NH 106578. Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster, This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Pea, National Archives & Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, National The first USS THE SULLIVANS was launched in San Francisco, California on April 4, 1943. National Archives & Records Administration photo, # 19-N-2429?. A Sea2c, however, who embarked on the 26th with orders to report to the light cruiser Savannah (CL-43), deserted before the oiler cleared San Pedro for the Canal Zone on the 28th. On 13 November, she departed to participate in the Gilbert Islands operation. Their only escape was to leap aflame into the sea, but some were trapped so that they were incinerated before they could leap. The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Suwannee (CVE 27). . U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of She fired on a cruiser to starboard and, in turn, took a terrific pounding from battleship Hiei on her port side. During that operation, Suwannee joined the Northern Attack Force, and her planes bombed and strafed Roi and Namur Islands, in the northern part of Kwajalein Atoll, and conducted antisubmarine patrols for the task force. The auxiliary carrier transited the Panama Canal, on 1112 December, and arrived at New Caledonia, on 4 January 1943. Then a torpedo in her fantail put Laffey out of action. on flight deck during flight operations. Three Japanese destroyers conduct a coordinated torpedo attack of US Forces. USS Suwannee (CVE 27) Crew List The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Suwannee (CVE 27). Additional Information Page. Artwork details about crossing Chief Engineman. Since the first meeting in 1988, our reunion opportunity to get together . After deployment in Korea, where she earned two battle stars, the Cuban blockade, and the rescue efforts for the sub Thresher, she was decommissioned on January 7, 1965. Her problems, however, soon came from another quarter. She fought in the Marshalls, Carolinas, Marianas and Philippines and earned nine battle stars. For the week that followed, the group operated off the coast of Kyushu, southwest of Nagasaki, Japan, while aircraft from the carriers patrolled the island and coast and assisted in locating mines in the clearance operations paving the way for entry into the harbor at Nagasaki. On 2 October, Suwannee Captain Charles C. McDonald and Rear Admiral William Sample, who headed COMCARDIV 22 on board Suwannee, took off in a Martin PBM Mariner to maintain their flight qualifications and never returned. Seconds later she rolled on her side. With Admiral Oldendorf's old battleships fighting in Surigao Strait and Halsey's 3rd Fleet scurrying north, Suwannee, with the other 15 escort carriers and 22 destroyers and destroyer escorts, formed the only Allied naval force operating off Leyte Gulf when Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's 1st Striking Force sneaked through the unguarded San Bernardino Strait into the Philippine Sea. the Distinguished Flying Cross with two stars and Air Medal with seven stars. Photo and text from Fire From The Sky, Dimensions (wl):525' x 75' x 30' 7.5" (full load) / 160 x 22.9 x 9.3 meters Dimensions (max. Soon after, however, the battle was rejoined. At 2336, she was ordered abandoned. Those who The Japanese force had been dispersed and within minutes of the battleship-cruiser encounter, enemy destroyers, edging along the southern shore of Savo, entered the fray. (NARA), photo # 80-G-270618. SUWANNEE (CVHE-27) Crew Roster. Reciprocating engines, single screw, 2,800 hp. http://navylog.navymemorial.org/Portals/0/images/ships-tribute/NSB94211135.jpg Laffey DD 459 11 13 1942 1942-11-13 00:00:00.000 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal The naval battle of Guadalcanal was just about to begin when the enemy force, a group of two battleships, one cruiser and 14 destroyers appeared on the horizon. (CVE-27) HELL. Naval Shipyard. To top of page | To bottom of page Reunions There are currently no planned reunions. She returned to the U.S. at San Diego in October and, by 5 November 1943 was back at Espritu Santo, with a new air group, CVEG-60 embarked. William H. Abrams, USMCR, Ret., the district legal officer at the Marine Barracks, Balboa) and an OS3c to the Submarine Base, Coco Solo, C.Z., on the 8th; then continued on for Galveston, Texas. A deadly crossfire immediately engulfed Sterett. Left to right: Lieutenant Commander James C. Longino, Jr., USNR; Lieutenant Junior Grade Levi Home Join Now About Hullnumber Before You Register Tell A Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact Us. On 24 February, she headed east again and arrived at Pearl Harbor, on 2 March for a two-week stay. Most of the remaining wounded in the forecastle area were severely burned beyond recognition and hope. Many of the crew on the forecastle and the catwalks above it had been blown over the side by the explosions. On 28 October, the carrier was placed in a reserve status with the 16th Fleet, at Boston, and just over two months later, on 8 January 1947, she was placed out of commission. This force, Kurita's, immediately began a surface engagement with Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague's "Taffy 3", the northernmost group of escort carriers. To top of page | To bottom of page Suwanee's group fought off two more air attacks before 13:00; then steamed in a northeasterly direction to join Taffy 3 and launch futile searches for Kurita's rapidly retiring force. (1) As a returning American torpedo bomber (lower plane) approaches deck for landing, a Japanese Lt. Walter B. Burwell, MC, USNR, a medical officer on USS Suwannee when it was struck by two Japanese suicide (Kamikaze) aircraft [NHC: oral history] For additional photos, see the Main Page. The ship had taken 45 hits. US Navy Crew List - Reunite with old Navy Buddies - 346432 entries available online. Nonetheless, the decks and bulkheads were still blistering hot and ammunition in the small arms locker on the deck below was popping from the heat like strings of firecrackers. The auxiliary carrier transited the Panama Canal (1112 December) and ultimately reached New Caledonia on 4 January 1943, anchoring in Great Roads. This list is in development, so if you don't see the unit or vessel you're looking for, click on any unit name below and type in the correct unit/vessel name in the form page. Then on to Guam, arriving at 17:00, on 29 October, to load approximately 35 planes, for a total complement of around 70 planes, then on to Pearl Harbor. ):553' x 114' 3" / 168.6 x 34.8 meters Armor:None Power plant:4 boilers (450 psi); 2 steam turbines; 2 shafts; 13,500 shp (design) Speed:18+ knots Endurance:23,920 nm @ 15 knots (with 4,780 tons of oil fuel) The second USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68)was laid down on 14 June 1993 at BathMaine, by Bath Iron Works Company. Strange USN (Ret.) 2010 - USS Suwannee CVE-27 U.S.S. For the major portion of the next 77 days, her planes continued to deny the enemy the use of those air bases. At 0148, San Francisco opened fire on an enemy cruiser 3,700 yards off her starboard beam. Suwannee earned 13 battle stars during World War II. Farther out heavier Japanese ships were preparing to join in. Operational and Building Data Authorized and Ordered 1933 Keel laid on 12 MAR 1935 by the New York Navy Yard Launched 30 NOV 1936 . Reclassified as an "Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated CVHE-27, 12 June 1955, National Archives and Records Administration The ship continued to blaze until early afternoon, when the waters of Ironbottom Sound closed over her. Departing that port on 19 December, Suwannee touched at San Juan, Puerto Rico, then returned to Norfolk. For the next seven months, she provided air escort for transports and supply ships replenishing and bolstering the Marines on Guadalcanal, as well as for the forces occupying other islands in the Solomons group. Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-39317. On 24 and 25 October 1944, the Japanese launched a major surface offensive from three directions to contest the landings at Leyte Gulf. Photograph released 4 August 1945. Joseph R. Lannom in command. They once again anchored in Wakayama, on 13 October, for about two days and then headed north to Tokyo, arriving on the evening of 18 October. Earl E. Hartman, USNR. While moored between two buoys with two .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}1+14 inches (32mm) steel cables and an 8 inches (20cm) hawser both bow and stern, she lost all contact with the stern buoy and moved dangerously close to shore. Thomas, of the crew. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Our hope is that through this web site we can help the nation to know the sacrifices these men made to guarantee the freedoms we have today. Prepared by CAPT R.O. Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. http://navylog.navymemorial.org/Portals/0/images/ships-tribute/NBD94211132.jpg Portland CA 33 11 13 1942 1942-11-13 00:00:00.000 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal On November 13, Portland was part of a surface combat unit that fought a greatly superior Japanese force close to Guadalcanal. Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-K-15634. Photographed by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft. Markay was laid down on 3 June 1938, at Kearney, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., under a Maritime Commission contract (MC Hull 5); launched on 4 March 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Marguerite Vickery (ne Blanchard), wife of Howard L. Vickery; delivered to the Keystone Tankship Corporation, and operated by that company until acquired by the Navy, on 26 June 1941. 7 Dec 1941 - 31 Dec 1946 was 4,183,466 (390,037 officers and 3,793,429 enlisted) 3. We shall hold it as a duty to see that are given clothing, food, shelter, and medical The resulting fire burned for several hours, but was finally brought under control. On 11 November, off Fedala Roads, her antisubmarine patrol claimed the destruction of a submarine, a kill not verified in post-war accounting. A LONG AND HAPPY NAVY TALE OF WARRANT OFFICERS. Pilots waiting for summons, (left the National Archives and Records Administration Medical officer Lieutenant Walter B. Burwell wrote: One of our corpsmen tending the wounded on the flight deck saw the plight of those isolated by fire on the forecastle. Other 14 officers and men were also injured. Stanley E. Ruehlow 1 September 1946, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. USS SUWANNEE (CVE-27) Crew Roster UNDERWAY! Photo and text from Fire From The Sky, Jocko Clark in command. Though the battleship neither sank nor sustained severe damage, Sterett had the satisfaction of scoring two torpedo hits before a third target crossed her bow. The plane bears traces of the yellow Operation Torch and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349414. Control was then established in the conning tower which soon received a hit from the starboard side. Albert A. Lee, USNR. Crew members of Suwannee were given shore leave during their stay and observed the devastation of ground zero first hand. USS Suwannee CVE 27 WWII USS Takanis Bay CVE 89 WWII USS Tarawa CV 40 1946 USS Tarawa CV 40 1948-49 USS Tarawa CV 40 1951-52 USS Tarawa CVA 40 1953 . Suwannees planes did not actually become engaged in the famous battle of naval aircraft, because they remained with the invasion forces in the Marianas providing antisubmarine and combat air patrols. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National USS Brooklyn (CL 40) and USS Suwannee (ACV 27) underway, with the amphibious convoy, en route to North Africa, early November 1942.