Within two hours, her flight deck was sufficiently repaired to enable the escort carrier to resume air operations. ALL HANDS Article Title. The concentrated American destroyers were now central targets. The resulting fire burned for several hours, but was finally brought under control. Decommissioned as indicated above. Survivors whoo had previously abandoned ship reboarded the hulk and rescued eight men still aboard and alive, five of whom lived after reaching land. Year Rank/Rate Last Name First Name Hometown Home State Remembered by; 1941: BM: Light: George . Suwannee has too long gone untold. 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. While Adm. Ozawa Jisaburos Mobile Force sailed south from Japan and drew the bulk of Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr.s Third Fleet off to the north, Adm. Shima Kiyohides Second Striking Force, along with Adm. Nishimura Shojis Force, attempted to force Surigao Strait from the south. Please click on one of the unit names below to request research assistance in locating U.S. William D. Reddell . Search for a command's Crew List| On the 24th, she headed east again and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 2 March for a two-week stay. In the two attacks Suwannee suffered the loss of 13 officers and 80 enlisted men, and the wounding of 13 officers (including Capt. HyperWar: US Navy Oilers & Tankers, 1940-45 - ibiblio After eight days in the water survivors were spotted and rescue effected. In 1977 the vessel was acquired by the City of Buffalo as a memorial and is on display at the Buffalo and ErieCounty Naval & Servicemen's park. She floated for another 10 minutes, bow in the air; then sank, taking 116 of her crew with her. Artwork details the dangers Johnson) and 89 enlisted. Thomas, of the crew. exploded on flight deck immediately after coming to a stop following normal landing on board. Sterett turned now to the Japanese battleship tormenting her port side, let fly four torpedoes, and peppered her superstructure with 5-inch shells. to right): Lieutenant Robert I. Roth, USNR; Lieutenant Junior Grade John E. Benson, USNR; Ensign Vincent ), Click on "Links" at left, then "The Suwannee" to access color video of the USS Suwannee at anchor. A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat (nicknamed "Rosenblatt's Reply") aboard USS Suwannee On 12 October 1944, the escort carrier got underway from Manus in Rear Adm. Thomas L. Spragues Escort Carrier Group to provide air support for the landings at Leyte Gulf. Research Guide: Crew Lists and Muster Rolls - Navy Within two hours, her flight deck was sufficiently repaired to enable the escort carrier to resume air operations. On 24 February, she headed east again and arrived at Pearl Harbor, on 2 March for a two-week stay. But others trapped below and aft of the forecastle area found themselves under a curtain of fire from aviation gasoline pouring down from burning planes on the flight deck above. (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270610. Frederick W. McMahon 21 January 1943, Capt. Before the Japanese destroyer could fire a single shot at Sterett, she was lifted from the water by exploding torpedoes and rapidly sank. During the Naval Battle of Casablanca from 811 November, Suwannee sent up 255 air sorties and lost only five planes, three in combat and two to operational problems. 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. Survivors were noted in the water by accompanying ships but due to risk of further submarine attack, no other ships of the task force stayed in the area to rescue survivors. If you also served aboard and you remember one of the people below you can click on the name to send an email to the respective sailor. On 3 August, she got underway for Okinawa, arriving in Buckner Bay, three days later. National Archives and Records Administration and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349398. Keystone Tankship Corp., in turn delivered the vessel at Baltimore, Maryland. Pilots of Figther Squadron (VF) 40 "Flying Boars" scoring "kills" for record of USS Suwannee Suwannees work at Argentia would earn her the American Defense Service Medal (1622 November 1941). She was assigned to the Atlantic Inactive Fleet later that month. Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National But others trapped below and aft of the forecastle area found themselves under a curtain of fire from aviation gasoline pouring down from burning planes on the flight deck above. She arrived back at Hampton Roads, on 24 November, and stayed until 5 December, when she got underway for the South Pacific. It was commissioned on July 16, 1941, under Commander Joseph R. Lannom's command and served in the US Navy for 6 years until it was struck from the Navy List on March 1, 1959. Many photos show crew members on duty and on shore leave, portraying both the routine and the exciting experiences the Sailors have had. HullNumber.com takes your privacy seriously. SUWANNEE (CVHE-27) U.S.S. The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Suwannee (CVE 27). Naval records from World War II. She was re-designatedfor the final timeto an escort aircraft carrier (helicopter) CVHE-27, on 12 June 1955. 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. USS Suwannee (AO 33) Crew List The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Suwannee (AO 33). Crew List main page| She stopped at Pearl Harbor, overnight on 1920 November, and arrived at Puget Sound Navy Yard, on 26 November. USS Suwannee (CVE-27), was built as the civilian oiler Markay, in 1939, before being acquired by the US Navy, in 1941, and renamed Suwannee (AO-33), after the tradition of naming fleet oilers after rivers. (CVE-27). Charles C. McDonald 2 September 1945, Cmdr. The Sullivan brothers, Joseph, 24; Francis,27; Albert, 20; Madison, 23 and George, 28 from Waterloo, Iowa died in the sinking of the USS JUNEAU (CL 52). National Archives & Records Administration photo, # 19-N-24297. Suwannee provided air support for the assault forces at Leyte Gulf with antisubmarine and combat air patrols and strikes against Japanese installations ashore. About this time Suwannee received orders detaching them from the fleet and assigned them to Operation Magic Carpet. We shall hold it as a duty to see that are given clothing, food, shelter, and medical Her hulk was sold to the Isbrantsen Steamship Company, of New York City, on 30 November 1959, for conversion to merchant service. 0 users currently logged in and 60 visitors active. http://navylog.navymemorial.org/Portals/0/images/ships-tribute/NSB94211136.jpg Monssen DD 436 11 13 1942 1942-11-13 00:00:00.000 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal In what would later be called the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal the heavily outnumbered US forces sighted the Japanese fleet headed toward Henderson Field to bombard it and cripple Allied air operations long enough to sneak in 11 of their transports to relieve their beleaguered comrades fighting on the island. The second USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68)was laid down on 14 June 1993 at BathMaine, by Bath Iron Works Company. BELL, John Edward Machinist's Mate First Class. Survey.). U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives National Archives and Records Administration Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. This a chronological list of named operations involving aircraft carriers combining USN, RN, and IJN operations for Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Joseph J. Clark 24 September 1942, Capt. A Zero crashed into Suwanee's flight deck at 1240 and careened into a torpedo bomber which had just been recovered. A. W. Gardes in command 10 January 1947: Decommissioned at the Naval Repair Base, San Diego, Cal. ):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) HullNumber.com does not retain your payment information if you make a purchase. On 6 February 1946, she was assigned to the berthing area at the Boston [Mass.] Strange USN (Ret.) The escort carrier paused at Pearl Harbor (1623 February), sailing with a new air group, CVEG-40, at Tulagi (414 March, and at Ulithi (2127 March), before arriving off Okinawa on 1 April. Login| Explosion in the background resulted from a carrier-plane HullNumber.com does not share your information. Operational and Building Data Authorized and Ordered 1933 Keel laid on 12 MAR 1935 by the New York Navy Yard Launched 30 NOV 1936 . The two planes erupted into flame along with nine other planes on the flight deck. (NARA), photo # 80-G-270617. USS Thresher Roster Flight deck poster made by an AMM, B.L. National Archives and Records Administration Volunteers and Draftees in WWII: (of those inducted, 189,365 remained inductees; 1,359,920 voluntarily enlisted. At 0148, San Francisco opened fire on an enemy cruiser 3,700 yards off her starboard beam. She provided air support for the assault forces with ASW and CAPs and strikes against Japanese installations ashore. Disembarking three more passengers at Bayonne, N.J., on the 21st, Suwannee sailed for Hampton Roads the next day. Commissioning. SUWANNEE (CVHE-27) Crew Roster. Because of bad weather they did not arrive in Okinawa until 21 December. That stop was aborted because of a minefield on the path there, so they returned south to Wakayama on 27 September. Included were: 6 battleships, 7 large carriers, 4 Independence-class carriers, 45 escort carriers, 21 light cruisers, 164 troopships, 165 assault transports, 30 hospital transports, 7 converted Liberty ships and 40 miscellaneous craft.[3]. Suwannee provided air support for the assault forces at Leyte Gulf with antisubmarine and combat air patrols and strikes against Japanese installations ashore. 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 . She departed Hawaii on 22 January 1944 and headed for the Marshalls. 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. Photograph: 7 April 1943. The enemy battleship joined the cruiser and the destroyer in firing on San Francisco, whose port 5-inch battery engaged the destroyer but was put out of action except for one mount. Originally, she was known as the SS Markay, built for the Keystone Tankship Corp. by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. of Kearny, N.J. Photograph released 20 August 1945. Dates are for carrier involvement, not necessarily the dates for the entire operation. 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. BRACEY, George Steward Third Class. US Navy Cruise Books Aircraft Carriers - navyboy63.com The list is in chronological order. 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. "Report of Damage Incurred from Explosion of a 100 Bomb in the Bomb Bay on an Aircraft which Had Completed Report an offensive or inappropriate entry. Shifting to Honolulu, T.H., on the 20th, the oiler sailed for San Pedro with two leave-bound USMC non-commissioned officers and one enlisted marine, from Marine Aircraft Group 21, later the same day. The table below contains the names of sailors who served aboard the USS Suwannee (CVE 27). This leaflet was aboard the carrier the moment she was hit by the Mitsubishi Zero (Mitsubishi Converted to an aircraft carrier at Newport News, Va. Reclassified as an "Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated ACV-27, 20 August 1942. Chenango left Nagasaki, on the morning of 15 September, with war prisoners. One salvo from Japanese cruiser Nagara had put both firerooms out and toppled the afterstack. Since the first meeting in 1988, our reunion opportunity to get together . Following two voyages from Espiritu Santo, one to Tulagi and the other to Kwajalein, Suwannee arrived off Saipan, in mid-June. In 1942, she was converted to a Sangamon -class escort carrier and retained her name. She departed Hawaii, on 22 January 1944, and headed for the Marshalls. At 0125 on the 13th, the enemy force was discovered about 27,000 yards to the northwest and the US task group maneuvered to intercept. At 07:40, on 25 October, "Taffy 1" was jumped by land-based planes from Davao in the first deliberate kamikaze attack of the war. is more than men ought to endure so far from home, we want you to keep something in mind. 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. Hostilities ended on 15 August 1945, but Suwannee remained at Okinawa until 2 September; then headed back to the United States. Prepared by CAPT R. O. Structural damage was extensive, but not serious. (NARA), # 80-G-349430. One Hundred and five had been wounded. Aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27), Rear Admiral William Monteau points to trophy flags. After five days in Seeadler Harbor, Suwannee got underway to return to the west coast for major repairs. Carrier plane strike on Balikpapan, Borneo. Unlike today, when everything is stored on computers, during World War II the Navy never . Photographed by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft. On 21 September, Suwannee departed Nagasaki, and remained at sea until she made a quick seven-hour stop at the outer harbor of Nagasaki before heading toward Kobe. battle. Suwannee remained in North African waters until mid-November 1942, then sailed, via Bermuda, for Norfolk. Early in the morning of 8 November, she arrived off the coast of Morocco and, for the next few days, her Wildcat fighters maintained combat and antisubmarine air patrols, while her Avengers joined Rangers in bombing missions. Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-39317. She remained in the vicinity of Kwajalein for the first 15 days of February, then spent the next nine days helping out at Eniwetok. Almost a month later, on 10 September, she put to sea to support the landings on Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies. Her fires made an easier target and shells came in from both port and starboard. Back to 1st page. Disembarking her passengers on 14 January, she provided fueling services there before returning to Hampton Roads, where, upon completion of unloading, she began preparations to undergo conversion. I really hope some other people can find this service and get in touch with people like I did. Seventy-seven sailors, including Rear Admiral Callaghan and Capt. off Samar, Battle of Leyte Gulf, 25 October 1944). USS Suwannee (CVE 27) Crew List. Her gunners soon shot down another enemy plane, then bore down on a third circling in the clouds at about 8,000ft (2,400m). http://navylog.navymemorial.org/Portals/0/images/ships-tribute/NBD94211133.jpg San Francisco CA 38 11 13 1942 1942-11-13 00:00:00.000 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal The San Francisco, in company with one heavy cruiser, three light cruisers, and eight destroyers, entered Lengo Channel. Photograph released 4 August 1945. She remained in the vicinity of Kwajalein for the first 15 days of February; then spent the next nine days helping out at Eniwetok. The two planes erupted upon contact, Beidelman and his two crewmen perishing in a fiery instant. strike on Balikpapan, Borneo. 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. Less than a month after commissioning, Suwannee, with VGS-27 embarked, stood out of Hampton Roads on 25 October 1942 in Task Group (TG) 34.2, as part of Task Force 34, for Operation Torch, the invasion of Vichy French-held North Africa. Naval Hospital, Balboa, and an MM2c to the gunboat Erie, on 6 October (in addition to Capt. Photographed by USS Suwannee (CVE-27) aircraft. U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of USS SUWANNEE (CVHE-27) Crew Roster - hullnumber.com Her name was struck from the Navy List on 1 March 1959. Reclassified as an "Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated CVHE-27, 12 June 1955, Find Your Shipmates . John M. De Vane, Jr. 29 March 1946, Cmdr. Suwannee disembarked her passengers, then underwent a restricted availability at the Norfolk Navy Yard, during which time the Japanese unleashed their onslaught in the Pacific (78 December 1941) and Germany joined its Axis partner (11 December). Branch. Home Join Now About Hullnumber Before You Register Tell A Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact Us. List of aircraft carrier operations during World War II 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. flight deck air traffic controller, Albert L. Tomsic, (Serial Number 618 10 62), to remember the horrible not as enemies. Destroyer Escort Photo Index DE- 402 USS RICHARD S. BULL - NavSource Register and add yourself to the Crew List of the USS Suwannee (CVE 27). Those landings went off without opposition on the 15th, and Suwannee returned to Seeadler Harbor to prepare for the invasion of the Philippines. Albert A. Lee, USNR. 16 November 1943: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Richard S. Bull, Sr., mother of Lt. Bull 26 February 1944: Commissioned, Lcdr. Keystone Tankship Corp., in turn delivered the vessel at Baltimore, Maryland. Naval Academy, The Sullivan Brothers and the Assignment of Family Members, Historic Former U.S. Navy Bases and Stations, The African American Experience in the U.S. Navy, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Navy, Contributions of Native Americans to the U.S. Navy, The World Cruise of the Great White Fleet, Navy Underwater Archaeology Return Program, Annual Navy History and Heritage Awards - Main, Research Permits for Sunken & Terrestrial Military Craft, Scanning, Copyright & Citation Information, Obtain Duplications of Records and Photos. She remained there for a week, then returned to the Netherlands East Indies, at Makassar Strait, to support the landings at Balikpapan, Borneo. Soon her first target was enveloped in a large explosion and sank. On 2425 October 1944, the Japanese launched a major surface offensive from three directions to contest the landings at Leyte Gulf. Aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27), Lieutenant Edward P. Looney, a Catholic Chaplain, She joined Ranger (CV-4) as the other carrier attached to the Center Attack Group whose specific objective was Casablanca itself, via Fedala [Mohammedia] just to the north. The bow cables and hawser held and she remained safely in place by turning the screws to maintain position. U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives Port quarter aerial view of USS Suwannee (CVE-27) underway, March 1943. The story of the U.S.S. Her repairs were completed by 31 January 1945; and, after brief stops at Hunter's Point and Alameda, Calif., she headed west and back into the war. On 19 June 1944, as the Battle of the Philippine Sea began to unfold, Suwannee was one of the first ships to draw enemy blood when one of her TBM-1C Avengers of VT-60, accompanied by an F6F-3 on anti-submarine patrol, spotted the Saipan-bound Japanese submarine I-184 (Lt.Cmdr. After short stops at Purvis Bay in the Solomons and at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, the escort carrier headed for New Guinea. For the major portion of the next 77 days, her planes continued to deny the enemy the use of those air bases. For crew lists, and reunions see the Veterans Info Page. 1943. The auxiliary carrier transited the Panama Canal (1112 December) and ultimately reached New Caledonia on 4 January 1943, anchoring in Great Roads. Activities aboard USS Suwannee (CVE-27). Designated for conversion to an "Aircraft Escort Vessel", was reclassified AVG-27 on 14 February 1942. Clinton McKellar, and loaded six 77-foot Electric Boat Co. (ELCO) torpedo boats: PT-20, PT-21, PT-22, PT-23, PT-24, and PT-25 (2426 August) The oiler and her passengers and deck cargo began their voyage when she stood out on 26 August. The survivors, 40 percent of the crew, were picked up and taken to Guadalcanal. USS Suwannee (CVE-27) and Asbestos Exposure | Asbestos Ships 1 206 The escort carriers put into Kossol Roads in the Palaus on 28 October, then headed for Manus for upkeep on 1 November. She stopped at Pearl Harbor overnight (1920 November 1944) and arrived at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., on the 26th. and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349221. Elton C. Parker 16 November 1945, Cmdr. A Zeke crashed Suwannees flight deck and careened into a VT-60 TBM, piloted by Lt. F. W. Beidelman, Jr., A-V(N), USNR, which had just been recovered only 30 seconds before. National Archives and Records Administration Prepared by CAPT R.O. Her gunners soon scratched another enemy plane, then bore down on a third circling in the clouds at about 8,000 feet. 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). With a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow, Laffey fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no-quarter duel at point blank range. Less than a month after commissioning, Suwannee was underway from Hampton Roads, for the invasion of North Africa. Official U.S. 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 After short stops at Purvis Bay, in the Solomons, and at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, the escort carrier headed for New Guinea. 1 204 Ensuing fires destroyed nine other planes parked forward on her flight deck. 1 208 During the battle Sterett sustained 11 hits (three were major caliber hits) and several near misses that caused damage. Soon thereafter, the enemy ceased firing. Young, had been killed. Landing Procedure," USS Suwannee CVE-27, Serial 065, 29 May 1945.). Early in the morning of 8 November, she arrived off the coast of Morocco, and for the next few days, her Grumman F4F Wildcats maintained combat and anti-submarine (ASW) air patrols, while her Grumman TBF Avengers joined Ranger's in bombing missions. The ship worked as an oiler for 6 months with the Atlantic Fleet and was then reclassified as an AVG-27 in February of 1942. Sendai, accompanied by the destroyer Shikinami, had been following the Americans, but 16 projectiles drove them off. Following two voyages from Espritu Santo, one to Tulagi and the other to Kwajalein, Suwannee arrived off Saipan in mid-June 1944. Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 868. (NARA) photo, # 80-G-270613. On 13 November, she departed to participate in the Gilbert Islands operation. 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. Re-designated as an aircraft escort vessel, AVG-27, on 14 February 1942, and Suwannee was decommissioned on 20 February 1942 at Newport News, Virginia, to begin the conversion process. a Japanese suicide plane streaks out of clouds in an 80-degree dive. Ens. Almost a month later, on 10 September, she put to sea to support the landings on Morotai in the Netherlands East Indies. After transiting the Panama Canal (31 August1 September 1941), Suwannee proceeded directly to San Pedro, Calif., (911 September), whence she sailed on the 11th for Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. Just after noon on the 26th, another group of kamikazes jumped Taffy 1. Prepared by CAPT R. O. CVE-27 ALL HANDS Articles. They and the seven members of the flight crew were discovered in the wreckage of the aircraft on 19 November 1948, and their bodies were recovered. Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-349249. Last Name. Prepared by CAPT R.O. With Oldendorfs old battleships fighting in Surigao Strait and Halseys Third Fleet scurrying north, Suwannee, with the other 15 escort carriers and 22 destroyers and escort vessels (DE), formed the only Allied naval force operating off Leyte Gulf when Admiral Kurita Takeos First Striking Force penetrated the unguarded San Bernadino Strait into the Philippine Sea. Gwin, which had been firing illumination shells toward the earlier gunfire exchange, came into the action in time to sight the cruiser Nagara and 4 destroyers closing in.