USS Makin Island (CVE-93)

Figure 1: USS Makin Island (CVE-93) underway in the southwestern Pacific, near Leyte, Philippine Islands, 18 November 1944. The ship is wearing Camouflage Measure 32, Design 16A. Collection of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Sherrill, 1972. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 2: Iwo Jima Operation, 1945. Iwo Jima during the pre-invasion bombardment on 17 February 1945, looking north with Mount Suribachi in the foreground. Photographed from an airplane based on USS Makin Island (CVE-93). Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 3:  Iwo Jima Operation, 1945. Initial waves of amphibious tractors (LVT) head for the landing beaches on Iwo Jima's southeastern coast, at about 0900 hours on 19 February 1945. USS Tennessee (BB-43) is at left. Photographed from an airplane based on USS Makin Island (CVE-93). Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 4:  Escort aircraft carriers steam in column through heavy western Pacific seas, probably in the vicinity of Ulithi Atoll after the Iwo Jima campaign, 10 March 1945. Photographed from USS Makin Island (CVE-93). Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.  

Figure 5:  USS Makin Island (CVE-93) 40-mm twin gun mounts firing during gunnery practice, 21 March 1945, shortly before the ship took part in the Okinawa operation. Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.  

 

Figure 6:  USS Makin Island (CVE-93) in the Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, on 27 March 1945. She was the first US aircraft carrier to enter the newly captured anchorage. Note this ship's Measure 32, Design 16A, camouflage. Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired). US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.  

 

Figure 7:  USS Makin Island (CVE-93) halfway into floating dry dock ABSD-6, Guam, 8 June 1945. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.    

 

Figure 8:  USS Makin Island (CVE-93) crewmen pose with the ship's scoreboard of enemy "kills" painted on the bridge wing, 1945. Three of these men are identified as: DuPeraul, Hougon, and Donaldson. Courtesy of PHC John L. Highfill, USN (Retired). US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 9:  FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter receives the "launch" signal on USS Makin Island (CVE-93), 1945. Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired). US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 10:  TBM "Avenger" torpedo plane is catapulted from USS Makin Island (CVE-93), circa 1945. Collection of Vice Admiral Calvin T. Durgin. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Durgin Sherrill, 1969. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 11:  A TBM "Avenger" torpedo bomber makes a landing on board USS Makin Island (CVE-93), circa mid-1945. Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired). US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 12:  General Motors FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter gets a "wave-off" from the Landing Signal Officer while attempting to land on USS Makin Island (CVE-93), circa 1944-45. Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired). US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 13:  USS Makin Island (CVE-93) crewmen pull a FM-2 "Wildcat" fighter back from the forward edge of the flight deck after it flipped over in an accident, circa 1944-1945. Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired). US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 14:  TBM "Avenger" torpedo planes from Composite Squadron 84 (VC-84) fly over Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, on 16 April 1945. View looks east. The planes were based on board USS Makin Island (CVE-93). Collection of Vice Admiral Calvin T. Durgin. Donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Durgin Sherrill, 1969. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.   

 

Figure 15:  Sailors sightseeing at Wakanoura, Japan, 19 September 1945, a few weeks after the end of World War II. Ships in the left distance are (from left to left-center): USS Montpelier (CL-57), USS Sanctuary (AH-17), and USS Makin Island (CVE-93). Collection of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, donated by his daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Durgin Sherrill, 1972. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.

 

Named after a coral atoll in the Gilbert Islands that was the scene of vicious fighting during World War II, the 7,800-ton USS Makin Island was a Casablanca class escort aircraft carrier built by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Corporation at Vancouver, Washington, and was commissioned on 9 May 1944. The ship was approximately 512 feet long and 65 feet wide, had a top speed of 20 knots, and had a crew of 860 officers and men. Makin Island was armed with one 5-inch gun and 16 40-mm guns, and could carry roughly 28 aircraft, depending on their size.

After a brief shakedown cruise, Makin Island left San Diego, California, on 19 June 1944 and was used as an aircraft transport, bringing planes to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the central Pacific islands of Majuro and Kwajalein. The escort carrier returned to San Diego on 24 July. Makin Island then conducted combat training exercises off San Diego until 16 October. In November, Makin Island escorted convoys to Manus Island off the coast of New Guinea in preparation for the American invasion of the Philippines. 

Makin Island became the flagship of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, commander of Task Group (TG) 77.4. On 27 December 1944, the ship rendezvoused with the US Navy’s amphibious assault force in Surigao Strait for the invasion of Leyte Island in the Philippines. While steaming in Lingayen Gulf on 3 January 1945, Makin Island endured almost constant Japanese air attacks during the landings on Leyte. Makin Island’s sister ship, USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79), was sunk during the invasion and a number of other ships were seriously damaged. But Makin Island managed to remain unharmed and for eleven days the ship’s aircraft flew air support missions for the American troops on shore.

After the battle for Leyte, Makin Island was assigned to yet another invasion, this one directed against Iwo Jima. The escort carrier arrived off the coast of Iwo Jima on 16 February 1945 while still being used as the flagship for Admiral Durgin. Makin Island’s aircraft conducted pre-invasion air strikes against the island and after the actual landings began she provided aerial fire support for the troops on shore. The ship’s aircraft continued to pound enemy ground targets until 8 March. At that time, the invasion task force came under heavy attack from Japanese suicide planes. Aircraft from Makin Island shot down some of these kamikazes and, fortunately, the ship did not sustain any hits.  

Makin Island’s next operation was the invasion of Okinawa. The ship arrived off Okinawa on 25 March 1945 and remained on station for 67 days, flying constant fire support and reconnaissance missions for the American ground forces. The ship’s aircraft flew 2,258 combat sorties and recorded more than 8,000 hours of flying time. After Makin Island was relieved on 1 June, the ship sailed for Guam, arriving there on 5 June.

On 11 July 1945, the planes from Makin Island provided air cover for US Navy ships conducting minesweeping and raiding operations in the East China Sea. The ship also launched air strikes against Japanese targets along the coast of China. On 13 August, Makin Island anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and on 9 September sailed to Wakanoura Wan, located on the southern part of the Japanese home island of Honshu. Once there, the ship was assigned to occupation duties, which included providing air support for the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war. Makin Island left Japan on 18 October and arrived at San Francisco, California, on 5 November. The escort carrier returned to the Far East, but this time went to Shanghai, China, to bring American troops back to the United States. Makin Island arrived at Seattle, Washington, on 30 December 1945.

USS Makin Island was decommissioned on 19 April 1946 at Puget Sound, Washington, and was sold for scrapping on 1 January 1947 after being in commission for less than two years. The ship received five battle stars for her service during World War II.

USS Tisdale (DE-33)

Figure 1:  Ship's Sponsor of USS Tisdale (DE-33), Mrs. Ryland D. Tisdale, on the christening platform just before Tisdale was launched at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 28 June 1943. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.  

Figure 2:  Sponsor's party at USS Tisdale’s (DE-33) launching, Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 28 June 1943. Those present are (from left to right): Mrs. Wilhelm L. Friedell; Rear Admiral Wilhelm L. Friedell, USN; Mrs. Park, Matron of Honor; Captain Francis W. Scanland, USN; Mrs. Ryland D. Tisdale, Sponsor; Captain William E. Malloy, USN; and Mrs. Lannis A. Parker. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 3:  Mrs. Ryland D. Tisdale christens USS Tisdale (DE-33) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 28 June 1943. US Navy Photograph DE-33-4664-43. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 4:  USS Tisdale (DE-33) is at the end of the ways during her launching at the Mare Island Navy Yard on 28 June 1943. US Navy Photo DE-33-4662-43. Click on photograph for larger image.   

 

Figure 5:  USS Tisdale (DE-33) photographed during World War II, probably upon her return to the United States in August 1945 as she appears to be flying a long "homeward bound" pennant. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Click on photograph for larger image.  

 

Named after Commander Ryland Dillard Tisdale (1894-1942), a US Navy hero who was killed in the Philippines during the early months of World War II, the 1,140-ton USS Tisdale (DE-33) was an Evarts class destroyer escort that was built by the Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, California, and was commissioned on 11 October 1943. The ship was approximately 289 feet long and 35 feet wide, had a top speed of 21 knots, and had a crew of 156 officers and men. Tisdale was armed with three 3-inch guns, four 1.1-inch guns, nine 20-mm guns, and depth charges.

After her shakedown cruise, Tisdale escorted shipping in the central and south Pacific during the first five months of 1944. In June 1944, Tisdale screened the floating reserve during the invasion of Saipan, helping to defend American transports during the ensuing Battle of the Philippine Sea. Later that month, as well as in July, Tisdale used her guns for bombardment and illumination missions off the coasts of Saipan and Tinian. For the rest of 1944 and into 1945, Tisdale was assigned to escort duties in the central Pacific. On 3 February 1945, Tisdale attacked a sonar contact and although she received no official credit for it, it was determined that the destroyer escort probably sank a Japanese submarine.

From late March to mid-June 1945, Tisdale participated in the Okinawa campaign, screening escort aircraft carriers and supply convoys as well as serving as a radar picket ship. Radar picket ships were placed away from the main invasion force and were used to warn of impending air attacks. Fortunately, American combat air patrols over the invasion fleet either shot down or chased away the enemy aircraft that approached Tisdale. But the ship served its purpose by directing American aircraft towards the approaching Japanese planes before they could do any serious damage to the invasion force.

Tisdale returned to the United States for an overhaul and arrived at San Francisco, California, on 1 August 1945. Four days later, she steamed to Portland, Oregon. The Japanese, though, agreed to surrender on 15 August and Tisdale began decommissioning procedures soon after that. The ship was decommissioned on 17 November 1945 and was sold for scrapping on 2 February 1948. USS Tisdale was one of those small ships that played a vital, if little known, role during World War II when the US Navy desperately needed escorts to perform a wide variety of tasks. But once the war was over, they were no longer needed and were soon forgotten. USS Tisdale earned four battle stars for her service during World War II and escorted literally hundreds of ships. This was a fine record for such a small naval vessel.

USS Butler (DD-636, DMS-29)

Figure 1:  USS Butler (DD-636) off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942. Courtesy of the James C. Fahey Collection, US Naval Institute. Official US Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Figure 2:  USS Butler (DD-636) off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942.  Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. 

Figure 3:  USS Butler (DD-636) off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. 

Figure 4:  USS Butler (DD-636) off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 October 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives.

Figure 5:  View on board USS Butler (DD-636) looking aft toward the ship's forward 5-inch guns and pilothouse, with supplies piled on deck in the foreground. Taken at the New York Navy Yard, New York, 3 September 1943. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. 

Figure 6:  USS Butler (DD-636) comes alongside USS Solomons (CVE-67) to refuel, 15 October 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3D. Official US Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. 

 

Named after the famous US Marine Corps Major General Smedley D. Butler (1881-1940), the 1,630-ton USS Butler (DD-636) was a Gleaves class destroyer that was built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was commissioned on 15 August 1942. The ship was approximately 348 feet long and 36 feet wide, had a top speed of 35 knots, and had a crew of 276 officers and men. Butler was armed with four 5-inch guns, six 0.5-inch machine guns, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, and depth charges.

After completing her shakedown cruise, Butler escorted convoys in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico. On 14 January 1943, Butler left the United States and steamed to Casablanca, Morocco, and from there went to Dakar, French West Africa. The destroyer then escorted two Free French warships (the Richelieu and the Montcalm) from Dakar to New York City. After undergoing an overhaul in New York, Butler left for the Mediterranean on 8 June. After participating in some training exercises off Oran and Algiers, Butler went to Bizerte, Tunisia, where she joined the amphibious assault force for the invasion of Sicily, which took place from 9 July to 12 August. Butler took part in the pre-invasion bombardment of Gela, Sicily, and subsequently served on escort duty for the rest of the invasion. Butler then returned to New York, arriving there on 22 August.

Butler was again assigned to convoy escort duty until 5 May 1944. At that point, the ship was sent to England to participate in the invasion of Normandy, France. Butler remained with the invasion force from D-Day, 6 June 1944, to15 July. She screened heavy warships in the invasion force’s bombardment group and provided inshore fire support on D-Day. Then from 12 to 30 August 1944, Butler escorted British escort carriers taking part in the invasion of southern France. Shortly after that, the ship returned to New York for another overhaul.

After escorting a convoy to Marseilles, France, in early October 1944, Butler returned to New York on 27 October for conversion into a high-speed minesweeper. Re-classified DMS-29 on 15 November, the conversion was completed on 21 December. The ship proceeded to Norfolk, Virginia, and joined Mine Squadron 20. On 3 January 1945, Butler left for Sand Diego, California, and then continued her journey to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After completing extensive training exercises off the coast of Hawaii, Butler sailed to the US Navy base at Ulithi atoll in the Caroline Islands and then conducted a pre-invasion mine sweeping operation around the Japanese island of Okinawa. From 24 March to 25 May 1945, Butler was assigned to escort and radar “picket” duty during the invasion of Okinawa and did manage to shoot down several Japanese aircraft. But on 25 May, a Japanese kamikaze suicide plane dropped some bombs which exploded underneath Butler’s keel, killing nine men and blowing out steam lines and flooding the forward fire room, causing the loss of all steam and electric power. The battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48) stood by Butler until power was regained. The battleship also assisted Butler in fighting off two more Japanese aircraft that were trying to sink the crippled destroyer. The next day, Butler steamed to Kerama Retto Island for temporary repairs before returning to the United States. After reaching the United States on 26 August, the ship’s damage was judged to be so severe that it did not justify permanent repairs and retention in the post-war fleet. USS Butler, therefore, was decommissioned on 8 November 1945 and sold for scrapping on 10 January 1948. The ship received the Navy Unit Commendation for her actions during the Okinawa operation and four battle stars for her service during World War II.

USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530)

Figure 1:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) is christened by Mrs. Grace Joyce Bermingham, widow of Lieutenant Commander John M. Birmingham, at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 17 November 1943. Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald is at left. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.     

Figure 2:  Launching of USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 17 November 1943. In the right center distance is the hull of USS Mason (DE-529), which had been launched earlier that day. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.  

Figure 3:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) off Boston, Massachusetts, 15 August 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31 Design 1d. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.   

 

Figure 4:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) off Boston, Massachusetts, 15 August 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31 Design 1d. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.   

Figure 5:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) off Boston, Massachusetts, 15 August 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31 Design 1d. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.

Figure 6:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) off Boston, Massachusetts, 15 August 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31 Design 1d. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image. 

Figure 7:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) off Boston, Massachusetts, 15 August 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31 Design 1d. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.   

Figure 8:  USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) off Boston, Massachusetts, 15 August 1944. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 31 Design 1d. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the US National Archives. Click on photograph for larger image.  

 

Named after Lieutenant Commander John M. Bermingham (1905-1942), a decorated naval hero who was killed while in command of the destroyer USS Peary, the 1,140-ton USS John M. Bermingham (DE-530) was an Evarts class destroyer escort that was built by the Boston Navy Yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and commissioned on 8 April 1944. The ship was approximately 289 feet long and 35 feet wide, had a top speed of 21 knots, and had a crew of 198 officers and men. John M. Bermingham was armed with three 3-inch guns, four 1.1-inch guns, nine 20-mm guns, and depth charges.

After completing her shakedown cruise off Bermuda, John M. Bermingham left Boston, Massachusetts, on 14 June 1944 to escort a convoy to the English Channel (in support of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France). She then continued her journey to Belfast, Northern Ireland, arriving there on 23 July. The ship returned to Boston on 2 August 1944. After undergoing some additional training off the coast of Maine, John M. Bermingham reached New York City on 28 August to join an unusual convoy.  

John M. Bermingham left New York City on 19 September 1944 with several other escort vessels to convoy a large group of US Army tugs and barges for use in the vital captured ports of northern France. During the terrible crossing that followed, rough weather claimed several tugs and many of the badly needed harbor barges. Only through the heroic efforts on the part of the escorting warships was the balance of the convoy able to make it to Plymouth, England, on 20 October. After roughly a week of searching for straggling barges, John M. Bermingham joined another convoy and returned to New York City, arriving there on 21 November.

After some additional training, John M. Bermingham was assigned to regular convoy runs between American ports and Oran, Algeria, in support of the huge land offensive that was underway in Europe. The ship made three voyages to Oran in the months that followed, arriving at New York City on 29 May 1945. Evidently, the ship’s career ended as soon as the war in Europe was over. John M. Bermingham arrived at Miami, Florida, on 20 July 1945 for duty as a training ship at the Naval Training Center there. The ship steamed back north after the end of the war in the Pacific and arrived at Boston on 9 September. USS John M. Bermingham was decommissioned on 12 October 1945 and scrapped in March 1946. American shipbuilding productivity was so enormous during the war, and so many escorts were built, that the US Navy didn’t need John M. Bermingham anymore, even though it was less than two years old.