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.