William T. YBlood - The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan

THE LITTLE GIANTS

THE
LITTLE
GIANTS

U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan

William T. YBlood

BLUEJACKET BOOKS

NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

This book has been brought to publication by the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest.

1987 by the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First Bluejacket Books printing, 1999

ISBN 978-1-61251-247-1

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
YBlood, William T., 1937

The little giants.

Bibliography: p.

Includes index.

1. World War, 19391945Aerial operations, American.

2. World War, 19391945Naval operations, American.

3. World War, 19391945CampaignsPacific Area.

4. Aircraft carriersUnited States. I. Title.

THEY WERE CALLED jeeps, baby flattops, two-torpedo ships, combustible, vulnerable, expendable, and other, unprintable, names. They were the CVEsthe U.S. Navys designation for aircraft carrier, escort.

These ships, envisioned as hardly more than convoy escorts in the beginning, evolved into remarkably versatile vessels. Yes, they were used to escort convoys, but they also hunted submarines, provided air support for invasion forces, ferried men and planes to far-flung bases, delivered replacement aircraft and pilots to the fast carriers of Task Forces 58 and 38, and worked as troop transports. Despite the great activity of the eighty-six vessels built (some finished after the war) to serve all around the world for the United States Navy, their accomplishments, except for one glorious action in October 1944, have never received the publicity and credit that they deserve.

Too often the CVE sailors heard comments like the one from a new officer on the Saginaw Bay who had just come from one of the fast carriers: I dont know how you take care of that routine here, but I know how its done on a carrier! Too often they saw the headline Fast Carriers Winning the Wara headline hard for them to stomach after sending their planes out day after day to pound the enemy defenses in front of the ground forces or to attack skulking submarines. Too often they saw their own deserving shipmates passed over for awards while sailors and airmen on the fast carriers seemed to be raking them in.

This lack of recognition may have frustrated or even angered the jeep sailors, but it didnt stop them from doing their jobs and doing them well. History has shown that the fast carriers didnt win World War II; neither did the Army Air Forces nor army or marine troops. It was a team effort that won the war, and a vital part of this team effort was the escort carriers. Until now, little has been written about their accomplishments, and this book is intended to give the CVEs and their sailors their long-overdue attention.

The sources consulted include action reports, war diaries, ships histories, air action reports, and so forth. I am greatly indebted to those men, listed in the bibliography, who contributed their personal accounts of service on the jeeps. In addition, this book would not have been possible without the help of several people: Henry Hank Pyzdrowski of the Gambier Bay/ Association (a real go-getting organization), Herb Faulkner of the Natoma Bay Association, Bob Zubik and Hank Henderson of the Ommaney Bay Association, and James Dresser. Many, many thanks to these men, who provided me with material and leads to track down, saving me hours of possibly fruitless digging for information. My thanks also to Dr. Dean Allard and his staff, particularly Mike Walker, at the Naval Historical Centers Operational Archives Branch. A special thanks goes to my editor, Laurie Stearns, who cleared away much of the underbrush. Finally, I must thank my wife, Carolyn, and children, Kent and Laura. Theyd been through this rat race before but still gave me much-needed and much-appreciated support.