1944

1944

January 4, : Embarked personnel of VC-66.

January 5, : Underway for training area off Pearl Harbor.

January 6, : Conducted flight operations with VC-66.

January 7, : Completed training exercises. Returned to Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor.

January 11, : Loaded 14 F4F's and 9 TMB's of VC-66.

January 13, : Underway for training area off Pearl Harbor, to conduct flight operations during amphibious exercises.

January 13 - 18, Conducted training operations.

January 18, : Returned to Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor.

January 23, : Underway for Marshall Island, conducting flight operations under Task Group 51.2.

January 28 - February 21, : Conducted flight operations, including ASP and CAP over Majuro and Taroa Islands.

February 22, : Anchored at Majuro Atoll.

February 23, : Launched operational aircraft to USS NATOMA BAY. Received dud aircraft.

February 25, : Underway for Pearl Harbor.

March 3, : Arrived at Pearl Harbor. Moored at Naval Air Station.

March 5, : Disembarked VC-66. Embarked Passengers, loaded cargo and the following aircraft : 18 SBD's, 5 J2F's, 5 OS2U's and 3 SOC's.

March 6, : Underway for Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, on ferrying mission, operating under ComAirPac.

March 12, : Catapulted 18 SBD's. Proceeded to anchorage at Kwajalein. Unloaded 5 J2F's, 2 OS2U's. Disembarked passengers.

March 13, : Underway for Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands.

March 14, : Arrived at Majuro. Anchored. Unloaded 3 SOC's, 3 OS2U's and disembarked passengers, Received cargo and passengers for return trip. Underway for Tarawa, Gilbert Islands.

March 15, : Arrived at Tarawa. Anchored in Betio Anchorage. Disembarked passengers.

March 16, : Unloaded cargo. Embarked passengers and loaded aircraft.

March 17, : Completed loading following aircraft : 18 SBD's, 26 P-40's, and 6 FM's. Steamed to Makin. Loaded passengers and freight. Underway for Pearl Harbor.

March 23, : Arrived t Pearl Harbor. Moored at Naval Air Station. Unloaded aircraft, disembarked personnel.

March 26, : Completed embarkation of passengers and loaded following aircraft : 5 PBY's, 1 R4D, and 1 OS2U. underway for Alameda, CA..

April 1, : Arrived Alameda. Moored at Naval Air Station. Disembarked passengers, unloaded aircraft.

April 2, : moved to Navy Yard, Mare Island, CA.

April 2 - 29, : Underwent repairs and alterations to Naval Yard, Mare Island. In dry-dock April 6 - 15.

April 15, : Captain Stanley J. Michael, USN, was relieved as Commanding Officer by Captain Norman W. Ellis, USN, of St.Louis, MO..

April 30, : Moved to Navy yard, Hunter's Point.

May 1, : Conducted test run off San Francisco. Returned to harbor. Anchored in San Francisco Bay.

May 2, : Moved to Naval Air Station in Alameda.

May 2 - 4, : Loaded cargo and following aircraft : 26 P-47's, 6 P-38's, 4 A-26's, 11 A-20's and 4 P-61's. Embarked passengers.

May 5, : Underway for Finschafen, New Guinea, ferrying aircraft, operating under ComCarTransRonPac.

May 23, : Arrived at Finschafen, New Guinea. Moored at Dregar's Harbor.

May 24, : Unloaded aircraft ; disembarked passengers. Took on passengers and the following aircraft for return trip : 26 P-47's, 6 P-38's, 4 A-26's, 11 A-20's and 4 P-61's. Embarked passengers.

May 25, : Underway for San Diego, CA.

June 12, : Arrived at San Diego. Moored at Naval Air Station. Unloaded aircraft, disembarked passengers.

June 13 - 17, : Loaded 32 SBD's, 25 FG-1's and 10 TBM's. Embarked VMF 314, VMSB 333, and other passengers.

June 18, : Underway for tactical data range. Conducted test runs. Set course for Pearl Harbor, T.H.

June 24, : Arrived at Pearl Harbor. Moored at Naval Air Station. Disembarked all passengers.

June 25, : Embarked VMF 312, VBSB 133, and other passengers. Underway for Espiritu Santo. Anchored in Pallikulo Bay.

July 6, : Arrived at Espiritu Santo. Anchored in Pallikulo Bay. Disembarked passengers and unloaded aircraft.

July 7, : Completed unloading. Loaded aircraft and cargo for return trip.

July 8, : Moved to Segond Channel. Completed loading aircraft, including 36 F4U's, 19 F6F's, 2 SOC's and 1 F4F.

July 9, : Embarked CASU 12 and other passengers.Underway for Port Hueneme.

July 23, : Arrived at Port Hueneme.

July 24, : Unloaded aircraft and cargo. Underway for San Diego, CA.

July 25, : Arrived at San Diego. Moored at Naval Air Station. Disembarked passengers. Moved to Naval Repair Base.

July 26 - August 5, : Underwent repairs and alterations at Repair Base, San Diego.

August 5, : Embarked passengers. Underway for Alameda, CA..

August 7, : Arrived at Alameda, Moored at Naval Air Station.

August 8 - 9, : Loaded cargo and aircraft, including 15 1 V's, 20 FM's, 5 SB2C's, 1 TBM, 1 P-58 and 2 UC-45's. Embarked passengers.

August 9, : Underway for Pearl Harbor, T.H.

August 15, : Arrived at Pearl Harbor. Moored at Naval Air Station. Unloaded aircraft, disembarked passengers.

August 16- 17, : Unloaded cargo.

August 18, : Inspected by Rear Admiral Samuel P. Ginder, USN, and Staff ComCarTransRonPac.

August 18 - 20, : Loaded aircraft, including 35 F6F's, 12 TBM's, 20 SB2C's. Embarked replacement pilots and crewmen.

August 21, : Underway for Manus, Admirality Islands.

September 1, : Arrived at Maun. Anchored in Seeadler Harbor.

September 6, : Underway to rendezvous with units of Task Force 38. Operating as replacement carrier for raids on, and occupation of Palau Island, under CTG 30.8.

September 9, : Rendezvous with Task Group 58.4. Launched 6 F6F's, 2 TBM's and 2 SB2C's.

September 11, : Rendezvous with Task Force's 38.1 and 38.3. Catapulted 12 F6F's, 9 SB2C's and 6 TBM's Delivered replacement pilots and crewmen.

September 24, : Set course for Manus.

September 27, : Launched 6 TBM's and 4 replacement crews to CVE's of Task Force 32.

September 30, : Arrived at Manus. Anchored in Seedler Harbor.

October 1 - 3, : Loaded aircraft including 13 F6F's, 3 TBM's and 10 SB2C's.

October 4, : Underway for rendezvous with units of Task Force 38.

October 11, : Rendezvous with Task Force 38 east of Luzon. Delivered 12 TBM's and 22 F6F's.

October 11 - 12, : Standing by for rendezvous.

October 15, : Rendezvous with Task Group's 38.2 and 38.3. Delivered replacement crews, 7 F6F's and 10 SB2C's. Landed 6 F6F's, 1 Sb2C and 5 TBM's, all flyable duds.

October 16, : Launched 2 TBM's for Peleliu Island, Palau Group, with photographic intelligence of Task Force 38 operations. Set course for Manus.

October 20, : Arrived at Manus. Anchored in Seeadler Harbor.

October 21 - 24, : Unloaded duds. Received additional replacement pilots an 70 F6F's.

October 25, : Underway for Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands.

October 28, : Arrived at Ulithi. Anchored.

October 31-November 1, : Unloaded 70 F6F's by lighter to carriers of Task Force 38. Transferred all replacement pilots.

November 2 - 4, : Received passenger, cargo and following dud air craft : 10 F6F's an SB2C's.

November 5, : Underway for Pearl Harbor, ferrying aircraft.

November 16, : Arrived at Pearl Harbor. Moored at Naval Air Station. Discharged aircraft, cargo, and passengers.

November 18, : Embarked passengers and loaded 56 SB2C's, 2 FM's and 1 TBM.

November 25, : Arrived for San Diego. Moored at Naval Air Station. Discharged aircraft and passengers.

November 26, : Moved to Naval Repair Base, San Diego.

November 27-December 5, : Underwent repairs and alterations at Naval Repair Base, San Diego.

December 6, : Moved to Naval Air Station.

December 7 - 9, : Loaded 34 F6F's, 14 TBM's and 22 F4U's.

December 9, : Underway for Pearl Harbor, T.H.

December 15, : Arrived Pearl Harbor, T. H.

December 16, : Embarked CVG 17 for passage. Unloaded 22 F4U's and loaded 5 TBM's and 17 F6F's.

December 17, : Underway for Guam, Marianas Island.

December 28, : Arrived Guam. Moored in buoy in Apra Harbor. Discharged aircraft and passengers.

December 29, : Embarked VMF 216 and VMF 217 for passage. Underway for Pearl Harbor, T. H.