U.S.S. PETROF BAY

USS PETROF BAY CVU-80

Petrof Bay was a Casablanca-class escort carrier launched and commissioned in 1944 in Vancouver, Washington. Her service during World War II earned her five battle stars along with a Presidential Unit Citation.

Career Highlights

Petrof Bay began her career in San Diego where she transported servicemen, aircraft and cargo to Espiritu Santo. Next, she replenished aircraft to Task Force 58 before conducting a strike against Truk. She dropped off aircraft and received an overhaul before returning to the US.

During her career, she participated in the following operations and assaults:

• Part of Taffy 3 on attack against Peleliu Island
• Participation in the Battle of Leyte Gulf to liberate the Philippines
• Air support groups in support of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in addition to repeated strikes on the enemy. She played a key role in the success of this battle
• Attacks on Iwo Jima, supplying troops and providing air support
• Invasion of Okinawa, providing combat strikes, anti-aircraft fire, daily air strikes and patrols, and antisubmarine patrol

After Japanese surrenders, thus ending the war, Petrof Bay returned to Pearl Harbor with servicemen. She repeated this journey several times, bringing troops home to the US. She was altered to enable her to carry more servicemen home.

After the war, she was decommissioned and joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. In 1958, she was sold for scrap.