U.S.S. OMMANEY BAY

USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) was an Casablanca-class aircraft carrier built and active during World War II, for which she received two battle stars. She was part of the Pacific Fleet, operating with task unit “Taffy 2,” near the Philippines and assisting during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. Ommaney Bay met a bitter end in nearby waters some months later. Below are highlights from her World War II service.

• Transported troops and cargo to Australia.
• Provided air cover and air strikes during the invasion of the Palau Islands.
• During the Battle off Samar on Oct. 24, 1944, the naval battle that was the central part of the Battle for Leyte Gulf, Ommaney Bay’s aircraft launched strikes that helped destroy one Japanese ship and cripple several more. The outnumbered Americans were victorious.
• Two months later, she supported missions on the island of Mindoro.
• On Jan. 4, 1945, a kamikaze struck Ommaney Bay in the waters between Mindanao and Leyte. The kamikaze plane’s bombs went off and in turn set off explosions of the gas tanks in planes on board the carrier. Flames and smoke rose from the carrier and crept toward her torpedo warheads; the crew had to abandon ship.

One of the destroyers in her group finished her that evening with a torpedo. Ninety-three of her crew were killed.