U.S.S. SITKOH BAY

Her History Before Being Reclassified as CVU-86

USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86) was an Casablanca-class aircraft carrier built and active during World War II and the Korean War. She served primarily as a replenishment carrier and saw very little action, but did receive three battle stars for her performance in WWII and another for her performance in the Korean War.

World War II Highlights:

• In April 1944, Sitkoh Bay steamed for Pearl Harbor to begin the first of many transpacific voyages. She journeyed routinely to Pearl Harbor, the Admiralties, and the Marshall Islands.
• The following January, she moved up to the Central Pacific, ferrying supplies to the Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Ulithi.
• Next, she supported missions in the Philippines and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
• In spring 1945, Sitkoh Bay was the target of a failed kamikaze attack; the Japanese plane was shot down by her own gunners and a plane from another carrier.

After the war ended, the carrier continued replenishing American forces throughout the Pacific.

Korean War Highlights:

• Between 1950 and 1954, Sitkoh Bay was back on duty as a replenishment carrier, sailing repeatedly between the west coast of the United States and Japan; she also went to Korea once.

She was reclassified as CVU 86 on June 12, 1955 and sold for scrap in 1960.