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USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95)

USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) was the fortieth of fifty Casablanca-class escort carriers built to serve the US Navy during World War II. She was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Completed in May 1944, she served in support of the Philippines campaign, and the landings on Iwo Jima.

Following shakedown off the west coast in June, USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) departed San Pedro, Calif., on 1 July with airplanes and pilots bound for Hawaii. On 7 September, USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) began flight operations and training off the California coast. This employment ended on 16 October when she sailed for Pearl Harbor. USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) then received orders to Manus in the Admiralty Islands to join Task Group (TG) 77.4. On 4 January 1945, the task group suffered intermittent attacks by Japanese land-based airpower.

On the evening of 21 February, USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) had just recovered her aircraft from a strike when a swarm of Japanese planes appeared. The escort carrier splashed one bomber, but another one crashed into the ship abeam of the after elevator.Soon, the flames raged out of control and a variety of ordnance began to explode, so the captain ordered USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) abandoned. In less than 30 minutes, her entire crew made it into the water. After many explosions and two hours of burning, the ship rolled over and sank. Her name was stricken from the Navy List on 30 March 1945.

For a complete history of USS Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) please see its DANFS page.