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Photo # NH 99120:  USS Makin Island underway near Leyte, November 1944

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Makin Island (CVE-93), 1944-1947

USS Makin Island, a 7800-ton Casablanca class escort aircraft carrier built at Vancouver, Washington, was commissioned in May 1944. Following shakedown, she left the West Coast in June 1944 to transport airplanes to Hawaii and the central Pacific, then spent several months working up for combat operations. In November 1944 Makin Island escorted convoys to the contested island of Leyte, in the Philippines. She then began preparations to provide close air support for the landings at Lingayen Gulf which, in early January 1945, marked the beginning of the American reconquest of Luzon. During this operation, and subsequent ones, she served as flagship for an escort carrier task force. In February and early March, Makin Island participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, again in a close air support role.

The carrier's next operation, the campaign to seize Okinawa and other islands in the Ryukyus, began later in March. She remained in the combat area for more than two months, during which her aircraft flew more than 2,250 sorties. From mid-July to mid-August 1945, Makin Island covered minesweeping and surface raiding activities in the East China Sea, and her planes also attacked the Japanese on the China mainland. In September and October, following the enemy's surrender, she supported the occupation of Japan. She finished the year transporting war veterans home from the western Pacific. USS Makin Island was decommissioned in April 1946. Stricken from the list of Navy ships a few months later, she was sold for scrapping at the beginning of 1947.

This page features all the views we have of USS Makin Island (CVE-93), plus some taken on board her, and provides links to images of her aviation operations, flag complement and crew.

For more pictures concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Makin Island (CVE-93) -- Aircraft Operations;
  • USS Makin Island (CVE-93) -- Flag Complement and Crew; and
  • USS Makin Island (CVE-93) -- Photos taken from or by the Ship.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 99120

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    Underway in the southwestern Pacific, near Leyte, Philippine Islands, 18 November 1944.
    The ship is wearing Camouflage Measure 32, Design 16A.

    Collection of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, donated by his Daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Sherrill, 1972.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 94878

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    In the Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, on 27 March 1945.
    She was the first U.S. aircraft carrier to enter the newly captured anchorage.
    Note this ship's Measure 32, Design 16A, camouflage.

    Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99118

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    Halfway into floating drydock ABSD-6, at Guam, 8 June 1945.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99119

    Wakanoura, Japan


    Sailors sightseeing at Wakanoura, 19 September 1945, a few weeks after the end of World War II.
    Ships in the left distance are (from left to left-center): USS Montpelier (CL-57); USS Sanctuary (AH-17) and USS Makin Island (CVE-93).

    Collection of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, donated by his Daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Sherrill, 1972.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 98KB; 605 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-3130

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    View on the ship's flight deck, showing her island, arresting gear wires, circa 1944-1945. FM and TBM aircraft are parked forward

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

    Note:
    Though this was originally a color image, the original "Aero Kodacolor" transparency has lost all colors but red, and can now only be reproduced in monochrome.
    For an example of this all-too-common situation, which is typical of this film type, see Aero-Kodacolor Transparency 80-G-K-1560.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-5171 (Color)

    USS Makin Island (CVE-93)

    40mm twin gun mounts firing during gunnery practice, 21 March 1945, shortly before the ship took part in the Okinawa operation.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 95041

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    Crewmen pose with the ship's scoreboard of enemy "kills" painted on the bridge wing, 1945.
    Three of these men are identified as: DuPeraul, Hougon and Donaldson.

    Courtesy of PHC John L. Highfill, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 690 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 94871

    USS Makin Island
    (CVE-93)

    Crewmen at their battle stations, wearing flash proof clothing and inflatable life belts, circa 1944-1945.

    Courtesy of PHC John Highfill, USN (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 580 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99121

    Small Target Drone Aircraft


    Falling in flames, after being shot down by USS Makin Island (CVE-93) during gunnery practice off Wakanoura, Japan, 1 October 1945.

    Collection of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, donated by his Daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Sherrill, 1972.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 34KB; 690 x 630 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 99122

    Small Target Drone Aircraft


    Falling in flames, after being shot down by USS Makin Island (CVE-93) during gunnery practice off Wakanoura, Japan, 1 October 1945.
    Note that much of the drone's covering has burned away, exposing internal structure.

    Collection of Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin, USN, donated by his Daughter, Mrs. Phyllis Sherrill, 1972.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 38KB; 690 x 630 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Makin Island (CVE-93). The following list features some of these images:

    The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."



  • Photo #: 80-G-310925
    USS Makin Island (CVE-93) underway at sea, 28 February 1945.
    Starboard bow high aerial view, with planes on deck aft.

  • Photo #: 80-G-329113
    USS Makin Island (CVE-93) pitching in heavy seas, seen from USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70), 21 March 1945. Taken by Floyd F. Noyes.
    Distant surface view, from almost directly ahead.

  • Photo #: 80-G-277146
    USS Makin Island (CVE-93) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 28 October 1945.
    Port quarter aerial view, showing the ship headed up the channel with her crew, in "Whites" manning the rails forward.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

  • For more pictures concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Makin Island (CVE-93) -- Aircraft Operations;
  • USS Makin Island (CVE-93) -- Flag Complement and Crew; and
  • USS Makin Island (CVE-93) -- Photos taken from or by the Ship.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 18 February 2004