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USS Liscome Bay: Hit By a Torpedo Near Makin Atoll During World War IIWorld War II | Single Page | 22 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post She began life as a nameless Hull in the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, on December 12, 1942. And she ended her short, 11-month span in 23 terrifying minutes off Makin Atoll in the Pacific, after being struck by a single torpedo from a Japanese submarine.
She was the first of her flock to go, but before war's end in 1945, the ill-fated CVE-56 would be joined by five more American-built escort carriers (CVEs) sunk by enemy action. They were: Block Island (CVE-21), sunk by the German submarine U-549 in the Atlantic on May 29, 1944; Gambier Bay (CVE-73), sunk in the Battle of Samar by Japanese cruiser gunfire on October 25, 1944; St. Lo (CVE-63), sunk by a Japanese kamikaze plane attack on October 25, 1944; Ommaney Bay (CVE-79), scuttled after being struck by a kamikaze on January 4, 1945; and Bismarck Sea (CVE-95), sunk by a kamikaze off Iwo Jima on February 21, 1945. Subscribe Today
The loss of these ships, tragic and costly in lives as they were, did not compare to the shock that went through America's CVE crews when that first escort carrier was sunk in November 1943. Relatively speaking, it should also be noted, no other single carrier in World War II, escort, light or fast, suffered higher casualties — 600 men killed out of a crew of 900, 70 percent of the crew gone in only 20-plus minutes.
CVE-56 had a name, of course — the USS Liscome Bay.
She began her life as Maritime Commission Hull No. 1137. And when work began on her in earnest as an auxiliary aircraft tender, her designation was changed to Kaiser Shipyards Hull No. 302.
The name she would be given upon her completion, and when she was turned over to the British Royal Navy, would be HMS Ameer (ACV-56).
By April 19, 1943, Ameer's Hull and part of her flight deck were finished. She was launched in a special ceremony at the Kaiser shipyards by her sponsor, Mrs. Clara Morrell. Mrs. Morrell was the wife of Rear Adm. Ben Morrell, founder of the U.S. Navy 'Seabees.' Also attending the ceremony was Mrs. Walter Krebs, matron of honor; Lt. Cmdr. H.C. Zitzewitz, liason officer at the Vancouver yards; and James MacDonald, the British consul in Portland, Ore., who spoke at the ceremony.
After an invocation by Dr. Perry C. Hoffer of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Morrell stepped up to the platform built near the bow of the partially finished Hull and smashed the traditional bottle of champagne against the bow section, sending Ameer sliding down the ways into the Columbia River.
On the same day, tugs took the powerless Hull and towed it downstream 100 miles from Vancouver to the Astoria (Oregon) Naval Station for final fitting out and delivery.
By that time, 3 1/2 months later, in August 1943, the Ameer would have new owners and even a new name.
On June 28, 1943, the vice chief of U.S. Naval Operations, Admiral J.H. Newton, endorsed a recommendation that 29 auxiliary aircraft carriers built for the British navy be assigned to the United States. He further recommended changing their British names and redesignating their class as CVE (aircraft carrier, escort) instead of ACV (auxiliary aircraft carrier).
And so HMS Ameer, formerly Hull No. 302, become USS Liscome Bay, named after a small bay on the south coast of Dall Island, which lies off the southern coast of Alaska. This followed the practice of naming escort carriers after bays, islands and sounds of the United States, or after major U.S. operations, battles and engagements.
On July 15, 1943, Liscome Bay's redesignation from ACV-56 to CVE-56 was completed. The fitting out continued in Astoria. On August 7, 1943, Liscome Bay was delivered to the U.S. Navy. Her log records the event: '1105. Pursuant to orders…. Vessel commissioned U.S.S. Liscome Bay….Capt. I.D. Wiltse assumed command.' Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Naval Battles, World War II
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22 Comments to “USS Liscome Bay: Hit By a Torpedo Near Makin Atoll During World War II”
My cousin Joseph Guerino was part of the crew when the Liscone bay was torpedo. I would like to know his rank. He was very young and did not survive the attack Any information re: him or where he may have been on the ship would be appreciated
By Lenora Whitbourne on Jul 6, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Your cousin was an AMM3, Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class.
See web page for NAR "State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from: New Jersey" page 12
LINK http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ww2/navy-casualties/new-jersey.html
By Deb on Aug 26, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Lieutenant J.G. Roger Safford from Spokane Wa., a pilot who was my dad's best friend lost his life on Liscome Bay. I am proud to be named after him, 63 years ago.
By eaglethis@verizon.net on Sep 9, 2008 at 6:08 pm
My family was under the impression that my Great-Uncle who
died on the USS Liscome Bay was listed on the Pearl Harbor
memorial. My husband and I were just at Pearl Harbor last week
and did not find my uncle's name listed on any of the memorials.
Is there a memorial elsewhere that lists those that perished on the
Liscome Bay? We have a photo showing my uncle's name listed
on a memorial wall and assumed it was located in Pearl Harbor
but now we wonder where this memorial is.
By G Thompson on Nov 2, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Soy un apasionado de las historias de la WWII.- Tengo entendido
que en el USS Liscome murio Doris Miller, uno de los heroes de
Pearl Harbor.-
By LUIS BENVENUTO on Nov 10, 2008 at 6:38 pm
My dad, Elmo B. Blackmon of Louisiana, was a torpedoman. He
says that his name appeared on the posted list of enlisted men who
were to board the Liscome Bay. His name was posted on the
bulletin board with orders to be ready to board . On the appointed
boarding day, the names of the crew we called as the men
boarded. He was left alone at the staging area, since his name
was never called to board. When he asked the man who was
calling out the names, the man told Dad to go back because they
already had boarded enough torpedomen. I only recently heard
this story from Dad. Is there any place where I can find the
original list of names that might show my dad's name? If you
can't help me, could you point me in the right direction?
By S Bennett on Nov 11, 2008 at 3:49 pm
My mom's brother Rueben Horn was on the Liscome Bay. I would appreciate any information about him He was a very dear brother, held in great regard by all of his family. I only know of him from the memories of my mother and aunts and uncle, but I would love to know more memories to treasure.
By Linda Beck on Mar 23, 2009 at 11:37 am
For Linda Beck-
Hi Linda – this is your cousin, Lesha (Karen Gardner's daughter). I do have some pictures and letters from Uncle Reuben to my Grandmother. If you are interested in copies, I would love to send some to you. My email address is chezmarie03@att.net.
Lesha
By Lesha on May 24, 2009 at 10:56 pm
My uncle was Lt. William ("Bill") Lewis from NJ. He was lost when the Liscomb Bay was first hit. Someone thought he was on the flight deck and trapped by the falling radar tower and bridge support. Any further information posted here by reporters or suvivors would be much appreciated. Thank you.
By JT Apgar on May 25, 2009 at 11:44 am
looking for info on grandfather who was on liscombe bay.his name was hurley broaddus.
By t.w. broaddus on May 25, 2009 at 9:08 pm
My Uncle Willy Earl Callaway went down with the Liscome Bay, He was only 18. I have a group picture taken onboard when he finished his training, and also some letters that must have been mailed from the ship.
By Linda Bluford on Jun 26, 2009 at 12:31 am
My uncle Jack Shelton died on the Lisbon Bay. If anyone has information or pictures I would love to see them.
thanks Mike
By Mike Shelton on Jul 24, 2009 at 3:48 pm
My great uncle, Bernard Liptrap from Augusta County, Virginia died on the Lisbon Bay. I can remember the sadness of my mother and her family when they received word of the ship being hit.
By Doris Powers Riggs on Oct 7, 2009 at 10:20 pm
My father, Whitney Adam Rodriguez survived the sinking of the Liscome Bay. Anyone know anything about him? He left my mother when I was 3 yrs. old. I'm a Vietnam vet. I would have liked to have known him.
By Jerry M. Graham on Nov 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm
There is a memorial of the Liscombe Bay onboard the USS Yorktown moored at patriiots Point in Mount Pleasant, SC. It list all the names of the men who were lost that day. I took a picture of my grandson, Grayson Roy Ball, standing next to a portion of this memorial. I explained to him that his greatgrandfather had seen the carrier sunk from the deck of the USS New Mexico.
My dad, Roy Ball and another sailor, Harry Craft, were on the deck of the USS New Mexico that predawn morning. I heard the story many times. It was a routine morning with the bombardment of the island having ended the day before. Dad and Craft had stowed away their hammocks, got dressed, and hit the deck for a smoke before general quarters. As they looked out over the Pacific and the other ships in the task force. the suddeness of the explosion surprised and shocked them. Dad said that they saw the fireball and felt debris from the carrier hit them. They watched as the fires raged and the Liscombe Bay sank.
In the 1990's, I took dad for his first visit to a reunion of the USS New Mexico. I finally got to meet some of the men whose pictures I had seen from dad's collection. Dad and Harry Craft talked about that morning in November some 50+ years before. As they talked, their faces went totally blank and their eyes turned as cold as steel. I had never seen this expression: before or since. It was then I heard for the first time that after daylight they discovered the debris included human flesh, bone fragments, and pieces of teeth. In this moment of recall, these two veterans went back to a morning in the south Pacific that changed their young lives.
I submit this in memory of my dad, who died in 2001, with the utmost respect for those who gave all that morning, those that survived, and those who witnessed this horrific event.
By Carl Ball on Dec 27, 2009 at 2:18 pm
This account of the sinking of the USS Liscome Bay is the most extensive decription I have ever read. I lost my Uncle Laurent Aden on that boat and my father (his brother) was always understandibly reluctant to talk about it. The loss gravely affected him. I want to personnally thank the staff of this magazine for their contributions.
By Michael D. Aden on Jan 11, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Bill Greenshield & I were school chums in Sanger,ND,as well as in the little town of Freeland on Whidby Island, Wa. We also went thru bootcamp together in Camp Farragut, ID. He opted to go home on a 30 day leave, that meant he would go directly to sea after returning to duty. And I opted to go West Coast Sound School in San Diego(I had passed the sound school test. He never took the test.) I never saw him after boot camp, and I didn't know what ever happened to him till I returned home. I helped put the YMS 393(a` wooden hull yard mine sweeper) into commission in San Pedro,CA, and served on her till I returned to Treasure Island after the japanese surrender.
I,m wondering if any one knew Bill Greenshield, or anything about his work.
By Charles wm(bill) Greenshield on Jan 25, 2010 at 9:13 pm
i have done my research on my family and my husbands family. we all knew of our bro.s death way back in 45 but the account of his death was never revielled, i am a sister inlaw to the boy who was killed on the liscome bat. he was a gunner behind the pilot, as you can see im not literate on the plane he flu in. i have wanted to know more of these boys his name was virgil muse i named my second son after virgil and aonther bro johnny who was also killed in belgium. virgil was lost at sea so never came home to rest john is buried in tx. there is an emty grave next to john i am now alone i am 81 the last bro my husband died in2009 h e was the baby. but i decided to take up and retrieve what i can for my family. i have printed out what i can but it comes so tiny print . , i wishes it was larger sincerey florence muse
By florence l.muse on Mar 10, 2010 at 8:07 pm
I have gone through some personal items of my uncle's and came across a letter from a Lieut. Harold E. Jones addressed to my uncle. In this letter was a LISBAYTOTEMPOLE dated October 16, 1943. Does anyone know if this Lieut., Com Air Pac, communications officer, survived the sinking of the U.S.S. Liscome Bay? There is a picture enclosed and a class graduation picture with the letter. I would like to get in touch with the family of this Lieut. Thank you.
By Penny (Penelope) Nalls Gardner on Mar 13, 2010 at 2:20 pm
My mother's first husband was on the USS Liscome Bay and was killed that horrible day in November. His name, Jerry Partlow. My mom a few years later married Jerry's brother, Pat Partlow, my dad. Jerry died not ever seeing his one and only daughter, my half sister, just one month old when her dad died at sea.
I would love to get any stories or photos of Jerry Partlow, for my family records. I have a few, but would like any that are connected to the USS Liscome Bay. Thank you.
By Sandra Partlow Dougherty on Jun 2, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Searching for info about Charles Rick Hill. Was aboard the Liscome Bay and did not survive. Have no serial number for him, his son was a baby at the time, and would like any info on his father. Please identify information in RE box. thanks
By m j joly on Jun 9, 2010 at 11:35 pm
My cousin, Frandk,Sistrunk was a pilot aboard the Licomb Bay.
He was a survivor due to the fact that he was opeerated two days befor she was sunk and was in sick bay at the time. I was told that a chaplain helped hi to the top deck, and into the water. had nothing on but his
underaare. He was an"ace" having later gone back to the Pacific where. He stayed in the he was credited with FIVE jap kills.. He remained in
Navy reserve after the war, but unfortunatly he was recalled and sent to Korea, where he was shot down and killed.
By Kenneth Fink, Jr. on Jun 27, 2010 at 12:40 pm