USS Badoeng Strait

The USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 was a Commencement Bay-class escort carrier during the Korean War. The ship was officially named after the Badung Strait, which is located near the Indonesian islands of Bali and Nus Besar, and is the historical site of an infamous World War II battle that occurred in February 1942, between the American/Netherlands and Japanese Imperial Fleet. The USS San Alberto Bay was renamed the USS Badoeng Strait as of November 6^th, 1943. The Badoeng was launched on February 15^th, 1945 by the Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc. located in Tacoma, Washington and she was sponsored by a Mrs. T. H. Binford who was the wife of Captain Binford. The Badoeng was officially commissioned on November 14^th, 1945 under the command of Captain Thomas A. Turner, Jr. and immediately reported to the Pacific to join with U. S. naval forces.

The USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 had ran her operations out of San Diego, California until late March of 1946 when she then made a quick voyage to Hawaii. From February of 1947 until June of 1950 the USS Badoeng Strait ran exercises throughout the Pacific, all the while testing their new anti-submarine equipment, and training her personnel and crewmen as well as cooperating with multiple anti-submarine warfare operational exercises. Many different times the Badoeng Strait operated as the flagship for Carrier Divisions 15 and 17 and from July of 1950 through February of 1953 the USS Badoeng Strait successfully accomplished three complete tours off the coast of Korea.

After the year 1953 the USS Badoeng Strait underwent a massive modernization process that included improving her anti-submarine equipment and adding state of the art naval aircraft. She was carrying out and participating in many different Pacific Fleet operational training exercises during this time. Then she joined Operation Redwing in the Pacific theater between February and July of 1956. As of January 14^th, 1957 the USS Badoeng Strait sailed for Bremerton, Washington, for official deactivation. The ship was decommissioned on May 17^th, 1975 and scrapped in early-1972. The USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 received the Navy Unit Commendation and six battle stars for her service. No other ship has been named Badoeng Strait as of 2005.

The many crewmen who served aboard the USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 should be proud, but they should also be aware that during their time on the ship, they were at risk of exposure to asbestos. Before it was determined to be hazardous, asbestos was used in many products that could be found on ships and in shipyards, more accurately, the piping and ducts systems built during its original construction dealing with the insulation. The asbestos inside these materials is made up of particles and can be inhaled. Asbestos had been linked to the development of the respiratory disease mesothelioma, also referred to as asbestos cancer. Veterans that served aboard the USS Badoeng CVE 116 should speak to their physicians about the possibility of exposure to asbestos so that they may be thoroughly examined and can receive medical treatment.

Last modified: December 09 2009.