USS Steamer Bay
The USS Steamer Bay (404) CVE 87 was a Casablanca-class escort carrier that was launched on February 26th, 1944 in Vancouver, Washington by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company and was sponsored by a Mrs. Henry S. Kendall and commissioned on April 4th, 1944 under the command of Captain Steadman Teller. The USS Steamer Bay CVE 87 participated with operational training exercise while at Puget Sound and then set sail for San Diego Bay on May 2nd. The Steamer Bay then headed for the New Hebrides where she ferried servicemen and aircraft of the Marine Air Group 61. The ship then arrived at Espiritu Santo on the 30th where she unloaded and immediately departed and began her voyage home to San Diego Bay on June 2nd. The aircraft carrier appeared on the west coast of the United States where she was stationed from June 20th until July 19th when she once again headed towards the Pacific along with 298 marines and 72 aircraft all bound for the Marshall Islands to participate with operations.
The USS Steamer Bay CVE 87 finally arrived at Majuro on August 1st in order to unload her cargo and discharge her traveling soldiers. The ship was then ordered back to Pearl Harbor where she joined up with the 3rd Fleet as an aircraft carrier deliverer of aircraft replacements. Afterwards the ship remained off the coast of Okinawa until May 26th when she departed heading to Apra Harbor, Guam, for massive repairs. As of June 10th the Steamer Bay had been ordered to attach itself to the 3rd Fleet that were anchored east of Miyako Jima and to ultimately assist them in neutralizing Japanese enemy airfields in Sakishima Gunto.
The Steamer Bay sailed back to San Diego on August 10th and was in dry-docked when the Japananese surrendered and she was given truckloads of extra beds to accommodate soldiers returning from overseas. She set sail for Pearl Harbor on September 28th to take part in her first “Magic Carpet” assignment. The USS Steamer Bay CVE 87 was officially placed out of service on February 4th, 1946. The ship’s hull classification was changed from CVE 87 to CVHE 87 on June 12th, 1955. The Steamer Bay was then struck from the Naval Vessel Register on March 1st, 1959 and sold for scrap on August 29th, 1959. The USS Steamer Bay was awarded six battle stars for World War II service.
The honorable crew who served on the USS Steamer Bay CVE 87 endured many dangerous moments. Unfortunately, they were also exposed to a danger they were unaware of while going about their duties. The USS Steamer Bay CVE 87 and other ships were built with asbestos as insulation in and around pipes and most of the crewmen were exposed to a dangerous chemical which put them at risk for acquiring many respiratory problems. Any crewmembers who served aboard the USS Steamer Bay CVE 87 should be evaluated by a medical specialist if they have symptoms of any respiratory health problems, including mesothelioma cancer, and any veteran who is diagnosed should consider beginning mesothelioma treatment immediately.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
