Allied Warships

USS Liscome Bay (CVE 56)

Escort carrier of the Casablanca class


USS Liscombe Bay transporting aircraft.

NavyThe US Navy
TypeEscort carrier
ClassCasablanca 
PennantCVE 56 
Built byKaiser Shipbuilding Co. (Vancouver, Washington, U.S.A.) 
Ordered17 Jul 1942 
Laid down9 Dec 1942 
Launched19 Apr 1943 
Commissioned7 Aug 1943 
Lost24 Nov 1943 
Loss position2° 34'N, 172° 30'E
History

Sunk by Japanese submarine I-175 (offsite link) off Makin Island in position 02º34'N, 172º30'E.

644 officers and men died when she sank, including her Commanding Officer Capt. Irving Day Wiltsie and Rear Admiral Henry Maston Mullinix. 272 of her crew were rescued by the USS Hughes, Hull and the USS Morris as well.

The Liscome Bay sank in 23 minutes with an explosion so intense, the stern vaporized, showering flesh and debris onto the battleship USS New Mexico (BB 40) which was a mile away.

Doris Miller (offsite link) was a brave fighter on the USS West Virginia (BB 48) in Pearl Harbor. He afterwards served on the Liscome Bay and died when it was sunk.

 

Commands listed for USS Liscome Bay (CVE 56)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1T/Capt. Irving Day Wiltsie, USN7 Aug 194324 Nov 1943 (+)

You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.

Media links


The Little Giants

Y\'Blood, William T.


amazon.com
($ 31.89)

Return to the Allied Warships section



As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.