The USS Wake Island (CVE-65)

USS Wake Island (CVE-65)

Technical Data: Built by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Vancouver, Washington,

the escort carrier USS Wake Island was commissioned on November 7, 1943. It had a

length of 512 feet, three inches; a beam of 65 feet; entire width of 108 feet, one inch;

a draft of 22 feet, six inches; and a displacement of 7,800 tons. Reciprocating engines

provided a top speed of 19 knots. She held a compliment of 860 crew and 28 aircraft.

Service in World War II: Under the command of Captain Hames R. Tague, the Wake

Island steamed through the Panama Canal in January of 1944 and made port in Norfolk,

Virginia, and New York before embarking on a voyage to Karachi, India. Upon returning,

the ship underwent alterations and overhaul in Norfolk before setting off June 15, 1944

for waters off Bermuda where she served as the nucleus of Task Group 22.6, a combined

air-and-surface, anti-submarine hunter-killer expedition. On that cruise, one of the ship's

planes, an Avenger, intercepted and sank the German submarine U-543 off the coast of

Africa. On August 4, Task Group 22.6 was dissolved, and the Wake Island returned to

Norfolk for repairs and alterations before moving on to Quonset, Rhode Island, where it

served on carrier aircraft qualification duty from late August through the end of October.

On November 11, the Wake Island returned to the west coast, via the Panama Canal, and

continued on to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, arriving on December 5, 1944. After taking on

passengers and supplies, the Wake Island sailed for Manus in the Admiralty Islands where

it discharged all passengers and cargo and moved to join the huge fleet assembling for the

invasion of Luzon. For most of January, February, and March of 1945, the Wake Island

participated in combat operations at Panay Gulf, Leyte Gulf, and Lingayen Gulf, in the

Philippine Islands, as well as Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands. Perhaps the highest praise

of her performance came from Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague who sent to the following

message to the commanding officer of the Wake Island: "If your ship is as good as your

air department and squadron, it is a standout. I have seen nearly all of the combat CVE's

work, and, I must say, the 'Wake' tops them all for efficiency, smoothness, and good

judgment. I hope we are together again." Charley Plummer disembarked the Wake Island

on March 18, 1945, and boarded the USS Admiral Coontz for transport to San Francisco

and a well-deserved and long overdue assignment to shore duty. The USS Wake Island

continued to see combat service in the Pacific, earning three battle stars before returning

to San Diego, California, on July 25, 1945, for training duty. Before her illustrious career

ended, however, one more distinction awaited the Wake Island. On November 5, 1945, the

first ever jet-propelled landing on an aircraft carrier took place on her flight deck during

testing of the FR-1s "Fireball." The Wake Island was de-commissioned on April 5, 1946

and struck from the Navy list on April 17, 1946.

Charley Plummer's Story: The narrative above covers most major operations involving

the USS Wake Island. To share a sailor's view of combat, click here and read Chief

Quartermaster Charley Plummer's own words describing daily activities of January 1945

through March 1945, transcribed from a pocket diary he kept during his years at sea.

Ship's Itinerary (from Charley Madison Plummer's diary): click here.

Sources: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships; and the wartime diary of

Chief Quartermaster Charley Madison Plummer, United States Navy (1920-1950).