(Linked Photo Resolution 861 x 258) USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) before embarking aircraft, giving a "switched off" appearance - both elevators and the forward flight deck edge railed off.  Liferafts on the flight deck an abondon ship drill  in progress or completed Navy Image.  Information from Escort Carriers of World War Two - by Keith Poolman.  Published by Arms and Armour Press.  ISBN 0-85368-952-0	(Linked Photo Resolution 584 x 436) Aircraft of VC-80 are positioned on the flight deck of USS Manila BAy (CVE-61) prior to flight operations in 1944.  Manila Bay could accommodate up to thirty-two aircraft in the hanger and on the flight deck.  Manila Bay would be involved in operations in the Pacific until damaged by a Kamikaze on  8 January 1945.  Following repairs, she returned to the pacific. Navy Image.  Information from Escort Carriers in Action - by Al Adcock.  Published by Squadron/Signal Publications.  ISBN 0-89747-356-6
(Linked Photo Resolution 1436 x 892) Scanned from a postcard submitted by Robert Palmer	(Linked Photo Resolution 1004 x 745) Scanned from photograph submitted by Elwood McClintic
(Linked Photo Resolution 1244 x 1033) Kamakaze attack, 8 January 1945. Scanned from a photograph submitted by Robert Palmer	(Linked Photo Resolution 953 x 768) Scan of Photograph purchased from Internet, presumably Navy Image made publically available.
(Linked Photo Resolution 1234 x 922) Ship's Christmas Card - circa mid 1940's. Submitted by Robert Palmer	(Linked Photo Resolution 596 x 395) Submitted by Robert Palmer
(Linked Photo Resolution 1024 x 573) Scan of cache obtained via ebay.	(Linked Photo Resolution 1391 x 770) Submitted by Robert Palmer
(Linked Photo Resolution 708 x 533) Submitted by Harry Pease	(Linked Photo Resolution 745 x 600) Squad 80 Charles Wayne "Pappy" Pease is the Sailor sitting on the propellor.   Submitted by Harry Pease (son)

1) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (1969) Vol. 4

2) Aircraft Carriers in Peace and War - Edited by Joseph A. Skiera

3) Carrier Warfare in the Pacific - An Oral History Collection - Edited by E. T. Woolridge

4) The Little Giants:  U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan (Bluejacket Books) - by William T. Y'Blood

5) Crewmember Profile - John D. Wilcox

6) The Manila Bay - A history

7) Escort Carriers in Action - by Al Adcock

8) Escort Carriers of World War Two - by Keith Poolman

HyperWar: World War II on the World Wide Web

America at War:  WWII (1945)

WHAT ARE ESCORT CARRIERS? - The History & Role of The Escort Carriers

The Order of Battle for the Battle off Samar - 1944 October 25

Award	Date(s) of Awards
Navy Unit Commendation	29-JAN-1944* - 28-FEB-1944 19-MAR-1944* - 19-APR-1944 27-APR-1944* - 02-MAY-1944 12-OCT-1944* - 26-OCT-1944 12-DEC-1944* - 18-DEC-1944 04-JAN-1945* - 18-JAN-1945 09-JUN-1945* - 20-JUN-1945

January 5 - A cruiser and destroyer task group under Rear Admiral A.E. Smith bombards, and Army aircraft bomb, Japanese shipping and installations on Chichi Jima and Haha Jima in the Bonins.  A cruiser and destroyer task force, under Rear Admiral McCrea, bombards Japanese installations at Suribachi Wan, Paramushiro in the Kuriles.  The escort carriers USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) and USS Savo Island (CVE-78); the heavy cruiser USS Louisville (CA-28), the destroyer USS Helm (DD-388), the destroyer escort USS Stafford (DE-411), seaplane tender (small) USS Orca (AVP-49) and ocean tug USS Apache (ATF-67) are damaged by suicide planes in the Luzon area.  The destroyer USS David W. Taylor (DD-551) is damaged by a mine in the Bonins.  The destroyer escort USS Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) is damaged in a collision with the destroyer escort USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) in the Philippines.

5 January 1945:  Just before 17:50, two kamikazes hit on the port side.  The first plane hit the flight deck to starboard abaft the bridge, causing fires on the flight and hangar decks, destroying two torpedo planes, radar transmitting spaces and wiping out all communications.  The second plane, aiming for the bridge, missed the island close aboard to starboard and splashed off the fantail. Firefighting parties promptly brought the blazes under control.  Casualties were 14 men killed and 52 wounded.  Within 24 hours, she resumed limited air operations.  Most repairs to her damaged electrical and communication circuits were completed by 9 January, when the amphibious invasion in Lingayen Gulf got underway.  By 10 January she resumed full duty in support of the Lingayen Gulf operations until 17 January when she was detached.  Arrived at San Diego 15 February and battle damage repairs were completed late in April 1945.