USS Prince William (CVE-31) was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy during the Second World War. Named after Prince William Sound in Alaska, she was built at Tacoma, Washington, and commissioned on 9 April 1943 under Captain Herbert E. Regan.
She was mainly used for aircraft transportation and pilot training. Initially assigned to the Pacific Fleet, she carried aircraft and personnel from the American west coast to destinations including New Caledonia, Samoa, and Espiritu Santo.
In 1944, Prince William transferred to the Atlantic. She qualified pilots in Chesapeake Bay, transported aircraft and personnel to Casablanca, and subsequently conducted training around Narragansett Bay and Key West.
Returning to the Pacific in June 1945, she ferried aircraft and personnel between the west coast and Hawaii until the war ended. Afterwards, she participated in Operation Magic Carpet, bringing military personnel and equipment home.
Prince William was decommissioned at Philadelphia on 29 August 1946 and remained in reserve. She was removed from the Navy List on 1 March 1959 and sold for scrap in Japan in March 1961.
Photographs of USS Price William (CVE-31)
Under Construction
USS Prince William (CVE-31), while fitting out, early 1943.
Commissioning Ceremony
Rear Admiral Taffinder at mike. (Turning ship over to Captain Regan)Captain [Lucian F.] Kimball (Bremerton Navy Yard) Admiral [Sherwoode A.] Taffinder [(Commandant, 13th Naval District)] Captain [Herbert E.] Regan (reading orders, taking command of ship) Commander [David B.] YoungRear Admiral Taffinder commissioning ship Captain Kimball (Bremerton Navy Yard) Captain Regan Commander Young (Last 2 Unknown) Chaplain offering benediction at commissioning Captain Kimball (Captain of Bremerton Navy Yard) Rear Admiral Taffinder Captain H. E. Regan (Captain of ship) Commander D. B. Young (Executive Officer)
USS Prince William (CVE-31)
USS Prince William (ACV-31), Puget Sound Navy Yard, 15 April 1943. USS Prince William (ACV-31) underway off Port Townsend, Wash., 8 May 1943.USS Prince William (ACV-31) underway off Port Townsend, Wash., 8 May 1943.USS Prince William (ACV-31) underway off Port Townsend, Wash., 8 May 1943.USS Prince William (ACV-31) underway off Port Townsend, Wash., 8 May 1943.USS Prince William (CVE-31) underway in the Pacific, 7 August 1943, with a deck load of 12 Douglas SBD Dauntlesses, a Grumman J2F Duck, two Curtiss SOC Seagulls, a Vought OS2U Kingfisher and a dismantled Douglas R4DUSS Prince William (CVE-31) at Mare Island, February 1944. Stern view of USS Prince William (CVE-31) departing Mare Island on February 13, 1944. Bow on view of USS Prince William (CVE-31) departing Mare Island on February 13, 1944.Broadside view of USS Prince William (CVE-31) off Mare Island on February 13, 1944.USS Prince William (CVE-31) departing Mare Island on February 13, 1944.Looking at the after gun positions from the wharf. In Townsville Australia April 1944Looking forward of the port side 20mm Oerlikon gallery. In Townsville Australia April 1944. the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was being transported on Prince WilliamCrew departing while in Townsville Australia April 1944USS Prince William (CVE-31), aerial aft port quarter view, 20 October 1944USS Prince William (CVE-31), aerial starboard view, 20 October 1944. Camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 4AUSS Prince William (CVE-31) underway, date and location unknown.
In Reserve
Ex-USS Prince William (CVE-31) shown in her Delaware River berth while in the Atlantic Reserve Force in 1955Ex-USS Prince William (CVE-31) shown in her Delaware River berth while in the Atlantic Reserve Force in 1955
Aircraft Operations
LT(JG) J.R. Bagshaw of Torpedo 92’s TBM-1 Avenger, BuNo 16998, hanging from a splinter shield on Prince William’s port side catwalk by its wheel and axle, after an accident at 1701 on 16 February 1945. There were no injuries but the plane was damaged. USS Prince William (CVE-31) was operating out of Key West, Florida as a training carrier at the time and reported setting an operational record of 371 landings and 367 take offs in one day earlier that month.
LT(JG) J.R. Bagshaw of Torpedo 92’s TBM-1 Avenger, BuNo 16998, hanging from a splinter shield on Prince William
