Destination's Journey

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USS Midway (CVE-63) at San Diego, April 1944. Camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 15A

USS St. Lo CVE-63 US Navy Escort Carrier

USS St. Lo CVE-63 US Navy Escort Carrier

USS St. Lo (CVE-63) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the US Navy. Launched on 17 August 1943 and commissioned on 23 October 1943 as USS Midway (CVE-63). She was renamed St. Lo on 18 July 1944 to free up the name for a new attack aircraft carrier.

During the Battle off Samar, St. Lo came under fire from Japanese battleships and cruisers. Returning fire with her single five- inch gun, she claimed three hits on a Japanese cruiser.

The Japanese surface force retired at 9:20 only to be replaced by kamikaze attacks at 10:50. St. Lo was struck by a Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Its bomb penetrated the flight deck and started a gasoline fire in the hanger. This ignited bombs and torpedoes being loaded onto aircraft followed by the detonation of the ship’s magazine.

Of the 889 man crew 113 were killed or missing with an additional 30 dying of their wounds.

Left to right the future USS Midway; slated to be HMS Begum but completed as USS Natoma Bay; future USS Manila Bay April–August 1943
Left to right the future USS Midway; slated to be HMS Begum but completed as USS Natoma Bay; future USS Manila Bay April–August 1943
USS Midway (CVE-63) being launched on August 17, 1943
USS Midway (CVE-63) being launched on August 17, 1943
USS Midway (CVE-63) leaving Astoria, Oregon on Nov. 13, 1943
USS Midway (CVE-63) leaving Astoria, Oregon on Nov. 13, 1943
USS Midway (CVE-63) leaving the destroyer base at San Diego, 10 April 1944, as seen from USS White Plains (CVE-66)
USS Midway (CVE-63) leaving the destroyer base at San Diego, 10 April 1944, as seen from USS White Plains (CVE-66)
USS Midway (CVE-63) at San Diego, April 1944. Camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 15A
USS Midway (CVE-63) at San Diego, April 1944. Camouflaged in Measure 32, Design 15A
USS Midway (CVE-63) somewhere in the Pacific on the way to Australia with a load of aircraft
USS Midway (CVE-63) somewhere in the Pacific on the way to Australia with a load of aircraft
A Zeke, as seen from White Plains (CVE-66) hitting USS St. Lo (CVE-63)
A Zeke, as seen from White Plains (CVE-66) hitting USS St. Lo (CVE-63)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) hit by a Japanese suicide plane off Leyte Gulf, Philippines, 25 October 1944
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) hit by a Japanese suicide plane off Leyte Gulf, Philippines, 25 October 1944
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burning As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burning As seen from USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burning taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68). Sailors viewing the moments after the second explosion
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burning taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68). Sailors viewing the moments after the second explosion
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burns after being hit by a Kamikaze on 25 October 1944. taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burns after being hit by a Kamikaze on 25 October 1944. taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burns after being hit by a Kamikaze on 25 October 1944 taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burns after being hit by a Kamikaze on 25 October 1944 taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) shown immediately after being hit by a Japanese suicide plane taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) shown immediately after being hit by a Japanese suicide plane taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burning Taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68). This view shows the moments after the second explosion
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) burning Taken from USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68). This view shows the moments after the second explosion
The second explosion, a major detonation (probably caused by a pair of torpedoes lying almost in the center of a fire on USS St. Lo (CVE-63)
The second explosion, a major detonation (probably caused by a pair of torpedoes lying almost in the center of a fire on USS St. Lo (CVE-63)
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) after being hit by a kamikaze
USS St. Lo (CVE-63) after being hit by a kamikaze