>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1970) Vol. 5, p.382.





PRINCE WILLIAM



ACV-31

Displacement:  9,800 t.

Length:  495’8”

Beam:  69’6”

Extreme Width:  111’6”

Draft:  26’

Speed:  18 k.

Complement:  890

Armament:  2 5”; 20 40mm

Aircraft:  21

Class:  BOGUE

Maritime Commission standard type:  C3-S-A1



	PRINCE WILLIAM (ACV-31), ex-MC Hull 242, was laid down 

by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp., Tacoma, Wash., 18 

May 1942 as AVG-31; redesignated ACV-31 on 20 August 1942; 

launched 23 August 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Paul Foley; and 

commissioned 9 April 1943, Capt. Herbert E. Regan in 

command.



	Following an abbreviated shakedown off the west coast, 

PRINCE WILLIAM reported for duty with the Pacific Fleet’s 

air arm to ferry planes and transport personnel to forward 

areas.  Redesignated CVE-31 on 15 July 1943, she operated 

between the west coast and such places as New Caledonia, 

Canton Island, Samoa, and Espiritu Santo until the spring of 

1944.  Then, a brief assignment at San Diego, training and 

qualifying pilots, preceded her return to ferrying duties in 

mid-April.  She completed a run to Townsville, Australia, 7 

May, and, on her return to San Diego, was reassigned to the 

Atlantic Fleet.



	Unloading aircraft and cargo at Port Everglades, Fla., 

21 June, she continued on to Norfolk where new navigational 

equipment (LORAN) was installed.  During July and into 

August, she qualified pilots in the Chesapeake Bay area, 

then, on the 24th, resumed plane and personnel ferry 

services with a run to Casablanca.  Returning with worn 

airplane engines and parts, she moored at Norfolk 26 

September for availability.



	PRINCE WILLIAM returned to training duties in 

mid-October.  Until 26 January 1945, she qualified pilots in 

the Narrangansett Bay area, then shifted to Key West.  There 

she continued to carry out her mission as a training carrier 

until returning to Norfolk in May.



	On 2 June, the CVE got underway for the Panama Canal 

and on the 8th rejoined the Pacific Fleet.  Again assigned 

to ferrying duties, she transported planes and personnel 

between the west coast and Hawaii for the remainder of World 

War II.  After the cessation of hostilities, PRINCE WILLIAM 

was assigned to “Magic Carpet” duty and for the next seven 

months returned military personnel and equipment to the 

United States.  Completing her last run at San Diego, 21 

March 1946, she was ordered to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet 

and on 8 April got underway for the Panama Canal.  Arriving 

at Norfolk on the 23rd, she continued on, two days later, to 

Philadelphia where she decommissioned 29 August 1946.  

Reclassified CVHE-31, 12 June 1955, PRINCE WILLIAM remained 

a unit of the Philadelphia Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet 

until struck from the Navy List 1 March 1959.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com