From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. III, 1968, Navy 
Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History 
Division, Washington, D.C.

KWAJALEIN (CVE-98)

The World War II battle of 31 January 1944, for KWAJALEIN Atoll in the 
Marshall Islands.

dp. 7,800;
l. 512' 3";
b. 65';
ew. 108' 11"; 
dr. 22' 6";
s. 19 k.;
cpl. 860;
a. 1 5", 16 40-mm., 20 20-mm.;
cl. ANZIO

KWAJALEIN (CVE-98), formerly BUCARELI BAY, was launched 4 May 1944, by 
the Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., under a Maritime Commission 
contract; sponsored by Mrs. Rudolf L. Johnson; acquired by the Navy 7 
June 194, and commissioned the same day, Comdr. R. C. Warrack in 
command.

After shakedown along the West Coast, KWAJALEIN cleared San Pedro 19 
July 1944, bound for Espiritu Santo with passengers and a cargo of fuel 
and planes. Arriving 3 August, she sailed 4 days later to transport 
aircraft to Guam and pick up salvaged Japanese equipment for 
intelligence studies in the United States.

Following repairs at San Diego, KWAJALEIN got underway 7 October for 
operations as replenishment carrier. She loaded combat-ready aircraft at 
Manus and sailed for Eniwetok 5 November to replenish the carriers of 
Task Force 38 as they prepared for raids on Manila and the Visayas. 
Continuing operations from Ulithi, KWAJALEIN furnished the big carriers 
with the planes needed to drive the Japanese out of the Philippines. 
During January 1945, replacement aircraft roared from her decks to Task 
Force 38 flattops for strikes on enemy air bases on Formosa and the 
China coast. KWAJALEIN returned San Diego 23 February for overhaul and 
additional aircraft before resuming operations 9 March.

From March to August KWAJALEIN carried aircraft on three cruises from 
Pearl Harbor to the western Pacific keeping carrier-based air groups at 
full strength for the massive carrier raids on the Japanese home 
islands. With the cessation of hostilities 14 August 1946, the carrier 
was assigned the task of returning Pacific veterans to the United 
States. She made four cruises to the Pacific Islands before arriving San 
Pedro 2 February 1946, from her final "Magic-Carpet" mission. On 23 
April KWAJALEIN cleared San Pablo Bay for Mukilteo, Wash., arriving 
there 3 days later. She decommissioned at Tacoma, Wash., 16 August 1946, 
and joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Her name was struck from the Navy 
List 1 April 1960, and she was scrapped in Japan the following year.

KWAJALEIN received two battle stars for World War II service.