Escort Carrier USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE 73) is straddled by salvos.

U.S. Navy Photograph

Having already received her disabling hit at 0820, GAMBIER BAY has fallen behind the other escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3 and is straddled by two pairs of Japanese 8-inch heavy cruiser shells.  Shortly after 0800, she and KALININ BAY were on the northeast flank of the task unit, exposed to the heavy cruisers.  They were both making smoke, but the wind was blowing it southwest, exposing them both to accurate 8-inch gunfire.  Both CVE's, unable to top 18 knots, took a terrible pounding...  Her Commanding Officer, CAPT W.V.R. Vieweg, estimated she was hit probably every other minute from 0820 to 0907, when she capsized to port and sank.   This photograph was taken from her COMCARDIV 26 sister-ship KITKUN BAY.  This engagement took place at such close quarters, it produced the only photographs of the entire Pacific war with American and Japanese warships visible in the same frames.

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Honor the Missing in Action and Killed in Action of Taffy III

We do remember.  We won't forget.