USS OMMANEY BAY (CVE 79) DISCOVERY TO BE DISCUSSED AT ESCORT CARRIER HISTORY SYMPOSIUM

27 July 2023
For Immediate Release:

WASHINGTON, DC – The Naval Order of the United States (NOUS) National Capital Commandery welcomes the Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Association (ESCAA) to the nation’s capital for a planned final reunion convention which will feature a day-long symposium on Friday August 25, 2023.

Escort Carriers often dubbed “Jeep Carriers” came into existence during World War II, serving with both the U.S. and Royal Navies in the Battle of the Atlantic to deter German U-Boats attacks on cross-Atlantic convoys. They provided the backbone to what became known as Hunter-Killer groups. One such group, centered around the escort carrier Guadalcanal, would capture the German submarine U-505 on June 4, 1944. Escort carriers also served in the Pacific. During the Battle for Leyte Gulf, the Gambier Bay was sunk by enemy gunfire and a Kamikaze claimed St. Lo. On January 4, 1945, another Kamikaze claimed Ommaney Bay off the Philippines and this past July 10th, 2023, the Naval History and Heritage Command confirmed its discovery. A briefing on this discovery by Naval History and Heritage Command underwater archaeology staff is planned for the symposium.

Escort Carriers went on to serve with the U.S. Navy in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and with other navies. Given their significant contribution to naval history as illustrated by Ommaney Bay, the NOUS National Capital Commandery invites those interested in this unique aspect of naval aviation history to attend a one-day history symposium to be held at the Crystal City Doubletree Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. ESCAA has convened an impressive program with NOUS Companion Dr. David F. Winkler, author of a forthcoming book on the Navy’s first aircraft carrier Langley, serving as moderator. Other experts who have accepted invitations to speak include Cdr. Stan Fisher of the U.S. Naval Academy History Department, Archaeologist Bradley A. Krueger, historians Robert Cressman and Guy Nasuti of the Naval Heritage and History Command, and Travis Bickford of the Library of Congress. The symposium has the strong support of the Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, Rear Adm. Samuel Cox, USN (Ret.) who has invited convention attendees to tour the Navy Museum the following day and will be the featured speaker at the convention’s closing banquet that following evening.

For those interested in attending the one-day symposium which will include a lunch, the registration is found at www.ecsaa.org/symposium . For those interested in attending the entire reunion convention that includes the symposium, city tour, memorial service and banquet, further information can be found here at www.ecsaa.org/convention.

Though this is the last reunion event for the ESCAA, the NOUS National Capital Commandery commends this organization for its intent to forge on with a mission of preserving the legacy of this unique warship class. Promoting events such as this Escort Carrier History Symposium falls within the mission of the NOUS National Capital Commandery. For more on the Naval Order and eligibility to join, visit https://nouscap.org.

Media inquiries about the Escort Carrier History Symposium can be sent to ESCAA president Dave Ryan at [email protected].