World War II Service 1945
Gardiners Bay then proceeded via Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands to tend seaplanes of Patrol Bombing Squadron (PBV) 19 in a 10-day training period, thence via Saipan and Guam in the Mariana Islands to Kerama Retto, Okinawa, where she arrived on 7 June 1945 with provisions and cargo for Fleet Air Wing 1.
Gardiners Bay devoted the following weeks to tending planes for various patrol bombing squadrons based on Kerama Retto. Between 30 June 1945 and 17 July 1945 she was flagship of an Air-Sea Rescue Unit, utilizing Rescue Squadrons 3 and 4, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 4, and three other small seaplane tenders. Eighteen rescue missions were accomplished while in a state of constant alert that saw her men at general quarters for 100 hours.
Relieved as flagship by seaplane tender USS Pine Island (AV-12) on 17 July 1945, Gardiners Bay tended planes of Rescue Squadron 6 at Chimi Bay, Okinawa, until 15 August 1945, the day hostilities with Japan ended, when she put to sea as part of the screen of the United States Third Fleet en route Japan.
Gardiners Bay received two battle stars for service in World War II.
Read more about this topic: USS Gardiners Bay (AVP-39)
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