USS Solomons: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Casablanca-class escort carrier of the U.S. Navy}}

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!align ="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|Career

{{Infobox ship image

!align ="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|[[image:usnjack.png|USN Jack]]

|Ship image=USS Solomons CVE67.jpg

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|Ship caption= USS ''Solomons''{{'}}s port bow photographed whilst moored, circa 1945.

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{{Infobox ship career

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|Laid down:

|Ship country=United States

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|Ship flag={{USN flag|1943}}

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|Ship name=

|Launched:

*'''Emperor''' (1943)

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*'''Nassuk Bay''' (1943)

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*'''Solomons''' (1943–64)

|Commissioned:

|Ship namesake= [[Solomon Islands campaign]]

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|Ship identification=

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*'''ACV-67''' (1943)

|Decommissioned:

*'''CVE-67''' (1943–46)

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|Ship ordered=as a [[Casablanca-class escort carrier|Type S4-S2-BB3]] hull, [[Maritime Commission|MC]] hull 1104{{sfn|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}

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|Ship awarded=18 June 1942

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|Ship builder=[[Kaiser Shipyards]]

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|Ship laid down= 19 March 1943

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|Ship launched= 6 October 1943

!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|General Characteristics

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|Ship commissioned= 21 November 1943

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|Ship decommissioned= 15 May 1946

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|Ship struck= 5 June 1946

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|Ship fate=Scrapped in 1947

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{{Infobox ship characteristics

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|Header caption={{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}}

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|Ship class={{sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}}

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|Ship displacement={{Casablanca class displacement}}

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|Ship length={{Casablanca class length}}

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|Ship beam={{Casablanca class beam}}

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|Ship draft={{Casablanca class draft}}

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|Ship power={{Casablanca class power}}

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|Ship propulsion={{Casablanca class propulsion}}

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|Ship speed={{Casablanca class speed}}

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|Ship range={{cvt|10240|nmi}} at {{cvt|15|kn}}

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*Total: 910 – 916 officers and men

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**Embarked Squadron: 50 – 56

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**Ship's Crew: 860

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|Ship armament={{Casablanca class armament}}

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|Ship aircraft=27

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*1 × [[aircraft catapult|catapult]]

*2 × [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|elevators]]

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{{Infobox service record

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*[[United States Pacific Fleet]] (1943–1944)

*[[United States Atlantic Fleet]] (1944–1946)

*[[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]] (1946)

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|operations=[[Battle of the Atlantic]]

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'''USS ''Solomons'' (CVE-67)''' was the thirteenth of fifty {{sclass|Casablanca|escort carrier}}s built for the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. She was the first Navy vessel named after the [[Solomon Islands campaign]], a lengthy operation that most famously included the [[Guadalcanal campaign]], albeit she was not the first named ''Solomons''.{{refn|The first ''Solomons'' was a wooden-hulled ferry with the hull symbol '''YFB-23''' named after [[Solomons, Maryland|Solomons]], [[Maryland]] that spent most of World War II conducting ferry services at [[Midway Atoll]].{{sfn|DANFS-I|2015}}|group = note}} The ship was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] in October 1943, [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in November, and served in [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] operations during the [[Battle of the Atlantic]], as well as in other miscellaneous training and transport missions. Her frontline duty consisted of four anti-submarine patrols, with her third tour being the most notable, when her aircraft contingent sank the {{GS|U-860}} during her third combat patrol. She was decommissioned in August 1946, being [[Reserve fleet|mothballed]] in the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]]. Ultimately, she was [[Ship breaking|broken up]] in 1947.

==Design and description==

The second '''USS ''Solomons'' (CVE-67)''', an escort aircraft carrier, was converted from a [[Maritime Commission]] hull (MC hull 1104) built by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of [[Vancouver]], Wash. Her keel was laid down on 19 March 1943. Soon thereafter, she was assigned the first of her three names, ''Emperor''. After being designated an auxiliary aircraft carrier, '''ACV-67''', she was renamed ''Nassuk Bay'' on 28 June. On 15 July, she was redesignated an escort carrier, '''CVE-67'''. She was launched on 6 October 1943 by Mrs. F. J. McKenna while still bearing the name ''Nassuk Bay''. One month later, she received her third and final name, ''Solomons'', and as such, was commissioned on 21 November, Capt. M. E. Crist in command.

[[File:Inboard and outboard profiles of a Casablanca-class escort carrier, 1946.png|thumb|left|A profile of the design of {{USS|Takanis Bay|CVE-89|2}}, which was shared by all ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers]]

''Solomons'' was a ''Casablanca''-class escort carrier, the most numerous type of [[aircraft carrier]] ever built,{{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}} and was designed specifically to be rapidly mass-produced using prefabricated sections, in order to replace heavy early war losses. By the end of their production run, the time taken between laying down the hull and launching the ship had been cut down to nearly one month. Standardized with her [[sister ship]]s, she was {{convert|512|ft|3|in|abbr=on}} [[length overall|long overall]], had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|65|ft|2|in|abbr=on}}, and a [[draft (nautical)|draft]] of {{convert|20|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}. She [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{cvt|8188|LT|lk=on}} [[Standard displacement|standard]] and {{cvt|10902|LT}} with a [[Full-load displacement|full load]]. She had a {{convert|257|ft|abbr=on}} long [[Hangar#Hangars aboard ships|hangar deck]] and a {{convert|477|ft|abbr=on}} long [[flight deck]]. She was powered with two [[Skinner Unaflow]] [[Reciprocating engine|reciprocating]] [[steam engine]]s, which drove two shafts, providing {{convert|9000|hp|lk=in}}, thus enabling her to make {{Casablanca class speed}}. The ship had a cruising range of {{convert|10240|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|15|kn}}. Her compact size limited the length of the flight deck and necessitated the installment of an [[aircraft catapult]] at her bow, and there were two [[Elevator#Aircraft elevators|aircraft elevators]] to facilitate movement of aircraft between the flight and hangar deck: one each [[Bow (watercraft)|fore]] and [[Stern|aft]].{{sfn|Chesneau|Gardiner|1980|p=109}}{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|pp=34–35}}{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}}

One [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|mm|0}}/38]] [[Caliber (artillery)|caliber]] [[dual-purpose gun]] was mounted on the stern. Anti-aircraft defense was provided by eight [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors {{convert|40|mm|in|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft guns]] in single mounts, as well as twelve [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on}} cannon]]s, which were mounted around the perimeter of the deck.{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}} By the end of the war, ''Casablanca''-class carriers had been modified to carry thirty {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on}} cannons, and the number of Bofors {{convert|40|mm|in|abbr=on}} guns had been doubled to 16, by putting them into twin mounts. These modifications were in response to increasing casualties due to [[kamikaze]] attacks. Although ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers were designed to function with a crew of 860 and an embarked squadron of 50 to 56, the exigencies of wartime often necessitated the inflation of the crew count. ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers were designed to carry 27 aircraft, but the hangar deck could accommodate more, which was often necessary during transport or especially training missions, due to the constant turnover of pilots and aircraft.{{sfn|Hazegray|1998}}{{sfn|Y'Blood|2014|p=10}}

''Solomons'' spent the next four weeks in the [[Astoria]]-[[Puget Sound]] area undergoing post-trial shakedown, tests, and exercises. Departing Astoria on 20 December, she stopped at [[Alameda]], Calif., three days later and arrived at [[San Diego]] on [[Christmas Day]]. Following operations out of San Diego, she sailed for [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Hawaii]], on 30 December. On 6 January 1944, ''Solomons'' loaded aircraft and supplies there, embarked passengers, and departed on the 9th for the west coast.

==Construction==

Arriving at San Diego on 14 January, ''Solomons'' conducted battle practice off the coast of southern California until the end of the month. She departed San Diego on the 30th, bound for Norfolk, Va. During her approach to the Panama Canal, ''Solomons' '' planes participated in a simulated aerial attack on the canal. The carrier arrived at [[Balboa]] on 9 February, embarked passengers, and departed for Norfolk two days later, arriving on 16 February.

Her construction was awarded to [[Kaiser Shipyards|Kaiser Shipbuilding Company]], [[Vancouver, Washington]], under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract, on 18 June 1942. The escort carrier was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 19 March 1943 under the name ''Emperor'', with the intention of transferring her to the [[Royal Navy]] under [[Lend-Lease]]. She was laid down as MC hull 1104, the thirteenth of a series of fifty ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers. On 28 June 1943, with the {{sclass|Bogue|escort carrier|2}} {{USS|Pybus|CVE-34|2}} having been designated to be transferred in her place, ''Emperor'' was redesignated as an auxiliary aircraft carrier and therefore received the hull symbol '''ACV-67''', indicating that she was the sixty-seventh [[escort carrier]] to be [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the [[United States Navy]]. As a part of this change, she was also renamed to ''Nassuk Bay'', as part of a tradition which named escort carriers after bays or sounds in Alaska.{{sfn|Maksel|2012}} On 15 July, with the handover of ''Pybus'' having been completed, she was redesignated as an escort carrier and received her final hull symbol of '''CVE-67'''. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 6 October 1943; [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by Mrs. F. J. McKenna; transferred to the Navy, renamed to ''Solomons'' as part of a new naval policy which named subsequent ''Casablanca''-class carriers after naval or land engagements,{{sfn|Stubblebine|2011}} and commissioned on 21 November 1943, with [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] Marion Edward Crist in command.{{sfn|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}{{sfn|DANFS-II|2015}}

==Service history==

Loaded with planes, supplies, and aviation stores, Solomons got underway on 21 March bound for [[Brazil]], and arrived at [[Recife]] on 13 April and reported for duty with the 4th Fleet. On the next day, she got underway for her first antisubmarine patrol. This cruise, which lasted until the 30th, and the next, 4 to 20 May, proved uneventful. Her third patrol, however, was to be more successful.

[[File:Uss solomons.jpg|thumb|left|''Solomons'' photographed moored to Pier No. 2, Astoria, Oregon, 30 November 1943]]

Upon being commissioned, ''Solomons'' underwent a [[shakedown cruise]] in the area between [[Puget Sound]] and [[Astoria, Oregon|Astoria]], [[Oregon]], conducting tests, evaluations, and training exercises for four weeks. She left Astoria on 20 December, making a stop at [[Alameda, California|Alameda]], [[California]] on 23 December, and arriving at [[San Diego]] on 25 December. There, after conducting some more exercises, she departed for [[Pearl Harbor]] on 30 December. On 6 January 1944, she took on a load of passengers, supplies, as well as dysfunctional aircraft to be taken to the West Coast for repairs or salvage. She left on 9 January, arriving back at San Diego on 14 January. For the rest of January, she conducted battle practices off of southern California. She left San Diego with a load of aircraft on 30 January for the East Coast. As she approached the [[Panama Canal]], her aircraft participated in a simulated aerial attack on the canal in order to test its defenses. She stopped at [[Balboa, Panama|Balboa]], [[Panama]] on 9 February, where she embarked passengers, and departed on 11 February, arriving at the [[Naval Station Norfolk|naval station]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]], on 16 February.{{sfn|DANFS-II|2015}}

[[File:USS Solomons (CVE-67) leaving San Diego.jpg|thumb|left|''Solomons'' photographed leaving San Diego Bay with a load of aircraft, 31 December 1943]]

Departing Recife in June 1944, Solomons was soon involved in her sole U-boat engagement of the war. On 15 June, one of ''Solomons' '' pilots reported contact with an enemy submarine some 50 miles from the carrier. The escorts Straub and Herzog were immediately directed to the position of the contact. The pilot who had made the initial contact on the submarine was shot down by enemy antiaircraft fire, but at 1654, another ''Solomons'' aircraft regained visual contact. Five other ''Solomons'' aircraft soon joined up with it, and the group commenced a series of rocket and depth charge attacks which resulted in the sinking of the submarine, although with the loss of another pilot. Straub succeeded in rescuing 20 survivors, including the commanding officer. ''Solomons'' continued antisubmarine air operations until 23 June, when she returned to Recife to refuel and disembark the captured German sailors.

At Norfolk, ''Solomons'' took on her aircraft contingent of [[VC-9|Composite Squadron (VC) 9]], supplies, and aviation stores, before putting out to sea on 21 March for [[Brazil]]. She arrived at [[Recife]] on 13 April, and upon arriving, joined the [[United States Fourth Fleet]] for anti-submarine duties in the [[Atlantic Ocean#South Atlantic|South Atlantic]], under the command of [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice admiral]] [[Jonas H. Ingram]]. She joined Task Group 46.1, which centered around ''Solomons'', screened by the [[destroyer escorts]] {{USS|Herzog|DE-178|2}}, {{USS|Trumpeter|DE-180|2}}, {{USS|Straub|DE-181|2}}, and {{USS|Gustafson|DE-182|2}}.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2012|p=224}} On 14 April, she began her first anti-submarine patrol. Her first patrol, which lasted until 30 April, proved to be uneventful. The only indications of possible contact were some green flares spotted on the morning of 22 April, as well as some unsuccessful [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] attacks on a signature that might have been {{GS|U-196}} Her second patrol, from 4 May to 20 May, had even less activity.{{sfn|DANFS-II|2015}}

[[File:TBF ramp strike on USS Solomons (CVE-67).jpeg|thumb|left|An Avenger ([[United States military aircraft serial numbers|Bureau Number]] ''24295''), of [[VC-9]],<ref name="accident-report">{{cite web|url=http://www.accident-report.com/USN/nnames/usnc.html|website=accident-report.com|title=US Navy & US Marine Corps Aircraft Accidents 1920 to 1955|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> piloted by Ens. G.E. Edwards, hits the ramp of ''Solomons'', 25 March 1944.<ref>Campbell, Douglas E., "BuNos! Disposition of World War II USN, USMC and USCG Aircraft Listed By Bureau Number", 2012, {{ISBN|978-1-105-42071-9}}, page 214.</ref> The two aviators within were rescued, but they will perish in the attack on ''U-860'' on 15 June 1944.<ref>Graff, Cory, "Clear The Deck!: Aircraft Carrier Accidents of World War II", Specialty Press, North Branch, Minnesota, 2008, Library of Congress card number 2008001955, {{ISBN|978-1-58007-224-3}}, page 54.</ref>]]

After one more antisubmarine patrol and a visit to [[Rio de Janeiro]], ''Solomons'' returned to Norfolk, arriving on 24 August. She remained at that port for a month before leaving for [[Staten Island]], N.Y. She docked there on 25 September. She embarked 150 Army airmen together with their [[P-47 Thunderbolt|P-47]] aircraft and departed on 6 October, bound for [[Casablanca]], [[French Morocco]]. By 7 November, she was back in the [[United States]], this time at [[Narragansett Bay]], R.I.

''Solomons'' departed Recife for her third patrol on 30 May. A submarine had been spotted off of [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]] proceeding to the northeast, and the task group was dispatched after it, without any results. The task group spent the front half of its patrol chasing several signature reports, including one about a Japanese [[flying boat]], but with no results. However, [[high-frequency direction finding]] had picked up a lead of a [[U-boat]] off of southwestern [[Africa]] heading on a northwesterly course on 9 June. Thus, the task group went to the northeast, in a direction to possibly intercept.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2012|pp=224–225}}

In the midst of her patrol, on 15 June, one of VC-9's [[Grumman TBF Avenger|Avenger]] [[torpedo bomber]]s, piloted by [[Ensign (rank)#United States|Ens.]] G.E. Edwards, reported a contact at a bearing of 70 degrees and some {{cvt|50|mi}} from the carrier at 10:21. The Avenger proceeded towards the contact, and there was no further word relayed back. In fact, it had spotted the [[German Type IX submarine|Type IXD2]] {{GS|U-860}} at 12:21 as it proceeded approximately {{cvt|575|nmi}} south of [[St. Helena]]. The Avenger immediately made four attack runs against ''U-860'', and was shot down by antiaircraft fire on the fourth run, killing all three of the Avenger's crew. However, the Avenger had managed to inflict enough damage on the submarine such that it could not safely dive, something that would later prove fatal for ''U-860''. It was not until 14:00 that a group was cobbled together on ''Solomons'' to investigate Chamberlain's report. At 17:22, VC-9's commanding officer, [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant commander]] H.M. Avery, spotted a wake about {{cvt|11|mi}} away. Proceeding closer, he could observe that it was ''U-860'' on a southeasterly course, proceeding at about {{cvt|15|kn}}, whereupon he immediately issued a contact report back to ''Solomons''. Two of ''Solomons''{{'}}s screening vessels, the destroyer escorts ''Straub'' and ''Herzog'', were immediately dispatched to Avery's contact. As the Avenger moved closer, the gunners on ''U-860'' threw up a screen of flak, convincing Avery to wait for reinforcements. As Avery was transmitting his contact report back, two [[Grumman F4F Wildcat|Wildcat]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]] and one Avenger were preparing to land on ''Solomons'', having been unsuccessful in spotting any targets. Upon receiving the news, the three aircraft turned around and headed to join Avery.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2012|pp=225–226}}

Solomons spent the rest of her active service engaged in qualifying Navy and Marine pilots in carrier landings, initially off [[Quonset Point]], R.I. In January 1945, she moved to [[Port Everglades]], Fla., and continued her carrier landing qualification assignment throughput 1945. On 15 May 1946, ''Solomons'' was decommissioned at [[Boston Naval Shipyard]] and struck from the Navy List on 5 June. Sold for scrap to the Patapsco Scrap Corp., Bethlehem, Pa., she was delivered to its agent on 22 December at Newport, R.I.

The three aircraft rendezvoused with Avery, and a series of three organized attacks were planned, which were launched at 19:46, under the waning evening sun. In the first attack, ''U-860'' was first strafed by the two Wildcats piloted by Ens. T.J. Wadsworth and Ens. R.E. McMahon, whilst the submarine moved in evasive circles, unable to dive. Hits were observed on the submarine's deck, conning tower, and bandstand. As the two Wildcats pulled up from their dive, only about {{cvt|100|ft}} above ''U-860'', Wadsworth's Wildcat was damaged by flak in a wing tank, forcing him to return to ''Solomons''. The two Avengers, piloted by Avery and Ens. M.J. Spear, followed up with rockets as the Wildcats were being harried by flak. The pilots of VC-9 had been trained to aim their rockets to hit to the fore of the conning tower, where the most vulnerable systems laid. Spear's Avenger, flying from the aft of the submarine, fired eight rockets from {{cvt|800|yd}}, six of which were observed connecting with the U-boat just to the starboard fore of the conning tower. Avery's Avenger, flying from the fore, fired six rockets from {{cvt|600|yd}}, all of which connected with the front of the U-boat, some {{cvt|20|ft}} in front of the conning tower.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2012|pp=226–227}}

{{DANFS}}

Following this attack, ''U-860'' started to slow down, and turned southwards. At 17:51, two more aircraft arrived on the scene, two Avengers, one piloted by [[Lieutenant (junior grade)|Lieutenant, junior grade]] W.F. Chamberlain, and one piloted by Lieutenant, junior grade D.E. Weigle. The two aircraft immediately engaged ''U-860'', with McMahon's Wildcat making another strafing run to try to suppress antiaircraft fire. In the second attack, Weigle, running in from the fore, fired eight rockets, six of which connected in the area to the fore of the conning tower. Following this run, ''U-860'' slowed down to just a crawl, at only {{cvt|3|kn}}. In the third, and final attack, Chamberlain, charging from the port, dropped two [[depth charge]]s directly forward of the conning tower whilst Lt. Cdr. Avery strafed ''U-860'' to suppress antiaircraft fire. However, Chamberlain proceeded much too low, dropping the depth charges only {{cvt|50|ft}} over the submarine. The explosions rocked his aircraft, starting a fire in the bomb bay and in the central cockpit. Chamberlain maintained a semblance of control, and came to a relatively soft landing {{cvt|500|yd}} to the starboard of the sinking U-boat. ''U-860'' sank after this last attack, at 19:53, with 42 of her crew going down with the ship.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2012|pp=226–227}}

{{Casablanca_class_escort_carrier}}

''Straub'' and ''Herzog'' arrived during the night. Under the darkness, the two destroyers were forced to rely heavily upon ''Solomon''{{'}}s aircraft, which fired starshells and dropped flares. First, they attempted to recover Chamberlain and his crew, but were unable to find any trace of them. They then proceeded to the submarine's wreck, where ''Straub'' began rescuing survivors, whilst ''Herzog'' provided a screen. ''Straub'' eventually recovered 21 crewmen, including ''U-860''{{'}}s commander, [[Fregattenkapitän]] Paul Büchel. One of the survivors was resuscitated only after twenty minutes of artificial respiration. ''Solomons'' continued her third patrol until 23 June, when she returned to Recife to refuel and to disembark the captured German sailors.{{sfn|Y'Blood|2012|p=227}}

[[File:F4U-4 Corsairs of VBF-3 on USS Solomons (CVE-67) in July 1945.jpg|thumb|[[Vought F4U Corsair|F4U-4 Corsairs]] of Bombing Fighting Squadron (VBF) 3 "Swordsmen", which was undergoing pilot qualification trainings at the time, photographed with their wings folded up on the flight deck of ''Solomons'', July 1945, off of Florida's Atlantic coast.]]

Following a fourth anti-submarine patrol, as well as a stop at [[Rio de Janeiro]], ''Solomons'' sailed back north to Naval Station Norfolk, arriving on 24 August. She moored at Norfolk for a month before heading for [[Staten Island]], [[New York City|New York]], docking there on 25 September. She took on a load of 150 [[United States Army|army]] [[United States Army Air Forces|airmen]] along with their [[P-47 Thunderbolt]] fighters, and departed on 6 October, on a mission to ferry them to [[Casablanca]], [[French Morocco]]. She was back at the East Coast on 7 November, anchored within [[Narrangansett Bay]], [[Rhode Island]].{{sfn|DANFS-II|2015}}

For the rest of 1944, ''Solomons'' served as a training carrier, qualifying Navy and [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|Marine]] pilots in carrier landings, initially off of [[Quonset Point]]. In January 1945, she steamed southwards to [[Port Everglades]], [[Florida]], where she continued to qualify pilots throughout the rest of 1945. At Port Everglades, Captain Richard Stanley Moss raised his flag over the vessel. For a week in December 1945, she was diverted from her mission to participate in a search for the 14 missing airmen of [[Flight 19]], as well as the 13 airmen from a [[Martin PBM Mariner]] flying boat that went missing after being dispatched to look for Flight 19. On 15 February 1946, Captain Allen Smith Jr. took over command of the vessel.{{sfn|DANFS-II|2015}}

Having finished her qualification duties, ''Solomons'' proceeded northwards to the [[Boston Naval Shipyard|naval shipyard]] at [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], where she was decommissioned, on 15 May, joining the Boston group of the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]]. She was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register|Navy list]] on 5 June 1946, and she was sold for [[Ship breaking|scrapping]] in December 1946 to the Patapsco Scrap Corp., headquartered at [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]], [[Pennsylvania]]. She was delivered to its agent at [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]] on 22 December. She was ultimately broken up in 1947.{{sfn|DANFS-II|2015}}

==Notes==

{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==

{{Reflist|20em}}

==Sources==

===Online sources===

{{refbegin}}

* {{cite DANFS | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/solomons-i.html| title = ''Solomons I'' (YFB-23)| publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command | date = 10 September 2015| access-date = 5 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170619205417/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/solomons-i.html|archive-date=2017-06-19| ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS-I|2015}}}}{{PD-notice}}

* {{cite DANFS | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/solomons-ii.html| title = ''Solomons II'' (CVE-67)| publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command | date = 10 September 2015| access-date = 20 August 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201021141645/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/solomons-ii.html|archive-date=2020-10-21| ref = {{sfnRef|DANFS-II|2015}}}}{{PD-notice}}

* {{cite web| url = http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/kvancouver.htm| title = Kaiser Vancouver, Vancouver WA| publisher = www.ShipbuildingHistory.com| date = 27 November 2010| access-date = 14 June 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190616103407/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/kvancouver.htm| archive-date = 2019-06-16| ref = {{sfnRef|Kaiser Vancouver|2010}}}}

* {{cite web| url= https://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/us_esc2.htm| title= World Aircraft Carriers List: US Escort Carriers, S4 Hulls| publisher= Hazegray.org| date= 14 December 1998| access-date= 1 July 2019| ref= {{sfnRef|Hazegray|1998}}| archive-date= 19 November 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211119084210/https://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/us_esc2.htm| url-status= dead}}

* {{cite web| last = Maksel| first = Rebecca| url = https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/how-do-you-name-an-aircraft-carrier-22717003/| title = How Do You Name an Aircraft Carrier?| publisher = [[Air & Space/Smithsonian]]| date = 14 August 2012| access-date = 23 December 2019}}

* {{cite web| last = Stubblebine| first = Daniel| url = https://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=776| title = Escort Carrier Makin Island (CVE-93)| publisher = ww2db.com| date = June 2011| access-date = 23 December 2019}}

{{refend}}

===Bibliography===

{{refbegin}}

* {{citation|last= Chesneau|first= Robert|last2= Gardiner|first2 = Robert|title= Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|year= 1980 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |___location= [[London]], [[England]]|isbn= 9780870219139}}

* {{citation|last= Y'Blood|first= William|title= The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan|year= 2014 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |___location= [[Annapolis]], Maryland|type = [[E-book]]|isbn= 9781612512471}}

* {{citation|last= Y'Blood|first= William|title= Hunter-killer : U.S. Escort Carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic|year= 2012 |publisher= Naval Institute Press |___location= [[Annapolis]], Maryland|type = [[E-book]]|isbn= 9780870212864}}

{{refend}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category|USS Solomons (CVE-67)}}

* {{navsource|03/067|USS Solomons (CVE-67)}}

{{Casablanca class escort carrier}}

{{Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solomons}}

[[Category:Casablanca-class escort carriers]]

[[Category:World War II escort aircraft carriers of the United States]]

[[Category:Cold War amphibious assault ships of the United States]]

[[Category:Ships built in Vancouver, Washington]]

[[Category:1943 ships]]

[[Category:S4-S2-BB3 ships]]