“Ommaney Bay received two battle stars for her World War II service.”

THE U.S. NAVY announced this week that it has identified the wreck of a Second World War escort carrier lost off the Philippines following a kamikaze attack.

The USS Ommaney Bay (CVE 79), a Casablanca-class carrier, went down in the Sulu Sea after being struck by a twin-engine Japanese suicide plane on Jan. 4, 1945. Ninety-five sailors perished in the attack, including two on a nearby destroyer who were fatally wounded by flying debris.

Personnel with the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the U.S. Navy’s Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) were able to identify the Ommaney Bay using survey information and video footage recently captured by a dive team.

“Ommaney Bay is the final resting place of American Sailors who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country,” said NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired). “This discovery allows the families of those lost some amount of closure and gives us all another chance to remember and honor their service to our nation.”

The Japanese kamikaze crashed into Ommaney Bay’s starboard side, releasing two bombs. A series of explosions were caused by one of the bombs that entered the flight deck and detonated among the carrier’s fully-gassed aircraft. The second bomb exploded close to the starboard side after rupturing the fire main on the second deck.

The order to abandon ship was given as the possibility of stored torpedo warheads exploding at any moment increased.

As a sunken military craft, the wreck of the Ommaney Bay is protected by U.S. law and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy. Since the wreck represents the final resting place of military personnel, any activity that might disturb the site must be authorized by the NHHC.

Ommaney Bay received two battle stars for her World War II service.

For more information on Ommaney Bay, visit https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/ommaney_bay.html