Following training off
the West Coast, Hollandia sailed 10 July 1944 from San Diego for a
shakedown cruise to Espiritu Santo. She also transported replacement
aircraft on this cruise, and on the return voyage stopped at Manus
Island and Guadalcanal, arriving Port Hueneme, California on 27
August. During the next few months the escort carrier made similar
cruises between the United States and the Navy's bases in the far
Pacific, Manus, Ulithi, and Guam, bringing vitally-needed supplies
and passengers.
Hollandia was anchored at Ulithi on 1 April 1945 when the Navy's
massive amphibious assault of Okinawa began. She got underway next
day and operated off the Okinawan coast, sending fighters to support
the advancing troops. The ship then returned to San Diego, arriving
on 1 May 1945. Following a cargo and passenger voyage to Pearl
Harbor and return, Hollandia departed on 7 June to take part in the
climactic events of the Pacific war. Loading replacement aircraft at
Pearl Harbor, the ship sailed on 18 June to operate with 3rd Fleet's
logistic supply unit, and for the final 2 months of the war, she
brought valuable replacements to the carriers of the fast task
forces pounding Japan.
Following the surrender of Japan, Hollandia underwent conversion at
Guam for use as a passenger ship and joined Operation "Magic-Carpet",
charged with the gigantic task of returning the tens of thousands of
American servicemen in the Pacific. After four such voyages, the
ship returned to San Pedro, California. Departing on 4 February
1946, she arrived Puget Sound on 15 February and decommissioned on
17 January 1947. She was reclassified while in reserve to CVU-97 on
12 June 1955 and to AKV-33 on 7 May 1959. Hollandia was sold to
Eisenberg & Co., New York on 31 December 1960, and later scrapped in
Portland, Oregon. |