On 25 July 1944,
Bougainville departed San Diego and steamed to Pearl Harbor where on
1 August she reported to Commander, Carrier Transport Squadron,
Pacific Fleet. For the rest of 1944, she transported aircraft to the
Marshall, Admiralty, and Mariana Islands. Returning to San Diego on
22 December, she underwent a brief period of availability until 7
January 1945.
On 8 February 1945, Bougainville reported to Commander, Service
Squadron 8, at Eniwetok and for the next six months provided
replenishment throughout the Western Pacific to the various Task
Groups (TGs) of Task Forces 58 and 38 (TFs 58 and 38). She
rendezvoused with these groups at sea, delivering planes,
replacement pilots and aircraft crews to the large fleet carriers.
In February–March 1945, she carried out replenishment operations
with TG 60.8 during the Iwo Jima operation. Until June, she provided
vital logistic support to the units of the 5th and 3rd Fleets as
they engaged in raids supporting the Okinawa operation.
In August, after a brief period of availability at San Diego,
Bougainville returned to Pearl Harbor. During the remainder of the
month, she transported aircraft between Pearl Harbor and the
Marshalls and Marianas.
In September, she steamed to Okinawa, where she remained until
getting underway on 6 October 1945 to deliver planes and occupation
personnel to several Chinese ports. Returning to Okinawa on the
19th, she departed the following day for San Diego. At San Diego,
she underwent a brief yard period until 28 November, and then made
her final voyage to Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok. She returned to San
Diego on 12 January 1946 and reported to the 19th Fleet for
inactivation. She sailed from San Diego on 19 January en route to
Port Angeles Wash., and then to Tacoma. Bougainville was placed out
of commission in reserve there on 3 November 1946. She was
reclassified CVU-100 on 16 June 1955. |