AO-28 (later AVG-26, ACV-26 and CVE-26) was namedSangamon for a river in central Illinois, approximately 246 miles (396 km) long and a principal tributary of the Illinois River (NS0302635). The Sangamon River is associated with the early career ofAbraham Lincoln and played an important role in the early white settlement of Illinois.

A Civil Warmonitor had previouslyborne the name.

NS0302635a: Sangamon River at Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial, nearLincoln's first home in Illinois.

(MapNS0302635 courtesy ofGoogle Maps.PhotoNS0302635a by "Dual Freq," courtesy of its author andWikipedia.)

As SSEsso Trenton.

Oil on canvas painting by W. Spencer Wright of the Standard Oil Co tanker SSEsso Trenton underway.

One of twelve National Defense Tankers ordered on 3 January 1938, SSEsso Trenton was built to a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design.She was acquired by the Navy in October 1940 and renamedSangamon.As a fleet oiler (AO) she would be eventually armed with four 5"/38 guns in single mounts.

"Execute WPL [War Plan] Forty Six against Japan" 7 December 1941.

Sangamon underway, date, location and photo source unknown.

Sangamon underway, date, location and photo source unknown.

USSSangamon underway, circa 1942, location unknown.

Aerial starboard quarter view of USSSangamon (ACV-26) underway in Chesapeake Bay in September 1942, shortly after being commissioned as an auxiliary aircraft carrier.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo,# NH 108607.

Port broadside view of USSSangamon, maybe on the same occasion as the photoabove.

Naval History & Heritage Command photo,# NH 108608.

USSSangamon (ACV-26), September 1942, as converted.

Asabove, slightly different image. "U.S. Navy Photo 112-20"

USSSangamon (ACV-26) as converted, date and location unknown.

TheSangamon (ACV-26), a converted tanker, September 1942. At this timeshe was armed with two 5-in/51, eight twin 40-mm, and twelve single 20-mm guns. Note the characteristicopenings in her side above the original tanker deck, designed to facilitate fueling at sea.

FromU.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

USSSangamon (ACV-26, later CVE-26), August 1942–October 1945.

USSSangamon (ACV-26), view taken from USSRanger(CV-4) on 15 October 1942. Aircraft on deck are Douglas SBDDauntlesses and Grumman TBF-1Avengers.

National Archives and Records Administration(NARA) photo, # 80-G-16544.

USSSangamon (ACV-26) steams with her escort, USSHambleton(DD-455), en route to OperationTorch, the invasion of North Africa, during November 1942.USN, courtesy Stan Piet.

FromCarrier Air War in Original Color, by Robert Lawson and Barrett Tillman.

USSSangamon (ACV-26) underway circa late 1942 or early 1943.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of theNaval History and Heritage Command (NH&HC), # NH 106577.

A PBYCatalina flying past the escort carrier USSSangamon (ACV-26/CVE-26), at anchor in the Solomons, 1943.

United States Navy photo, photo # unknown.

Somewhat rusty and worn, USSSangamon rests at anchor in an unidentified harbor, probably in the South Pacific, circa 1943.

US Navy photo, now in the collections of theNational Archivesand Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-K-15081.

The Air Groups attached to CarDiv 22 (Sangamon,SuwanneeandChenango) operated from land bases in Guadalcanal between 26 June and5 August 1943. Their biggest, and costliest, mission took place on 18 July.

This is what then ENS Elkins, a fighter pilot with VF-26, recalls.

Sangamon Class. FromU.S. Naval Ships & Aircraft (ONI 54-R), condensedand printed for FM 30-50, NAVAER 00-80V-57 (Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels).Supplement 4 - 4 August 1943.

Asabove. Bottom photo shows USSSantee(ACV/CVE-29).

USSSangamon (CVE-26), 135° off centerline view, 6 October 1943. Officialphoto, Mare Island Navy Yard # 6941-43, now in the Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files, San FranciscoNational Archives.

Handwritten on the back of this photo: "Official Photograph — Date: 12-4-43 —U.S.S.Sangamon — Crash of TBF-1C Bu.No. 26179 off our bow during take off. Firstof series of seven views."

However, there is a problem with this information. BuNo 26179 did launch fromSangamonand was lost on 1 December 1943, but it was an F6F-3Hellcat assigned to VF-37. A TBF-1CAvenger,from VC-37, was lost on 10 December 1943, but it was BuNo 47702.

USSSangamon (CVE-26) is alongside USSHughes(DD-410), 23 April 1944, passing material and a medical case fromHughes, George Albeck. Photo by Chester Bradley, DD-410.

LT Wilfred B. Tatro, USNR Commanding Officer ofPT-489, being transferred fromUSSRichard M. Rowell (DE-403) formedical treatment after being injured while rescuing a downed pilot from Jap held Wasile Bay, HalmaheraIsland, September 17, 1944.

Note: caption typed below photo identifies the DE as USSRaymond(DE-341).Sangamon's log, however, clearly states she was actuallyRichard M. Rowell.

Don Schroeder recalls: "When they brought LT Tatro aboard he had a small wrench partially imbeddedin his forehead. The story was that the wrench was laying on the upper deck and when they acceleratedthe PT boat it flew into his forehead. We had a surgeon aboard so they brought him to us."

USSRichard M. Rowell(DE-403) transfersPT-489 Boat Captain,LT Wilfred Tatro, to USSSangamon (CVE-26) at 1813 on 18 September 1944, after he hadbeen wounded two days earlier rescuing a pilot from USSSantee (CVE-29), while under Japanese fire.

US Navy Photo, now in the collection of the USNational Archives and Records Administration (NARA), at College Park, Maryland. Photo # 80-G-283960.

The pilot of a JapaneseZeke fighter that was shot down after trying to bomb USSSangamon (CVE-26) is transferred to the carrier's sick bay after his rescue by USSTrathen(DD-530) off Leyte, 20 October 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of theNational Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-291260.

Near miss at Leyte, October 1944.

Two JapaneseZero aircraft making suicide attacks on USSSangamon (CVE-26) off Leyte Gulf, Philippines, 25 October 1944, as seen from USSSuwannee (CVE-27). One Japanese near missed, close to the bow. Trailing Japanese turned away and was shot down by American fighters.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of theNational Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-270665.

"SC 260620"

"Lt. R[obert] A. Mayo, U.S.S. [sic] Navy, contacts a carrier upon safe landing at Dulag airstrip,Leyte Island, P. I. The plane is aHellcat fighter from flattop of the U.S.S.Sangamon.10/25/44."

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"This photo was on the USSSangamon (CVE-26) with the crew that went toAfrica in 1942. When they returned they refitted and went through the Panama Canal to join the PacificFleet."

"This photo was taken in Efate, New Hebrides in 1942. It is a photo of Torpedo 26 (AirGroup 26)."

"The engineering crew on an airstrip in Efate, New Hebrides, 1942."

"Guadalcanal, 1942. During the period from March 12 to April 25, 1943 this area wasunder attack by the enemy."

"AdmiralV.H. Ragsdale shaking hands with CaptainM.E. Browder upon departure from ship after being relieved asCom Car Div 22."(See"Flag Admirals & Commanding Officers").

"CAPTAIN SHOWS HIS CLIPPINGS—To an appreciative audience of enlisted men aboardhis escort carrier, the USSSangamon, CaptainM.E. Browder, USN, shows a collection of his photographs, made during battle action inLeyteGulf in the opening stages of the Campaign of the Philippines."

U.S. Navy photograph, File Number 295006, releasedon 23 January 1945.

Rear Admiral William D. Sample (left), Commander of Task Unit 52.1.3, is greeted by CaptainAlvin I. Malstrom as he comes aboard USSSangamon (CVE-26).(See"Flag Admirals & Commanding Officers").

LCDR Fillmore Bolling Gilkeson (later Rear Admiral) was the commanding officer of Torpedo Squadron 33 aboard USSSangamon (CVE-26) from February 1945 to June 1945.

He was awarded the Silver Star in May 1945 during the Ryukyu Islands Campaign. Citation: "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander Fillmore Bolling Gilkeson, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy on 4 May 1945, while in Command of an Air Group aboard an Escort Carrier during the Ryukyu Islands campaign. Lieutenant Commander Gilkeson displayed aggressive leadership and great personal courage when his ship was seriously damaged and set afire by enemy action. At the time of the initial explosion he was present on the forward end of the flight deck where he gathered and organized air group and ship's personnel in an efficient fire-fighting team, which attacked the flames in spite of intense heat, smothering smoke and exploding ammunition. Later, on the hangar deck, he assisted actively in a very dangerous area, again exposed to peril from heat, smoke and exploding ammunition. He, in particular, incited men to more vigorous action by his complete disregard for his own safety. His efforts contributed materially to the saving of the ship. His courageous actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

"[Lieutenant] Commander Fillmore B. Gilkeson, Commanding Officer, Air Group and TorpedoSquadron Thirty-Tree."

"Commander Fillmore Bolling Gilkeson, USN, whose home is in Orange, Virginia, was graduatedfrom the Naval Academy with the class of 1937. His first duty aboard the USSRangerlasted until February, 1940, at which time he started flight training at Pensacola, Florida. Afterwinning his wings, in January, 1941, Mr. Gilkeson served for over a year as Senior Aviator aboard theUSSMississippi. He then becameCommanding Officer of Scouting Forty-Three, based at Guantanamo, Cuba, at the time when the submarinemenace in the Caribbean was at its height. He was sent next to Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginiaas Commanding Officer of the Scouting Observation Unit there, before he underwent operational trainingin torpedo-bombers at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then followed his assignment as Commanding Officerof Air Group Thirty-Three in May, 1944, at Alameda, California."

"A Lieutenant Commander at the time he took over the Air Group, Commander Gilkeson received his promotion shortly before the Group returned to the States."

"Lieutenant Commander Paul C. Rooney, Commanding Officer, Fighting Squadron 33."

"Lieutenant Commander Paul Chester Rooney, USN, is a native of Haddam, Kansas. He attendedKansas State College for two years before attending the United States Naval Academy from which he wasgraduated in 1939. Before attending flight school at Pensacola, he served on the oldLexingtonfor eight months, and on destroyers for two years."

"After being designated a naval aviator he took part in the invasion of Attu as a member of CompositeSquadron Twenty-One. For leading the fighter support in the Battle of Attu, Mr. Rooney was awardedthe Distinguished Flying Cross. Upon the completion of the Attu operation, Mr. Rooney joined FightingSquadron Six for a ten-months' tour. While serving with Fighting Squadron Six he took part in theraids upon Makin Island, Marcus Island, Wake Island, Kwajalein and Truk. He received the Air Medalfor meritorious achievement in shooting down an enemy aircraft in the battle over Truk."

"In April, 1944 he took command of Fighting Squadron Thirty-Three."

Gunnery Division, USSSangamon, World War II.

Front row, center: LCDR G.F. "Frank" Kershner.

LT Howard Scott Young, Jr., was a pilot in VT-33 aboard USSSangamon (CVE-26).

NS0302637: LT Young in his TBM-3EAvenger, "Nancy III."

NS0302637a: LT Young's log entry, 4 May 1945 (the daySangamonwas attacked bykamikazes).

Charles E. Bartlett was a Yeoman aboard USSSangamon (CVE-26).

"Cruise Book" or Souvenir Book.

A 20 x 20" bronze plaque is to be dedicated on May 4, 2008 (63rd anniversary of thekamikazeattack) in the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.

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A photograph of theSangamon, taken shortly after she was re-built in 1947–48 into the tanker she had originally been. Source of photo unknown.

Gerhard comments: "I surmise that superstructure, smokestack and masts had been stowed away when she was converted into an escort carrier, as all the remounted stuff looks very original on the re-built tanker. And, of course, that clipped a lot of costs as well."

Article published inThe Log, 1948.

Article published in theAruba Esso News (published by Lago Oil & Transport Co., Ltd.), 13 September 1958.

Don retyped the article (NS0302633–NS0302633a) to make it easier toread.

NS0302633c: "SKIPPER OF the SSSangamon, which was convertedinto a baby flattop in World War II, isCommandante Primo Altea. TheSangamon, now on the lake run, formerly was theEsso Trenton."

NS0302633d: "CONVERTED BACK into an oil tanker, theSangamon'sdecks no longer echo the roar of airplane engines or the staccato of ack-ack fire. The former Essotanker was purchased by the Maritime Transportation Co. after the war."

"Steaming again as a tanker, as if nothing had happened in between..."

"SSSangamon, 1947–1960"

"Converted from damaged USSSangamon CVE 26."

"Sold to Maritime Transportation Co. and sailing under Panamanian flag with an Italian crew. InApril 1960 ran aground in Suez Canal and sold for scrap to Japan."

Hand-painted photo of SSSangamon, ex-SSEsso Trenton, ex-USSSangamon (CVE-26).