The USS White Plains (CVE-66) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy, constructed during World War II. Laid down on 11 February 1943 at Vancouver, Washington, by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, she was initially named Elbour Bay but was renamed White Plains on 3 April 1943. She was launched on 27 September 1943 and commissioned on 15 November 1943 under Captain Oscar A. Weller. The ship measured approximately 512 feet in length with a beam of about 65 feet, and she was designed primarily for aircraft transport and support roles in naval operations. Following her commissioning, White Plains underwent outfitting and shakedown training in Oregon before heading to the Pacific theater. She participated actively in key operations, including the Gilbert Islands campaign, where her aircraft supported the invasion of Tarawa, and the Mariana Islands campaign, notably supporting the assaults on Saipan and Tinian. Her aircraft, comprising Grumman F4F Wildcats and TBM Avengers from her assigned Composite Squadron 4, performed air patrols, anti-submarine warfare, and ground support, often engaging enemy aircraft and shipping. A notable event was her involvement in the Battle off Samar in October 1944, part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf. During this intense surface engagement, White Plains was severely damaged by a near-miss from Yamato’s gunfire, which caused her hull to be mined and her machinery to sustain damage. Despite this, her crew managed to restore power quickly, and she participated in the fierce counterattacks against the Japanese surface fleet. She was also targeted by kamikaze aircraft, with two crashing into her during the battle, causing minor casualties. After repairs, she shifted her role to ferrying replacement aircraft across the Pacific and supported operations including the Okinawa campaign. Following the war’s end, White Plains participated in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating American personnel. She was decommissioned on 10 July 1946, after serving with distinction, earning five battle stars and prestigious citations. Ultimately, she was scrapped in 1958, marking her as a significant vessel in the naval history of World War II.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.