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USS Cabot CVL-28 (WWII)

The USS Cabot CVL-28 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier, and was active in World War II. The Cabot was originally known as Wilmington CL-79, and was redesignated under as Cabot CV-28 on June 2, 1942. After her US service was over she was transferred to Spain, serving under the name Dedalo. After serving for Spain she was scrapped in 2001.

After her launch on April 4, 1943 the USS Cabot CV-28 was again redesignated, this time as CVL-28. She was commissioned on July 24, 1953, commanded by Captain M.F. Shoeffel.

The USS Cabot in World War II

The USS Cabot CVL-28 sailed for Pearl Harbor on November 8, 143, with Air Group 31 aboard. Arriving on December 2, she became involved in clearing for the invasion and occupation of the island of Majuro that occurred on January 30, 1944.

In February of 1944 the Cabot was involved in air strikes on Japanese bases at Roi, Namur, and the island of Truk, as part of the invasion of the Marshalls. Following this period she returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs before sailing back into action. At the end of March 1944, the Cabot was involved in raids on the Palaus, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai, and at the end of April was providing air cover for the operation that secured Hollandia for US forces. In June, she was again aiding in the clearing of Majuro, and following this was involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, a major incident that turned out to be a decisive battle after which the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered significant losses. The Cabot provided support for the Marianas operation until August 9.

She returned to the Philippines in September, for preinvasion strikes in the Palaus, and air attacks on Mindanao, Luzon, and the Visayas. In early October, the Cabot sailed to Okinawa to provide air cover for raids. She subsequently joined the group that transported crippled cruisers Canberra and Houston to safety, then continued air strikes on the Visayas and joined the Battle of Leyte Gulf at the end of October.

Following the Leyte Gulf battle, the Cabot went on patrol near Luzon, supporting shore operations with air strikes, and repelling Japanese suicide attacks. On November 25, she fended off a particularly strong attack from several kamikazes, but was damaged when a burning kamikaze plane crashed onto her port side flight deck, destroying and disabling two gun platforms. More than sixty men were killed when the Cabot was struck, but her well-trained crew handled the damage well and she continued to operate long enough for temporary repairs to be made. She arrived at Ulithi for permanent repairs at the end of November.

The Cabot again returned to action on December 11, 1944, to support operations at Luzon. Until March 1945, she supported forces invading Iwo Jima, and participated in strikes against Okinawa and Kyushu in preparation for an invasion of Okinawa. After these intensive operations, the Cabot returned to San Francisco for a complete overhaul.

Early in August, the Cabot returned to Pearl Harbor, and from there participated in strikes on Wake Island. She remained at Eniwetok until the end of the war, on training duty. She supported troops landing in the Yellow Sea area in September and October, and then for the last time in World War II she sailed home to America.

For her service to the U.S. Army, the USS Cabot CVL-28 was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and nine battle stars.

After WWII

Following her arrival in San Diego on November 9, 1945, the Cabot was placed out of commission, and remained on reserve at Philadelphia until October 27, 1948, when she was assigned to a Naval Air Reserve training program. After a single tour of duty in European waters in early 1952, the Cabot was again decommissioned in January 1955.

It wasn't until 1967 that she was back in action. At that time the Cabot was loaned (and subsequently sold) to Spain to serve in that country's Navy. After serving Spain as the Dedalo, she was stricken by the Navy in 1989, given to a private US organization, and converted to a museum ship. However, the organizations that had attempted to preserve her as a historic ship were unable to meet the ship's expenses, and she had been completely scrapped by 2007.

One important thing to note about Navy ships such as the USS Cabot is that these ships often contained a large amount of asbestos, particularly in insulation and fire-proofing materials. Exposure to asbestos while in service aboard Navy ships is unfortunately all-too-common. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Cabot CVL-28 (WWII), or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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