Bougainville (CVE-100) was launched 16 May 1944 by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Wash., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Sally A. Montfort, wife of Captain Montfort, acquired 18 June 1944; and commissioned the same day, Captain C.A. Bond in command.
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. During the remainder of 1944 she transported aircraft to the Marshall, Admiralty, and Marianas Islands. Returning to San Diego 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 underway replenishment throughout the Western Pacific to the various Task Groups of TFs 58 and 38. She rendezvoused with these groups at sea and delivered planes, replacement pilots and aircraft crews to the large fleet carriers. During February and 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 engaged in raids in support of 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 Marshall and Marianas Islands.
In September she steamed to Okinawa where she remained until getting underway 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 12 January 1946 and reported to the 19th Fleet for inactivation. She sailed from San Diego 19 January enroute to Port Angeles Wash., and then to Tacoma. Bougainville was placed out of commission in reserve there 3 November 1946. She was reclassified CVU-100 on 16 June 1955.
Her wartime commanding officers, from NavSource: Captain Charles Alonzo Bond, 18 June 1944 to 28 May 1945; Captain Thurston Booth Clark, 28 May 1945 to 30 June 1946.
Sources: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), Wikipedia, NavSource Online (commanding officers) and Wikimedia Commons (photograph records).