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HISTORY
Hawaiian Pilot origin named USS Burleight launched 3 December
1943. After the WWII war, she was sold to a commercial concern
and renamed Hawaiian Pilot. She served over 20 years as a
commercial cargo ship. She was sold for scrap in 1973.
Earlier carrier
USS Burleigh (APA-95) was a
Bayfield-class attack transport that served with the US Navy
during World War II. Burleigh (named after Burleigh County,
North Dakota), was launched on 3 December 1943 by Ingalls
Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi under a Maritime
Commission contract, and placed in reduced commission on 1 April
1944. She was taken to New York, and placed out of commission on
13 April for conversion by Bethlehem Steel, 56th Street Yard,
Brooklyn, New York. The ship was placed in full commission on 30
October 1944, with Commander D. G. Greenlee in command.
Operational history
On 3 December 1944 Burleigh departed Hampton Roads, Virginia,
and proceeded to the Pacific, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 23
December. She became flagship of Transport Squadron 18 at San
Francisco on 3 January 1945. During January and February,
Burleigh transported passengers and supplies to Pearl Harbor,
Guadalcanal, and the Russell Islands.
Okinawa
March 1945 was spent at Ulithi, Caroline Islands, in preparation
for the assault on Okinawa. Burleigh departed Ulithi, in company
with Transport Squadron 18, on 27 March, and arrived off Okinawa
on 1 April. She remained in the area disembarking Marines and
supplies until 10 April, when she got underway for Pearl Harbor.
She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 27 April, after stopping at Guam
to embark casualties.
Returning to San Francisco on 4 June, Burleigh embarked troops
and supplies and steamed to Guam via Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and
Saipan. She returned to San Francisco on 2 August.
Operation Magic Carpet
With the cessation of hostilities, Burleigh was assigned to the
Operation Magic Carpet fleet returning veterans from the Pacific
until March 1946. On 15 March 1946 she departed the West Coast
for Norfolk, Virginia, where she arrived in April. She was
decommissioned on 11 June 1946 and returned to the Maritime
Commission the following day.
Burleigh received one battle star for her World War II service.
After the war, she was sold to a commercial concern and renamed
Hawaiian Trader. She served over 20 years as a commercial cargo
ship. She was sold for scrap in 1973.
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