In November of 1943, after a stop to rearm at Pearl Harbor, the carrier advanced to the Gilbert Islands to participate in an upcoming invasion. She was attached to Carrier Division 24, which had 2 other carriers attached. Ironically, this would be her first and final mission.
Liscome Bay and the Gilbert Islands The invasion of the Gilbert Islands consisted of two parts: the invasion of Makin, and the invasion of Tarawa. The invasion of Makin was a complete success with the Japanese “Gilberts Invasion Special Landing Force”, under-equipped and outgunned, being utterly destroyed by the U.S. forces. In a mere 76 hours, both Tarawa (a neighboring island) and Makin were captured. However, that is not to say without large casualties; in the invasion of Tarawa, over 3,000 American casualties were suffered due to stiff Japanese resistance. After the successful capture of Makin, Liscome Bay was forced to stay behind to support the neighboring invasion of Tarawa. Liscome Bay’s aircraft provided crucial air support throughout both invasions, bombing dug-in Japanese troops and their supplies.
U.S. Marines storming the beaches of Makin
Tragedy at Tarawa
TBM-1C "Avengers" supporting the invasion of Makin. They were most likely launched from an aircraft carrier supporting the invasion