Hello!

I'm searching info about the composite squadrons operating from the escort carriers late in the war. What planes they used and what operations they covered. I know fore sure that there are CVE's in the Philippines and in Okinawa, but know nothing more. Which fighters and bombers they embarked and what are the more commons missions for those squadrons. I'm refering to the Pacific only.
Aynoen know If CVE's ever launched strike against the Japanese home islands??

P.S. Is there any campaign based on CVE's?
Thanks

CVEs generally used FM-2s and TBF/TBMs.

These ships were based on a cargo ship hull and power plant, so they could not generate the speed and deck length to permit Helldivers, Hellcats and Corsairs to operate from them on a fulltime basis.

As far as I know, the power plant limitations also meant that there was limited or no catapult capability.

CVEs were used for three primary roles: ASW/convoy escort, ground support, and ferrying replacement aircraft for the bigger & faster CVLs and CVs.

There was an excellent book by Edwin Hoyt on the USS Gambier Bay that detailed the CVE role pretty well, and you could supplement that with Barrett Tillman's Osprey book on the Wildcat aces and his wonderful Wildcat in WWII. Both authors are serious historians and used personal interviews with the actual participants where possible, so these are very good starting points for building (or judging) an offline campaign.

cheers

horseback