Bunker Hill (CV-17) was launched 7 December 1942 by Bethlehem Steel of Quincey, Mass.; sponsored by Mrs. Donald Boynton; and commissioned 24 May1943, Captain J, J. Ballentine in command.

Reporting to the Pacific in the fall of 1943 Bunker Hill participated in carrier operations during the Rabaul strike (11 November 1943); Gilbert Islands operation, including support of the landings on Tarawa (13 November~3 December), the Kavieng strikes in support of the Bismarck Archipelago operation (25 December 1943. 1 and 4 January 1944) Marshall Islandsoperation (29 January-8 February); strikes against Truk (17-18 February),during which eight Japanese combatant vessels were sunk; Marinanas raid(23 February), Palau-Yap Ulithi-Woleni raids (30 March-1 April); Truk-Satawan-Ponaperaids (29 April-1 May); Hollandia operation (21-28 April); and Marianasoperation (12 June-10 August), including the Battle of the Philippine Sea.On 19 June 1944, during the opening phases of the battle, Bunker Hill was damaged when an enemy near miss scattered shrapnel fragments across theship. Two men were killed and over 80 were wounded Bunker Hill continuedto do battle and her planes aided in sinking one Japanese carrier and destroyinga part of the 476 Japanese aircraft that were downed. During September sheparticipated in the Western Caroline Islands operation and then launched strikes at Okinawa, Luzon, and Formosa until November.

On 6 November Bunker Hill retired from the forward area and steamed to Bremerton, Wash., for a period of yard availability. Repairs completed,she departed the west coast 24 January 1945 and returned to the war front.during the remaining months of: World War II Bunker Hill participated inthe Iwo Jima operation and the 5th Fleet raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto (15 February-4 March), and the 5th and 3d Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa operation. On 7 April 1945 Bunker Hills planes took part ina fast carrier task force attack on a Japanese naval force in the East China Sea. The enemy battleship Yamato, one cruiser, and four destroyers were sunk.

On the morning of 11 May 1945, while supporting the Okinawa invasion, Bunker Hill was hit and severely damaged by two suicide planes. Gasoline fires flamed up and several explosions took place. The ship suffered theloss of 346 men killed, 43 missing, and 264 wounded. Although badly crippled she managed to return to Bremerton via Pearl Harbor.

In September Bunker Hill reported for duty with the "Magic Carpet"fleet. She remained on this duty as a unit of TO 16.12 returning veteransfrom the Pacific until January 1946 when she was ordered to Bremerton for inactivation. She was placed out of commission in reserve there 9 January1947.

Bunker Hill received the Presidential Unit Citation for the period 11November,1943 to 11 May 1945. In addition, she received 11 battle stars for her World War II service.

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