How can I find out the name of the ship my father was on from the Philippines in Operation Magic Carpet on November 16, 1945?

Question

I am researching my father's military history during WW2. He was a member of the 13th Air Force, 42nd Bomb Group, 390th Bombardment Squadron. I can request ship logs for that time period if I knew the ship's name. He was stationed at Puerta Princessa on Palawan Island and departed November 16th, 1945. His name is Francis W. Holden and he was a 1st Lieutenant. 
 
 Thanks, Chris Holden

Textual Reference Branch, Archives II · Answer

chhol 
 Thank you for posting your question on History Hub! 
 
 To identify the ship that transported the 390th Bomber Squadron may require original research utilizing records held by the National Archives in College Park, MD. We will be happy to make the records and their finding aids available to you or your representative in the Textual Research Room (Room 2000) here at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. Please visit our website for information about visiting the National Archives in College Park, MD , including how to schedule a research visit. 
 
 We hope this assists you with your research! 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) 
 RR2RR 24-28733-JAH

Jo Shipley · Answer

The 29th Replacement Depot served as a collecting center for returning soldiers in the Pacific. Passengers were transported from various locations to collecting centers and then transported on to the United States. Thirty percent of personnel left from the Philippines. Manila is mentioned multiple times in The Crusaders: a history of the 42nd Bombardment Group (M) as troops were sent from Palawan Island to Manila as the first step towards home. 
 The Stars and Stripes article, Nov. 12, 1945, below details the number of ships departing Manila during late November 1945. You can check your father's ASR score in Box 55 of his discharge papers. His date of departure from Manila and the Pacific Theatre (PTO) will be listed in box 36. 
 
 Below is a list of troop ship arrivals for Dec. 4, 1945. I circled in red the ships that departed Manila. Most of the circled ships are Liberty ships with Merchant Marine crews operated by the War Shipping Administration or the U.S. Army Transport service and do not appear on the list Defendress posted which lists Navy only ships. I could not find a date of departure listing for ships departing Manila. Is the Nov. 16th, 1945 date from your father's discharge paper, box 36?

Jo Shipley · Answer

Below are newspaper clippings concerning the arrival of the Sea Star in Tacoma on Dec.4, 1945:

Textual Reference Branch, Archives II · Answer

chhol 
 Thank you for posting your question on History Hub! 
 
 This is in response to your inquiry to the National Archives regarding your request for information regarding your father&rsquo;s service during the World War 2 era. 
 
 It would be in your best interest to obtain your father&rsquo;s Official Military Personnel File. Please see the following information on how to do so; 
 
 The medical and Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) of Enlisted Personnel of the U.S. Navy who were separated from the service after 1885 and prior to February 1, 1994 and Officers of the U.S. Navy who were separated from service after 1902 and prior to February 1, 1994 are located at NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. You may apply online at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ . Or you can download Standard Form 180 (SF-180) and send in your request via postal mail. 
 
 To download an SF-180 please visit our website at the following: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf 
 For a complete copy of a personnel file, in Section II, on the line for "Other" (Specify), write "Complete copy of every page of personnel file - not an extract." 
 For information regarding access to medical records please visit http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/general-public-clinical.html . 
 
 Thank you for your email to the National Archives. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) 
 
 RR2RR 24-29635-EJT