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• Commissioning and Naming: USS Donner (LSD-20) was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, commissioned on July 31, 1945, and named after Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada, California. • World War II Service: Although commissioned during the final months of World War II, Donner did not see combat action in the conflict due to the Japanese surrender occurring shortly after her commissioning. • Operation "Bluejay": In 1951, USS Donner participated in Operation Bluejay, delivering supplies and equipment to Thule Air Base, Greenland—a critical operation during the early Cold War period. • Salvaged a Soviet Aircraft: In July 1960, Donner played a role in the recovery of a Soviet MiG-15 jet fighter that had been captured in Albania. The aircraft was delivered to the United States for technical analysis. • Space Capsule Recovery: In 1961, Donner was the prime recovery vessel for the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission, which carried Ham the chimpanzee on a suborbital flight, paving the way for future manned U.S. spaceflights. • Bay of Pigs Invasion: In 1961, USS Donner supported the Bay of Pigs invasion by transporting equipment and supplies, although the mission itself was ultimately unsuccessful. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, Donner was part of the U.S. naval blockade, on high alert for potential Soviet threats. • Humanitarian Missions: Throughout her career, Donner was involved in several humanitarian missions, including disaster relief operations in the Caribbean and Central America. • Decommissioning and Fate: USS Donner was decommissioned on December 17, 1970, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1977. She was sold for scrap in 1991. • Legacy: The ship's crest and memorabilia are preserved by veteran organizations, and former crew members actively maintain her history through reunions and historical societies.