On 1 January 1945, NATOMA BAY, reassigned to CARDIV 25, sortied once again with ships of an attack force, the target this time, Luzon. There, after battling enemy nuisance and suicide raiders enroute, she, with 5 other CVEs, provided air cover for the Bombardment and Fire Support Group prior to the landings, and direct air support ahead of the amphibious troops after the assault in the San Fabian area.Between the 10th and the 17th, her continuous direct air support missions resulted in the damage and destruction of bridges, fuel and ammunition dumps, barracks, roads and vehicles.
After replenishment at Mindoro, NATOMA BAY cruised west of Mindoro until the 29th. She then moved into position to support amphibious landings on the west coast of Zambales Province and at Subic Bay, remaining there until 1 February. Her task group, 77.4, then retired, reaching Ulithi on the 5th.
She sortied 10 February with TU-52.2.1, to provide air cover enroute to and during the Iwo Jima assault. Between the 16th and the 19th, her planes flew 123 sorties to prepare the way for the assault marines. On D-day, the 19th, 36 sorties provided direct support, while another 16 provided CAP cover. After the 19th, NATOMA BAY expanded her duties to include antisubmarine and air coordinator missions, and in March, to anti-shipping assignments.
NATOMA BAY departed the Volcano-Bonin area 8 March, entering Ulithi Lagoon on the 11th.
I don't know that any of it is relevant to this New Age post-equine organic matter, but it does establish that the ship was at Iwo Jima.