Macaw was laid down on 15 October 1941 by the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California; launched on12 July 1942; sponsored by Miss Valnessa Easton of Berkeley, Calif.; and commissioned exactly one year later.

Departing California on 28 August 1943, after shakedown and training exercises, Macaw steamed in convoy to Espiritu Santo, arriving on 2 October.

Macaw was scheduled to take part in the Marshall Islands campaign and was transiting back to Honolulu due to contaminated water tanks when she stopped at Midway Atoll.

She headed out as 20-35 knot winds from the west and rough seas pushed the submarine USS Flier (SS-250) onto the coral reef.

Due to bad weather conditions, salvage work was difficult and attempts to provision the crew on board were sometimes impossible.

Around 1800 hrs the pronounced list was suddenly reduced as Macaw's stern swung south and submerged in deeper water.