USS McCawley (APA-4) was a McCawley-class attack transport that served with the United States Navy during World War II.

She returned to New York City on 25 March and then steamed to Norfolk, Virginia, en route a new assignment with the Pacific Fleet.

Joining Amphibious Force, South Pacific, she became the flagship for Rear Admiral R. K. Turner shortly before the first Allied counterinvasion of the war, Guadalcanal.

Air raids commenced on 8 August; McCawley's guns scored their first kills, destroying three or possibly four planes.

The aircraft carrier Wasp was lost and battleship North Carolina and destroyer O'Brien were damaged by torpedoes while protecting this troopship convoy.

By dusk on 12 November, as reports of Japanese ship movements from Truk increased, 90% of the transports' lading had been discharged, despite torpedo bomber attacks.

Rear Admiral Wilkinson remained on McCawley to command salvage operations, while attack cargo ship Libra took the transport in tow and destroyers Ralph Talbot and McCalla stood by to assist.

Soon afterward, the group was attacked by dive bombers, and McCawley was strafed, but no further damage was inflicted as the salvage party manned her guns to shoot down one of the three planes destroyed.

The following day, six PT boats were found to have torpedoed an "enemy" transport in Blanche Channel, after having been informed no friendly forces were in the area.