This bug seems very similar to a previous bug: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=502944 which was reported fixed in 5.4
Anyone seen this before, or have any ideas how I can get CentOS to see the disk?
Centos is usually using "old" kernel, so if you want avoid this then possible you need to recompile your own kernel or patch current.
Bugs on usb-disk are too common nowadays..
-- Eero