Forces With History #252—Canada’s Naval Aviators (Part 2)

The Canadian government approved a new force, the Royal Canadian Naval Air Branch, in 1943; it was immediately off and running.

HMShips NABOB and PUNCHER were initially laid down as merchant vessels in Tacoma, Washington, but finished as aircraft carriers. They were converted for use by the Royal Navy in Vancouver and were then manned by Canadians although flying Royal Naval aircraft. NABOB took part in operations off the Norwegian coast, including an attack on the German battleship TIRPITZ, sister ship to the BISMARCK.
NABOB was torpedoed but was able to make her way to Scapa Flow and safety. She was never repaired as a warship, but served out her time as a merchant ship with several other countries after the war.

HMS PUNCHER carried out various roles in wartime; her last service for Canada was as a troopship, returning Canadian personnel to Canada after the war’s end. She was returned to the US in 1946.

In the final years of the Second World War, it was felt that Canada needed larger ships to fight in the Pacific. Accordingly, two fleet carriers were offered by Britain. HMCS WARRIOR was accepted and commissioned in the RCN in 1946 and served until 1948. At that point it was decided that Canada could only afford to operate one carrier, and a near sistership, HMCS MAGNIFICENT, was obtained in exchange. She spent nine years in the RCN, conducting training, performing in NATO maneuvers, and participating in routine training.

In 1956 “Maggie” delivered army personnel, vehicles, and stores to the UN emergency force in the Middle East during the Suez Crisis.
She was eventually paid off and was succeeded by HMCS BONAVENTURE.

“Bonnie,” as she was known, sported an angled flight deck, a steam catapult, and a mirror landing sight. Commissioned in 1957, she carried jet fighters and Tracker antisubmarine aircraft. After ten years of very active Cold War service, she was due for a midlife refit, which was carried out in 1966-67 at a cost of over $11 million. (More like $100 million+ today! Nobody said operating aircraft carriers was cheap.)

Then, in a bizarre move, HMCS BONAVENTURE was paid off on July 1, 1970. She was the last of the RCN’s aircraft carriers.

But that was by no means the last of the RCN’s intrepid aviators.