Forces With History #262--Canada's Naval Aviators (Part 10)

In Forces With History Edition 261* we saw the terrible events of HMCS NIPIGON’S explosion and fire in 1965. On that day personnel in other ships in company may have heard and seen the explosion, but certainly radio traffic spread the alarm at once.

In the immediate aftermath of the explosion we in SAGUENAY and other ships awaited developments with bated breath. It quickly became obvious that it was necessary to transfer injured personnel to BONAVENTURE, with her expert medical team and facilities.

By now it was pitch dark out. My memory of the event tells me that SAGUENAY was ordered to a plane guard station astern of BONNIE, from where we watched the developing action. NIPIGON’S ability to manoeuvre hadn’t been affected, and her CO stationed her a cable or two off BONAVENTURE’S port side. We could make out BONNIE’S looming presence and the much smaller NIPIGON close beside her.

One of the BONNIE’S Sea King helicopters was launched immediately. It hovered overhead of the two ships and turned on its searchlight, which illuminated the scene in stark detail. This enabled PEDRO, BONNIE’S rescue helicopter, to transfer medical personnel and casualties back and forth between BONAVENTURE’S flight deck and NIPIGON’S helicopter pad.

All in a day’s work, it seemed, for HMCS BONAVENTURE and her naval aviators. Quite a contrast to the days before naval aviation. Were I injured, I’d much prefer a quick trip in PEDRO rather than being lowered to an open whaler, then rowed across unforgiving seas and hoisted aboard another ship.

The Sea Kings served with distinction with the RCN, although latterly with RCAF personnel at the controls, for an astounding 55 years. They were primarily anti-submarine aircraft. Their piece de resistance was their dipping sonar. In pursuit of a submarine, they could move quickly from one location to another, dip their sonar, and surprise a skulking submarine. Besides their sonar, they carried anti-submarine torpedoes and an array of other devices. They featured twin engines, and weighed over 9,000 kg fully loaded. Here’s a photo of one hovering over a load of cargo she’s about to lift off. Note the size of the aircraft compared to the sailors below.

*For back issues of Forces with History, please see my website www.robertwmackay.ca and go to Newsletter, then Archives.