Royal Canadian Navy Aircraft Carriers, HMCS Warrior (R31), HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) and HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1946-1970

Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Aircraft Carriers, 1946 - 1970,

HMCS Warrior (R31), HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

HMCS Warrior (R31); HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21);  HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

HMCS Warrior (31)

(George Crewe Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31).

Built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, she was originally to be called HMS Brave; the Royal Navy had originally intended to rush her into service for operations in the Indian Ocean during  the Second World War, thus she was built without heaters for some onboard equipment since heat was unnecessary in tropical operations.  She was launched on 20 May 1944 and completed on 24 January 1946. She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, commissioned as HMCS Warrior and placed under the command of Captain Frank Houghton, and served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1946 to 1948.   She entered Halifax harbour on 31 March 1946, a week after leaving Portsmouth.  The RCN experienced problems with the unheated equipment during operations in cold North Atlantic waters off eastern Canada during 1947.  The RCN deemed her unfit for service and, rather than retrofit her with equipment heaters, made arrangements with the Royal Navy to trade her for a more suitable aircraft carrier of the Majestic class which became HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) on commissioning.  HMCS Warrior returned to the United Kingdom and was recommissioned as HMS Warrior (R31) on 23 March 1948, serving the RN from 1948 to 1958.  In 1957 she was headquarters ship for Britain’s atom bomb tests on Christmas Island.  She was sold to the Argentine Navy serving from 1959 to 1969 as ARA Independencia (V-1).  She was scrapped in 1971.

(RCN Photo)

HMS Warrior, previously HMCS Warrior, a Colossus class light fleet aircraft carrier, off Gibraltar in the 1950s.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo CBVA 1184-3461)

HMCS Warrior passing under the Lions Gate Bridge, British Columbia, ca 1947.

(Lt VS Curry Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), Supermarine Seafire warming up on deck ahead of a flight of with Fairey Firefly fighters.

(James A. Senior Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), with a pair of Fairey Firefly fighters warming up.

(James A. Senior Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), with Fairey Firefly.

(George Crewe Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), with Fairey Firefly preparing to lower wings for launch.

(George Crewe Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), with Fairey Firefly wings lowered and ready for launch.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4820989)

HMCS Warrior (R31), with Fairey Firefly warming up on deck.

(James A. Senior Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), aerial view, ca 1947.

(Lt VS Curry Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31), ca 1947.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo CBVA 1184-3458)

HMCS Warrior (R31).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PA129207)

HMCS Warrior (R31).

(Shearwater Aviation Museum Photo)

HMCS Warrior (R31).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198949)

HMCS Warrior, broadside view taken from shore, after the aircraft carrier ran aground, 14:30 hours, 23 August 1946. Original Toronto Star caption: Eight hours after Canada's flattop; HMCS Warrior ran aground on a mudbank in the St. Lawrence river; the ship was refloated and sailed to Quebec. The ship ran aground when trouble developed in its steering apparatus. The recently launched Canada aircraft carrier was an route to Montreal but returned to Quebec city after it was freed.

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)

(IWM Photo, A 28022)

The Royal Navy Majestic-class aircraft carriers HMS Magnificent (left) and HMS Powerful under construction at Harland and Wolff's Musgrave shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK).  Both carriers would serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, Powerful as HMCS Bonaventure.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3225672, and the Shearwater Aviation Museum)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), 20 March 1950)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), 7 Apr 1948.  She was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier that served the Royal Canadian Navy from 1946–1956.  The third ship of the Majestic class, Magnificent was built by Harland and Wolff, laid down 29 July 1943 and launched 16 November 1944.  Purchased from the Royal Navy (RN) to replace HMCS Warrior, she served in a variety of roles, operating both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.  She was generally referred to as the Maggie. Her aircraft complement included Fairey Fireflies and Hawker Sea Furies, as well as Seafires and Avengers.  Her last role was as a transport during the Suez Crisis, carrying a large part of the Canadian peacekeeping force to Egypt, its vehicles parked on her deck.  Magnificent was decommissioned by the RCN in 1956 replaced in RCN service by HMCS Bonaventure, another RN Majestic class carrier (HMS Powerful) that had not been completed at the end of the war.  Magnificent was returned to the RN in 1957 and placed in reserve until disposed of. The ship was broken up in Faslane in July 1965.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951079)

HMCS Magnificent's Capt. A.B. Fraser-Harris and Cdr. A.I. Collier study a chart of Port Said harbour while en route to Middle East, United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), 14 January 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951071)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), unloading vehicles for the Canadian Forces at Port Said for the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) 13 January 1957.

‍

(Dennis Cardy Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21).

(Harry Pot Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), visiting Rotterdam, 24 Oct 1955.

  (DND Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21).

(DND Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21).

(DND Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21).

(DND Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21).

(Gerald Sullivan Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), at anchor off San Raphael, French Riviera, fall, 1951.

(Gerald Sullivan Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), entering Grand Harbour, Malta, 1951.

(USN Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), view from the air with a RCN Grumman TBM-3 Avenger, 1953.

(Dennis Cardy Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), visiting Rotterdam, with RCN Grumman TBM-3 Avengers on deck, 1950.

(Erling Baldorf Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), visiting Copenhagen, ca 1951.

‍

(DND Photos via James Craik)

In October 1951, HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21) loaded a cargo of 35 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk. 2 aircraft at Norfolk Virginia, destined for Europe.   24 aircraft were concooned and transported above deck and 11 aircraft, uncocooned, were carried below deck.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), carrying 46 RCAF Canadair CL-13 Sabres cocooned on deck.  The Sabres were being repatriated from Germany, 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951074)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), with an RCAF de Havilland CC-123 Otter on deck, Port Said, UNEF, 14 Jan 1957.

(RCN Photo)

The Royal Canadian Air Force contributed four DHC-3 Otters (along with DC-3s and Caribous) to the United Nations mission known as UNEF, which were delivered by the Canadian aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent to Port Said and flown off to El Arish.  In this photo we see one of the four taking off Maggie’s flight deck at Port Said.  Three more Otters would rotate through later but they would arrive and go home via RCAF CC-119 Flying Box Car or CC-130 Hercules.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951070)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), unloading Canadian Army vehicles, Port Said, UNEF, 13 Jan 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951381)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), view from an RCN Grumman Avenger, 1952.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951375)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), with Grumman Avengers on deck, 1952.

(USN Photo)

Grumman TBM-3W Avenger aircraft on the flight deck of the Canadian aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), circa 1953.

 (USN Photo)

Grumman TBM-3 Avengers on the deck of HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), rough weather, ca 1953.

(USN Photo)

Grumman TBM-3 Avengers on the deck of HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), rough weather, ca 1953.

(USN Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), with Grumman TBM-3W Avenger on the flight deck ca 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194865)

HMCS Magnificent, Fairey Firefly F.R. Mk. IV, TW753, 825 Sqn swerved off the flight deck.

‍

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951278)

HMCS Magnificent, flight crew, 1956.

(Gerald Sullivan Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Fairey Firefly prang, 1951.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Fairey Firefly launch.

(RCN Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 on the HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), ca 1955.

(RCN Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 on the HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), ca 1955.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo,  MIKAN No. 4950940)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), welcome home, Halifax, 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950941)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Halifax, 1950.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950940)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), alongside HMCS Quebec, June 1954.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951037)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Halifax, June 1954.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951038)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), Halifax, June 1954.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951045)

HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), leaving her berth at Halifax, May 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951040)

Arrival of HMCS Magnificent in Halifax returning from the United Kingdom, docking in Halifax beside the cruiser HMCS Quebec, with the historic Citadel in the background, June 1954.

Mariner Miracle, 1953

(Gerald Sullivan Photo)

A U.S. Navy Douglas AD-4B Skyraider from Attack Squadron VA-75 Sunday Punchers, Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) from the USS Bennington (CVA-20), piloted by LTJG Jim Elster, ready for launch from the Canadian aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21), after the so-called "Mariner Miracle" in 1953.  In September 1953 the carriers USS Wasp (CVA-18), USS Bennington and HMCS Magnificent were taking part in naval exercise "Mariner" in the North Atlantic.  On the afternoon of 23 September 1953, with 42 planes aloft, the carriers were completely socked in by fog.  The aircraft were unable to find and return to their carriers in the fog and as they ran low on fuel, Vice Admiral T.S. Combs and Rear Admiral H.H. Goodwin ordered all aircraft to ditch near the submarine USS Redfin (SSR-272) at 1620 hrs.  Just as the aircraft were about to do so, however, the fog lifted slightly and all planes were ordered to land on the first carrier platform they could find.  All 42 aircraft were recovered safely with only minimum fuel remaining.  USN LTJG Elster's Skyraider landed on HMCS Magnificent and while onboard Canadian sailors painted a red mapleleaf on the American stars.  It is reported that in spite of many refits and repairs, the maple leaf was still intact on the aircraft many years later.

(Gerald Sullivan Photo)

USN LTJG Elster's Skyraider with maple leaf painted, HMCS Magnificent.

(Gerald Sullivan Photo)

HMCS Magnificent entering Saint John, NB, June 1953.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951278)

HMCS Magnificent flight crew, 1956.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950875)

Batsman on HMCS Warrior, signaling aircraft to land on the flight deck, ca 1946-1948.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951377)

RCN Grumman Avenger in flight, No. 881 Anti-submarine Squadron, 1952.

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951132)

HMCS Bonaventure off the coast of England, 7 June 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951124)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), at Harland and Wolff yards, Belfast, Ireland, 1957.

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) was a Majestic class aircraft carrier.  She served in the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces Maritime Command from 1957 to 1970 and was the fifth and the last aircraft carrier to serve Canada.  The ship was laid down for the British Royal Navy as HMS Powerful in November 1943.  At the end of the Second World War, work on the ship was suspended in 1946.  At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design.  Bonaventure never saw action during her career having only peripheral, non-combat roles.  However, she was involved in major NATO fleet-at-sea patrol during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As HMS Powerful she was laid down at Harland and Wolff in Belfast on 21 November 1943, and launched on 27 February 1945.  Work was suspended after the end of the Second World War, and was not resumed until the ship was bought by Canada.  She was acquired in the early 1950s by the Royal Canadian Navy, which was looking to replace its aging Second World War–vintage light carriers Magnificent (another Majestic class carrier) and Warrior, which were deemed unsuitable for the jet age.  Several surplus US and UK ships were considered, and the then-incomplete HMS Powerful, a Majestic-class light fleet carrier, was purchased in 1952 from the Royal Navy on the condition that it be refitted with an angled flight deck and steam catapult.  Bonaventure, named after Bonaventure Island, a bird sanctuary in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, was commissioned into the Canadian Navy upon completion of its refit and modernization on 17 January 1957.

HMCS Bonaventure carried five squadrons. Initially, she had up to 34 planes and helicopters embarked at any time.  The number of aircraft gradually reduced until the refit in 1967, when the air group peaked at 21 aircraft.  Initially, two types of fixed-wing aircraft were operated from Bonaventure.  The McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee was flown by VF 870 and VF 871 Squadrons, while Grumman CS2F Tracker anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft were operated by VS 880 and VS 881 Squadrons.  Bonaventure also carried Sikorsky HO4S helicopters operated by HS 50 Squadron.  By 1958, Bonaventure was able to conduct around-the-clock sustained operations, keeping four Trackers and two HO4Ss in the air at all times, saturating an area of 200 square nautical miles (690 km2) with anti-submarine warfare aircraft.  The Banshees were retired in 1962.  In 1964 new Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King helicopters were added to Bonaventure's complement.  In 1966 the carrier docked in Quebec for a mid-life refit.  This second refit took 18 months and cost $11 million.  After the 1968 unification of the Canadian armed services, Bonaventure was decommissioned in Halifax, on 3 July 1970, and was scrapped in Taiwan in 1971.

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951199)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951348)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1960.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951344)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), port bow view, 1960.

(Dennis McGilivray Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating the RCN's 50th Anniversary in 1960.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951341)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating the RCN's 50th Anniversary in 1960.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), eight Trackers on deck and members of the crew spelling out BONNY.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), with Trackers on deck.

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating 10,000 trapped landings.

(Dennis McGillivray Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(Dennis McGillivray Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(Dennis McGillivray Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(Dennis McGillivray Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), RASing with a USN ship.

(Eric Ruff Photo)

Carrier Group - June 1961.  Top to bottom: USS The Sullivans 537, USS Jonas Ingram 938, HMCS Bonaventure CVL 22, USS Essex, HMCS Athabaskan 219.

(Gary Medford Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure, Halifax, summer 1965, with Royal Navy Amphion class submarine.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure along with five Destroyers and one tanker, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Margaree, HMCS Gatineau, HMCS Fraser, HMCS St. Laurent and HMCS Provider tied-up in the port of New Orleans for a six-day visit in March 1968. There are 5 Trackers on Bonaventure's deck.

(Rene Miller Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure, post 1966-67 refit.

(Rene Miller Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure with HMCS Skeena 207 astern, ca 1966.

(Tom Price Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure flight deck flight deck with Ferret scout cars with the Recce Squadron, RCD, en route to Cyprus in 1964.

(Tom Price Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure flight deck with a visiting USN Douglas A-4 Skyhawk on deck.

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

HMCS Bonaventure showing the proposed white landing triangle rolled out around 22.

(RCN Photo via Mike Kaehler)

HMCS Bonaventure view from a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 228).

(RCN Photo via Mike Kaehler)

HMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 228) on deck.

(RCN Photo)

Flight deck of HMCS Bonaventure as the Naval helicopters "co-mingle" with Army equipment. This movement of Army equipment from Norway to Canada was one of the Bonaventure's last missions before it was decommissioned on 3 Jul 1970.

(Claus Mathes Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter hovering over the main deck.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951213)

Sikorsky HO4S-3 Helicopter line up on HMCS Bonaventure, ca 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951209)

HMCS Bonaventure, Sikorsky HO4S-3 helicopters, 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951212)

McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee, RCN (Serial No. 103), preparting to launch from HMCS Bonaventure.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821339)

McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee, HMCS Bonaventure, 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951224)

de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker landing on HMCS Bonaventure.

(Tom Price Photo)

de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker displaying armament, on HMCS Bonaventure.

(Rene Miller Photo)

de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker preparing to launch from HMCS Bonaventure.

(Rene Miller Photo)

de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker preparing to land on HMCS Bonaventure.

(Tom Price Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Sikorsky HO4S-3 Helicopter rescuing the crew of a ditched de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker.

(Rene Miller Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Sikorsky HO4S-3 Helicopter, Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King helicopter hovering with de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Trackers on deck.

(RCN Photo BV70-208 via Mike Kaehler)

A day in the life of HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. You can see deck hands holding the rotor tie down ropes to steady them on Sikorsky HO4S (Serial No. 55875) as Sea King (Serial No. 4017) from HMCS Annapolis (DDH265) takes off behind it. At the tail of 55875 you can see a deck hand with flags is giving the Sea King pilot a "thumbs up" that he is clear of 55875. Another deck hand is walking away with the chocks and two are wearing firefighting gear. Note the large speakers on 55875 just above the rear landing gear. Looks like a small DC power cart by 55875.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951223)

de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker landing on HMCS Bonaventure.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951250)

de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker, view of the port side, HMCS Bonaventure.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821374)

HMCS Bonaventure, 13 Oct 1957.

(USN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), ca. 1960.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821237)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), trials, 1 May 1957.

(Claus Mathes Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) under the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge (opened 2 Apr 1955), with two Oberaon submarines, ca 1961.

(Claus Mathes Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) RASing with HMCS Iroquois.

(DND Photos)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(RCN Photo)

McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee is positioned on the steam catapult of the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), in 1957.

(USN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1961.

(DND Photo, BVC68-14)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Atlantic Fleet with her air group overhead, 1968.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), possibly Malta harbour.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Halifax harbour.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), with HMCS Iroquois escorting.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure, Majestic Class, riding a heavy sea.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Bonaventure CVL 22 underway 1961

(DND Photo)

In good company. HMCS Bonaventure and HMCS Swansea, pictured on 18 May 1959.

(Eugene Miller Photo via Rene Miller)

Canadian Task Group, c1966.  Right to left, front to back: HMCS Kootenay 258, HMCS Restigouche 257, HMCS St. Croix 256, HMCS Skeena 207, HMCS Provider 508, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22, HMCS Nipigon 266, HMCS Antigonish 301.

(Eugene Miller Photo via Rene Miller)

Canadian Task Group, c1966.  HMCS Skeena 207, HMCS Provider 508, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22.

(Eugene Miller Photo via Rene Miller)

Front to back: HMCS Restigouche 257, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22, HMCS Skeena 207.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4718900)

A last look at HMCS Bonaventure, 12 December 1969.

(DND Photo)

Trackers on HMCS Bonaventure.