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The Early Cold War
Naval Aviation

Between 1946 and 1970, Canada's navy operated three aircraft carriers to help fulfil its anti-submarine mission and to help protect ships against enemy aircraft. These carriers required specialized equipment, procedures, and training for their crews.

Hawker Sea Fury Landing on HMCS Magnificent
Hawker Sea Fury Landing on HMCS Magnificent

This deck-level view aboard HMCS Magnificent shows a Hawker Sea Fury in the process of landing aboard the aircraft carrier.

A hook just below the aircraft's tail (centre left) has caught one of a number of arrester wires running across the width of the flight deck, and is pulling it out through a mechanism that will rapidly slow the aircraft (right foreground). Landing heavy, high-performance aircraft like the Sea Fury aboard an aircraft carrier required specialized equipment to stop the aircraft in a short distance, as well as aircraft that could handle the stresses and impacts of such landings.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19770419-052





HMCS Warrior
HMCS Magnificent
HMCS Bonaventure
Fairey Firefly Aircraft and Plane Guard Destroyer, HMCS Warrior
Grumman Avenger aboard HMCS Magnificent
Grumman Tracker Launch, HMCS Bonaventure
Grumman Avenger Landing Aboard HMCS Warrior
Hawker Sea Fury Landing on HMCS Magnificent
Supermarine Seafire
Supermarine Seafire Crash, HMCS Warrior
Fairey Firefly Crash, HMCS Warrior
Landing on HMCS Bonaventure
McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee
Flight Deck and Island, HMCS Bonaventure
McDonnell Banshee, HMCS Bonaventure
Grumman Tracker, HMCS Shearwater
Bell HTL-4 Helicopter
Personnel Delivery by Helicopter
Life Raft and Emergency Supplies
Petty Officer, HMCS Magnificent
Triangular Bandage
Canadian Sailors Board HMCS Bonaventure
From School to Sea!
Robert N. McKinley Medal Set, HMCS Bonaventure