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

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