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.

Bell HTL-4 Helicopter

A Bell HTL-4 helicopter hovers in front of a hangar, likely at HMCS Shearwater near Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

This particular example was one of the first three helicopters acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1951. The RCN used the HTL-4 and the similar HTL-6 for utility operations such as aerial observation and photography, as well as for training pilots destined for larger helicopters. The hangar in the background may be part of the navy's School of Naval Aircraft Maintenance, which was based at HMCS Shearwater.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20020135-110