Canada's Naval History

Second World War (1939-1945)
The Navy in European Waters - Naval Aviation: HMS Nabob and HMS Puncher

Although HMS Nabob and HMS Puncher were formally part of Britain's Royal Navy and operated from British bases, Canadians commanded and provided most of the crew for these two escort carriers. Severe damage from a German torpedo prematurely ended Nabob's career, but Puncher served until the end of the war.

Fairey Firefly Landing

A batsman (centre) uses two large hand-held paddles to help guide a Fairey Firefly fighter during the final stages of its landing.

The Firefly has lowered a hook designed to catch one of a series of arrestor cables stretched across the aircraft carrier's flight deck and which will bring the aircraft to a rapid stop. When it entered service in mid-1944, the Firefly was a significant improvement over earlier British carrier aircraft designs. HMS Puncher operated a variety of aircraft including the Firefly, Grumman Hellcat fighters, and Fairey Barracuda and Avenger torpedo-bombers.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19820422-020