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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.

Supermarine Seafire
Supermarine Seafire

Entering Canadian service in 1946, the British Supermarine Seafire was the Royal Canadian Navy's first fighter aircraft.

A naval version of the famous land-based Supermarine Spitfire fighter, the Seafire had been developed for operations from aircraft carriers. As with most carrier-based aircraft, the Seafire's wings folded, as seen here, to reduce the space it occupied on board aircraft carriers. Not always an easy aircraft to fly, it was soon replaced in front-line service by the Hawker Sea Fury. The last Seafires had left Canadian naval service by the early 1950s.

Aircraft, Supermarine Seafire
Naval Museum of Alberta

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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