
HMCS BONAVENTURE
Majestic
Class Aircraft Carrier
NOT FOR US ALONE |
HMCS BONAVENTURE
DND/RCN photo
Courtesy of the Shearwater Aviation Museum
Click on the above photo to view a larger
image |
Laid Down: 27 Nov 1943
Launched: 27 Feb 1945 |
Commissioned: 17 Jan 1957
Paid off: 03 Jul 1970 |
Battle honours: Lowestoff 1665, Four days
Battle 1666, Orfordness 1666,
Sole bay 1672 Schooneveld 1673, Texel
1673, Barfleur 1892, Malta
Convoys 1941
Built by Harland & Wolff Ltd.,
Belfast, Ireland, she was originally laid down as HMS POWERFUL. Construction
on her had been suspended in 1946, but was restarted on 15 Jul 1952 and she
was renamed HMCS BONAVENTURE after the bird sanctuary in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. Work on this ship had stopped three months after her launching in
Feb 1945, with the result that when construction resumed in 1952,
improvements could be built into her. The most notable of these was the
angled flight deck, which provided a longer landing run without sacrificing
forward parking space, and permitted the removal of the unpopular crash
barrier. Also noteworthy were a steam catapult and a mirror landing sight,
the latter going far toward eliminating human error in landing.
"Bonnie" was commissioned at Belfast on 17 Jan 1957, and arrived
at Halifax on 26 Jun 1957, carrying on deck an experimental hydrofoil craft
that was to serve in the development of HMCS BRAS D'OR. Unlike her
predecessors, BONAVENTURE had Banshee jet fighters and Tracker A/S aircraft
as her complement. Like them, she enjoyed a busy career of flying training
and participating in A/S and tactical exercises with ships of other NATO
nations.
In
Nov/Dec 1959, during a 6-week deployment that included a NATO
Exercise, HMCS BONAVENTURE, in company with HMCS ALGONQUIN, HMCS IROQUOIS,
HMCS SIOUX and HMCS ATHABASKAN encounter a
major storm that battered the squadron on their return to Halifax. One day out of
Halifax, a tracker crashed into the sea shortly after take-off with a loss
of all 4 crew.

Four
newspaper articles on the Nov/Dec 1959 deployment during which 5 RCN sailors
died.
On
11 Jun 1963, a Tracker from 880 Squadron, while performing operational
training several miles from the aircraft carrier, inadvertently flew too low
allowing the port wingtip to strike the ocean below. The aircraft
immediately and violently cart wheeled over the surface of the water. The
co-pilot managed to escape through the shattered cockpit side window and one
of the crewmen exited using his overhead hatch. Although SIKORSKY 55877
quickly recovered the two survivors from the water there was no trace of the
remaining two crew members. A search continued throughout the morning but
was unsuccessful. (Click
here to read news article on the lost tracker)
In
the summer of 1963, BONAVENTURE was conducting exercises in the North
Atlantic with ATHABASKAN as her plane guard. One one occasion, while
conducting a RAS with ATHABASKAN, the two ships collided. The BONAVENTURE received some minor
damage, while ATHABASKAN'S was more serious.
The
following write-up on the collision was submitted by Donald
(Bud) Rose, RCN(R): In 1962 when ships of the Destroyer Escort
Squadrons were being re-assigned, HMCS ATHABASKAN proceeded to Marine
Industries Ltd. at Sorel Quebec. There she would undergo a major refit which
was completed by midsummer 1963, but her radar system was not. ATHABASKAN
was one of only two ships with this type Radar System, (Cayuga was the
other) and any repairs had to be carried out at Portsmouth England.
Following her work-ups, ATHABASKAN was assigned as "plane guard' for
the aircraft carrier HMCS BONAVENTURE, exercising in the North Atlantic.
From there, ATHABASKAN was to proceed to Portsmouth England for radar
refitting. During a refueling operation in mid Atlantic, the two ships
struck each other with the ATHABASKAN receiving serious damage.
Following
the collision, HMCS BONAVENTURE proceeded to Invergordon, Scotland to the
former WW II Royal Naval Base and ship refueling facility. While damage to
the Carrier's Hull was minimal, her fuel supply was below the accepted
permissible level. Invergordon, Scotland was the nearest docking facility
capable of docking an air craft carrier. HMCS ATHABASKAN received
considerably more damage to her super structure and communication aerials
than the "Bonnie". Without the required fuel she was to receive
from the Carrier, ATHABASKAN had to make way to the nearest port which could
facilitate her requirements. This port was the shipyards of Hartland and
Wolff in Belfast - Northern Ireland. Having received temporary repairs, HMCS
ATHABASKAN proceeded on her mission which was the overhaul of her radar
system at Portsmouth England - a service not available in Canada. Permanent
repairs necessitated by the collision with HMCS BONAVENTURE at sea, would
now be carried out at Portsmouth. (click here to view 4
photos taken during the collision)
On
08 Aug 1963, during flash-up in preparation for sailing, HMCS BONAVENTURE
suffered an explosion which damaged the funnel uptakes and the top of one of
the boilers resulting in 6-weeks repairs. The following is from
"The Bonnie" by J. Allan Snowie. Quoted by Captain R.W. Timbrell.
Pages 165 &166 - In flashing up the boilers in preparation for sailing,
the engineering staff, unfortunately, had allowed sufficient gases to get up
the uptakes towards the funnel, and they failed to carry out the procedures
to clear it. An explosion took place and a fair amount of damage was done.
It was all contained within the uptakes, but we were delayed sailing.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in the engine-room accident, but extensive
damage had been done to the top of the boilers and the funnel uptakes.
Repair work kept BONAVENTURE out of action for some six weeks and
necessitated the withdrawal from Exercise "Unison" in United
Kingdom waters."
In Oct 1963,
BONAVENTURE, ALGONQUIN, CAYUGA, MICMAC and SASKATCHEWAN took part in a NATO exercise in which all participating
ships were battered by a severe North Atlantic
storm.
What was expected to be her
mid-life-refit, carried out from 1966 to 1967, took 16 months and cost over
11 million.
On
Thursday, 30 Nov 1967, while operating in the North Atlantic, Sea King
402
off HMCS BONAVENTURE, crashed into the Atlantic. While the two pilots were
ejected on impact and survived, 2 air crew died. Click
here to read more on the crash
of Sea King CHSS-12402
On
16 Feb 1969 a Grumman Tracker stalled on take-off and crashed. The
following is from Chuck MacDonald who was the Nav Yeoman onboard BONAVENTURE
at the time: I was LS NavYeoman for LCdr Scott-Montcrief the
Navigator and had been stood down early for lunch. BONAVENTURE, in
company with other ships for Exercise Maple Spring '69, was operating out of
Roosevelt Road PR and in transit to Wilmsted Curaçao. We had ongoing air
operations with catapult launches scheduled for 1100 hrs. Coincidentally,
rum ration began on the cable at the same time. While standing around
savouring my Tot and chatting in the background we could hear the normal
activity from the flight deck. Suddenly the catapult accelerated and crashed
into the stops. The noise immediately got everyone’s attention toward the
stop which had us looking at the bow only to see the undercarriage of a
tracker appear. The engine noises from the Tracker had the distinctive
wallowing sound of a stall and it was clear it wasn’t gaining altitude. At
that point I dropped my tot mug over the side as I left the cable deck on
the way to my emergency station on the bridge. While I was running the
aircraft had landed upright on the sea surface only to be immediately run
over by BONAVENTURE with impact right on the bow. By the time I reached the
Command Platform the impact site was astern of us. Above the site of the
impact was the rescue helicopter Pedro hovering at about 75 feet. The Rescue
Diver had already jumped into the water and fortunately landed in close
proximity to the pilot Lt(N) Jack Flanagan. The pilot had lost a portion of
one lower leg and was bleeding profusely into shark infested waters. The
diver took quick action applying a tourniquet, Pedro hoisted the pilot and
delivered him to the waiting medical staff on the flight deck , in two and a
half minutes. By this time a destroyer in company had launched rescue boat
and I believe BONAVENTURE had as well. The remaining crew were all safely
returned to BONAVENTURE with their flight suits adorned with rust red of
boot topping. Many stories of how they saw the various parts of the hull
impact them and most notably the propellers slowing down but they had not
stopped. All crew members survived and Lt(N) Flanagan continue to serve as a
pilot.
On
23 Oct 1969, while operating in European waters off England, HMCS
BONAVENTURE'S crew came to the aid of HMCS KOOTENAY which has suffered a catastrophic
gear box failure and explosion - flying over fire fighters, medical
staff, equipment and evacuating casualties.
On 03 Dec 1969, during
her paying-off cruise, the aviation fuel tanks (AVGAS) on HMCS BONAVENTURE
were required to be emptied and cleaned. Tragically, one fuel tank did not
vent properly, and the first two sailors who entered the fuel tank were
overcome by deadly fumes. A second pair of sailors lost their lives during
the rescue attempt.
Only 3 years after her mid-life refit, she was
incomprehensibly paid off on 03 July 1970, and sold for scrap.
From
the notes of Heinz Gohlish, Lt, RCN / C.A.F. ret'd - BONAVENTURE was
removed from operational duties in Dec 1969 and her compliment was
reduced to about 800 consisting of the Engineer Dept, Deck Dept, Supply Dept
and a much reduced Operations and Air Department. With that, there was a
brief further life as a supply ship during Maple Spring 1970 as PROVIDER was
transferred to the West Coast and PROTECTEUR was delayed, and also as a
heavy equipment transporter for two army exercises - to Jamaica (Nimrod
Capers) and to Northern Norway (Arctic Express). Between January and April
1970, BONAVENTURE had significant sea time.
A
brief word on the Deck Department over the last year: This was led by LCdr
Jim Murwin (who was succeeded by Lcdr Jim Bowen and became BONAVENTURE'S
last XO), a gentleman who directed with a light touch and a paternal manner.
This was appropriate for the mainly young boatswains. The Petty Officers
however were very experienced indeed, one of whom was a WWII veteran. They
were led by the estimable CPO John Newton, the carrier's last Buffer.
Overall, it was a great team.
BONAVENTURE
was officially decommissioned on 3rd July 1970 with VAdm J.C. O'Brien
presiding. For the final three months, BONAVENTURE was banished from Jetty 4
to Pier 8 and only the Deck Dept remained to prepare the ship for final
disposal. This was actually hard work with much equipment being shifted,
immobilized or made safe. It fell to Slt Richard Neveu to turn off the last
light.
What
caused Sea King 4002 to crash? The following was submitted by David
Wolfe, son of Lt L.M. Wolfe, pilot of Sea King 402 from information he told
his wife.
As
recalled by Mrs. Carole Wolfe to her son: I believe the Sea King was
doing a strange yaw-kick on its previous flight, and I believe your Dad said
he had taken the chopper out right away again. I don't know that it was
approved by the CO, or whether the previous crew okayed it. On the carrier
they didn't necessarily shut the blades down as the crews changed, so it
might even have still been running.
They
had completed their mission and were coming in for their landing and had
descended to 200 ft. with the Bonnie in sight. That was the last your Dad
said he remembered. Radar said they just disappeared from the screen.
Brian (co-pilot SLt B.E. Roberts) had told your father he remembered falling
a long way down into the water and that he was no longer in his seat. I have
never spoken to Brian, or the wives of his crew but I know that your Dad
said they put themselves on his flight as they trusted him as a pilot who
was as safe as any of them on board. There were some comments to me
personally from other pilots in the squadron afterwards who said if this
could happen to Leo, then they didn't trust the helicopter.
Your
Dad did come to in the water, and when he realized he was still in his seat,
he snapped out of his harness and got to the surface. Brian had already got
the dinghy inflated and helped pull your Dad into it. Your Dad had blood all
over his face from a slash across the bridge of his nose, which they later
determined probably came from flying through the windshield and hitting the
wiper arm. His appearance gave Brian quite a scare. When he was airlifted to
Bermuda, they dropped him out of the sling onto the deck of the DDH. So, he
wasn't too happy about that either.
When
I picked him up at the airport when he came home, he was quite snippy. The
CO was there to greet him, but Leo had already discovered that they were not
going to support his claim that the chopper disintegrated through no fault
of theirs. So he was less than happy to see him. I obviously
wasn't there, so can only repeat what Leo told me. I don't think he ever
forgave the investigation team, and he was certainly happy to move onto
other aircraft.
Webmaster's
Note: The official report mentions pilot distraction, however, the memories
of Lt Wolfe seem to provide info to the contrary.
Engineering
trivia: Due to size, HMCS BONAVENTURE'S propulsion machinery was
divided into two major compartments located fore and aft, each having two
boilers and one steam turbine engine. Each was configured with two boilers
facing one another on one side of the ship and their associated main engine
located on the other. Apparently, during builder's trials, excessive
vibration was noted in the starboard shaft even though it was adequately
supported with bearings (plummer blocks) throughout its length. The solution
was to fit a four-bladed propeller on the shaft to dampen out over-all shaft
harmonics. It worked!
Photos
and Documents
Ship's Books and Booklets
Ship's
company photos The
Ship's Bell
External
Links: Bonnie's
Storm The
Invisible Giant - The BONAVENTURE
HMCS
BONAVENTURE (Youtube video)
Commanding Officers
Capt.
Harold Victor W. Groos, RCN - 17 Jan 1957 - 14 Jan 1958
Capt.
William Moss Landymore, RCN - 15 Jan 1958 - 11 Sep 1959
Capt. J.C.
O'Brien, RCN - 12 Sep 1959 - 29 Aug 1961
Capt. Frederick Charsley Frewer, RCN - 30 Aug 1961 - 06 Aug
1963
Capt. Robert Walker
Timbrell, RCN - 07 Aug 1963 - 01 Apr 1965 |
Capt. Henry Allan
Porter, RCN - 02 Apr 1965 - 31 July 1966
Cdr. A.T. Bice, RCN - 01 Aug 1966 - 20 Nov
1966
Capt. R.H.
Falls, RCN - 21 Nov 1966 - 08 Apr 1969 Capt.
James Mortimer
Cutts - 09 Apr 1969 - 08 Jan 1970 Cdr. Henry
William (Hank) Vondette - 09 Jan 1970 - 01 Jul 1970 |
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget

BELL-IRVING, Brian
LCdr (P), RCN
died - 04 Mar 1958 |

BOTTARO,
Jack A.
PO2, RCN
died - 12 Dec 1959
|

BOULTER,
John E.
AB, RCN
died - 03 Dec 1969 |

DAUGHARTY, George
B.
Lt, RCN
died - 02 Apr 1959 |

DAWSON,
Francis R.
AB, RCN
died - 12 Dec 1959
|

HAMMER,
Robert A.
PO, RCN
died - 11 Jun 1963
|

HARRIS,
Roger S.
LCdr, RCN
died - 12 Dec 1959
|

HENDERSON,
Edward I.
LS, RCN
died - 13 Dec 1960 |

KNOX,
John C.
LCdr, RCN
died - 22 Mar 1966 |

LOGAN, Gary
E.
SLt, RCN
died - 02 Apr 1959 |

MANDER,
Douglas N.
PO1, RCN
died - 01 Dec 1967
|

MORRELL,
Gordon H.
LS, RCN
died - 03 Dec 1969 |

MOWAT,
Gordon G.
SLt, RCN
died - 12 Dec 1959
|

PATTERSON,
Donald R.
LS, RCN
died - 03 Dec 1969 |

QUINN,
William J.
PO1, RCN
died - 10 Aug 1967 |

SLASOR,
Robert H.
CPO2, RCN
died - 31 Oct 1965 |

SWIM,
Gary L.
LS, RCN
died - 03 Dec 1969 |

TULLY, Claire
G.
Cd Officer, RCN
died - 01 Dec 1967 |

VICZKO,
Larry A.
Lt, RCN
died - 25 Aug 1962 |
|
In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
A

Acton, Ruben
G. |

Adam,
James B. |

Adamski,
Stanley W. |

Addison,
Herbert T. |

Aitken, C. Ed |

Allen, G.
Raymond |

Allen,
Weldon W. |

Amyotte, James
P. |

Appleford,
Laurence |
Armitage,
James R. |

Arnold, John
M. |

Arnold, Kingsley
B. |

Arsenault,
Vilbon |

Arthur,
Robert H. |

Ash, Eldon
J. |

Atwood,
James G. C. |

Audet, J.
Victor
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Ayer,
Gardner |
Ayotte,
Jean-Paul |
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Ba-Bl

Babineau,
James W. |

Bagley,
Thomas E. |

Baldwin,
Conrad W. |
Bannister,
Henry L. |

Barber,
Malcolm S. |

Bardeau,
Eugene C. M. |

Barker,
James H. |

Baxter,
Duncan H. |

Baxter, Earl
R. |

Beamish,
Douglas V. |

Beaver,
Kenneth J. |

Bechard,
Calvin T. |

Beck, Ross
K. |

Bédard, Cécilien |

Beecher,
Scott E. |

Bell,
Richard |

Bellemare,
Gérard |

Benjamin,
Carman L. |

Berry,
Peter C. |

Biggs,
Leonard W. |

Birchall,
Kenneth G. |

Black,
Edward |

Black, Noel |

Blake,
William F. |
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Bo-Bz

Boicey,
Orville |

Bolt,
George M.
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Bone,
Richard M. |

Boswell,
Robert R. |

Boucher, Ray |

Bourque,
Donald J. |

Boutin,
Jean C.G. |

Bowen,
Wayne
L. |

Bowman,
Donavin B. |

Bowser, Robert
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Bradford,
Wayne |

Bramwell,
Robert F. |
Briard,
Kerry P. |

Bridgman,
Arthur G. |

Bright,
David J. |

Brind'Amour,
Claude |
Broe, Howard
E. |

Brosh,
James R. |

Broster, G.
Arnold
|

Brotzel,
Eugene C.
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Brown, Donal
J. |

Brown,
Kenneth F. |

Brown,
Walter K. |

Brownrigg,
John A.L. |

Bruce,
William E. |

Bruce,
William W. |

Brushett,
Gerald |
Bryden,
Ronald J. |

Budd,
Douglas C. |

Bull,
William F. |
Burke,
Patrick J.
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Bush,
Charles L.
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Butts,
Thomas H. |
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Caie,
Douglas I. |

Cairney,
John D. |

Cameron,
George D. |

Cameron,
John E.I. |

Cardiff,
William |

Carless,
George A.
|

Carroll,
James D.
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Carter,
Fred T. |

Cassidy,
Charles H. |

Cassidy,
Gerald |

Caudle,
Douglas A. |

Caudle,
Ronald H.
|

Chamberlain,
Allan H.
|

Chambers,
Ronald J. |

Charbonneau,
Joseph |

Chase,
George W. |

Choat,
Russell F. |

Christie,
William B. |

Chura, Bud |

Churchill,
Michael F. |

Clark,
Donald S. |

Clark,
F. Gordon |

Clarke,
William M |

Coade, V.
Paul |

Coady,
Francis E. M. |

Coakley,
Daniel J. |

Coles, John
G. |

Collins, D.
Alan |

Collins,
James E. |

Collyer,
Rodger W. |

Conroy,
Francis D. |

Cook,
D. Glenn |

Cook,
Geoffrey R. |

Cooper,
David B. |

Cooper,
Ronald E. |
Cormack,
Bruce |

Cormier,
Rene G. |

Cory,
David F. |

Cosgrove,
Brian F. |

Coughlan,
John |
Coughlin,
Floyd P. |

Crocker, W.
Chaney |

Crowe,
John R. |

Crowley,
Michael J. P. |

Culligan,
Joseph R. |

Cunningham,
Ronald D. |

Curry,
Donald G. |
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D

Daly,
Brendan G. |

Davidson,
Peter C. |

Davis,
Douglas |

Daws-Knowles,
Chris |

Daws-Knowles
Stuart J. V. |

Dawson,
Eric J. |

Dawson,
James |

Day,
Kenneth A. M. |
Dayton,
Francis J. |

Demers,
Robert |

Denomey,
David R. E. |

Deschenes,
Roland J. |
Deveaux,
Joseph E. |

de Ste.
Croix, Dennis J. |

Deiter,
Clayton L. |
Dineen,
Daniel C. |

Dixon,
Lancelot G. |

Doucette,
Raymond J.F. |

Dowdall,
Francis T. |

Dowdall,
James F. |

Doyle,
Adrian F. |

Dubois,
Bernard |

Dufour, Gerald
J. |

Dunham,
Douglas A. |
Dunham, Roy O. |
Dunwoody,
S. George |

Durnford, Jack
D. |

Dutchak,
William R. |
Dwviniczuk,
George |
|
E

Eady, Brian
D. |

Ebner, Ernest
F. |
Eddy,
Keith M. |

Edgar,
Eric G. |

Edwards,
James R. |

Edwards,
Murray H. |

Edwards,
Ralph W. |

Egerton,
Alfred W.G. |

Eisenhauer,
Harry M. |

Ellis,
Raymond T. |

Embley,
Geoffrey E.J. |

Emrick, R.
John |

English,
Kenneth T. |
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F

Fallen,
Edward A. |

Falls,
Robert H. |

Fane,
Peter E. |

Farberg,
Allan L. |

Farnholtz,
Bernard O. |
Ferguson,
Robert E. |

Filbert,
Leonard C. |

Filsinger,
Wilfred L.G. |

Fitzpatrick,
Maurice A. |

Flanagan,
Leonard G. |

Fleming,
George C. |

Fletcher,
Doug |

Forbes,
Thomas |

Forman,
George E. |

Forster,
Edward R. |

Forsyth,
James W. |

Foster,
Gordon D. |

Foster,
Kenneth S. |

Foster,
Robert |
Fotheringham,
James B. |

Fox,
Alexander E. |

Fraser,
James |

Francis,
Edward D. |

Frank,
John F. |

Fraser,
Peter A. |

Frewer,
Frederick C. |

Frizzell,
Wayne
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G

Gallant,
Ronald E. |

Gardner,
William A. |

Gerard,
Joseph A. G. |

Gerrior,
Marshall J. |
Gervais,
John |

Gibbs,
Kenneth L. |

Gilhen,
Cyril |

Gilks, Grady
W. |

Gillespie,
Gordon D. |

Godfrey,
Carl E. |

Gorman, John
R. |

Gould,
Norman A. |

Graham,
William O. |

Grant,
Frank |

Grant,
James W. |

Graves,
Orville B. |

Gray,
Gordon C. |

Greco,
Vincent C. |

Green,
Robert J. |

Greenwood,
Harold M. |

Greenwood,
Joseph C. |

Greer,
Gerald E. |

Grentz,
Reginald J. |

Groos,
Harold V.W. |

Guatto, D. Al
|

Guest,
Victor |

Guinta,
Francisco J.
|
Gulliver,
Brian L.
|
Gummer, Ernest
M.
|

Guthrie,
Kenneth L.
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Ha-He

Haffen,
John B. |

Hagerty,
Bernard I. |

Haley,
Leonard C. |

Halliday, Richard
G. |

Halvorsen,
Frederick A. |

Hamilton,
Ian B. |

Hamilton,
Robert A. |

Hamm,
Charles F. |

Hansen,
Frank A.
|

Hardwick,
Gerald A. |

Hardy,
Donald H. |

Harper,
Irvine L. |

Harrington,
Allen R. |
Harris,
Edward |

Harris,
Kenneth H. |
Harrison, James L. |

Harrison,
Kenneth G. |

Harvey,
William R. |

Harwood,
John |

Hatfield,
Sinclair |

Hatherley,
Peter |

Haslett,
Norman J.T. |

Hawrysh,
Frederick J. |

Hayes,Guilford
R. |

Heard,
George F.J. |

Heinsma,
S. |

Helps,
George E. |

Henbrey,
John E. |
Henderson,
Leslie F. M. |

Henderson,
Mansel I. |
Henderson,
Wilfred D. |
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Hi-Hz

Higgs,
Ralph W. |

Hill,
Donald J. |

Hill,
Edwin B. |

Hilliard,
Geoffrey S. |

Hillier, Charles H. |

Hoeg,
Richard |
Hoffman,
Herman E. |

Holmes,
Alfred J.W. |

Horvath,
Joseph |

Hoskins,
William B. |

Houston,
Alexander T. |

Howard,
Eugene C. |

Howie,
William L. |

Hughes,
Donald C. |

Hughes,
Robin L. |

Hughson,
Charles R. |

Hunter,
Donald F. |

Hunter,
Edward K. |

Hunter,
Hubert J. |

Hutchings,
Curwen J. |

Hynes,
Charles C.
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J

Jackson,
Dennis S.D. |

Jackson, J. Ralph |

Janusas,
Edmund A. |

Jellett,
John D. |

Jenkins,
Donald |

Jennings,
Samuel A. |

Jenson,
George A.
|

Johnson,
Frederick E.H.
|

Johnson,
James R.
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Jones, David
B.
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Jones,
Donald S.
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Jones, F. Curtis
|

Jones,
Walter
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K

Kaiser,
William J. |

Kamermans,
William E.
|

Kearney,
Joseph P. |

Keeler,
Anthony P. |

Kenny,
Philip L. |

Kimber,
Thomas R. |

King, Eric
T. |

King,
Herbert F. |

Kinney,
Leilen P. |

Kirwin,
James T. |

Kitchin,
James |

Knudsen,
Jorgen K. |

Kostal,
Joseph W. |

Kozak,
Leonard F. |

Kublek,
C. |

Kuhn,
Fredric H. |
|
|
|
|
L

L'Heureux,
Edward J. |
Labelle, John H. |

Lachance,
Gaetan A.
|

Laforme,
George R. |

Lahey, C.
Bernard |

Lahey, Murray |

Laidler, Robert A. |

Lalonde,
Maurice |

Laming,
Carl D. |

Landymore,
William M. |

Langevin,
Philip B. |

Langman,
Donald G. |

Lantheir,
Réjean G. |

LaRamée,
Laurent G. |

LaRose,
Denton |

LaRush,
William D. |

Laurie,
William F. S. |
Laverty, George |

Leal,
Ernest R. |

Leblanc,
Julien |

Lecky,
David J. |

Lee, Danny
G. R. |

Lees,
Joseph C. |

Leir,
Richard H. |

Leslie,
Duncan E. |

Leonard,
Norman J. |

Lessor,
Ronald |

Ley,
Charles T. |

Lighthall,
James W. |

Lilly,
John W. |
Lofgren,
Harry |
Lourme,
Ernest P. |

Lowe,
John A. |

Lowe, David
G. |
Lowe,
John D. |

Lyons,
Rodney A. |
|
|
|
|
Ma - Mac
Mabb,
Larry T. |
MacAlpine,
Gerald A. |

MacDonald,
Joseph P. |

MacDougall,
Robert J.C. |

Mace,
Ronald T. |

MacGillivray,
Darroch |

MacKenzie, Robert H. |

MacKinnon,
Patrick
|

MacKay,
Donald A. |

MacKinnon, Colin N. |

MacLaughlin, Robert
J. |

MacLean,
Owen K, |

MacLeod, Donald M. |

MacLeod, Ivor E.
|

MacLeod,
John T.
|
MacMillan G. Ronald |

MacNaughton, James
G. |

MacNeil, Blair |

MacNeil,
Gregory J. |

MacNeil, Joseph
|

MacNeil,
Steven F.
|

MacPherson, E. Ross |
|
|
|
Mad-Maz

Mageau,
Gilbert E. |

Maloney,
Gerald J. |

Manning,
Vivian C.
|

Marcotte,
Grant W.
|

Marlow,
Russell B. |

Marsden, Thomas W.J. |

Martel, Louis |
Martin,
Francis J. |

Martin,
Sidney J.
|

Maser,
William J.
|

Mason, Eric B. |

Maxwell, Donald E. |

Mayhew,
Milton M. |

Mayne,
John |

Mayo, Calvin
F.
|

Mayo,
Mark W. |

Maze,
Richard M. |
|
|
|
Mc-Mi

McBurney,
James H. |

McCall,
Thomas J.K. |

McCormack,
Roy |

McCue,
George A. |

McCulley,
Stanley J. |
McCulloch,
Paul L. S. |

Mcdonald, Daniel R.M. |

McGowan,
Stewart E. |

McGrath,
Gerald M. |

McKellar, O.
Frederick |

McInnis,
Lloyd H. |
McKechnie,
William J. |

McLachlan,
Terrance |

McMaster,
Vincent M. |

McMillan, Duncan
E.W. |

Mcmillan, Gordon Ian |
Mcnutt, Ernest W. |
McPhee,
Arthur D. |

McQueen,
Sherwood |

McRae, Allan R. |

Meads, J. Robert |

Melville, Kenneth N. |

Meyers,
Ronald |

Milhomme,
Léandre L. J. |

Millar, Kenneth B. |

Miller,
Eugene V. |

Millington,
Allen T. |

Mitchell,
Bert A. |
Mitchell, Earl C. |

Mitchell, Marvin E. |
Mo-Mz

Moffat,
William J.B. |

Montgomery, George
B. |

Mooney,
Gerald D.J. |

Moore,
D.M.L. |

Morehouse,
Robert E. |

Moro, Luigi G. |

Morris,
Arthur |

Morrison,
Ivan |

Mowat,
Robert A. L. |

Mulgrew, John J. |

Mundle, Robert M. |

Murphy,
Daniel J. |

Murphy,
Vincent J. |

Murphy,
William A.
|

Murray,
Sherman E.
|

Murwin,
James H.
|

Muzzerall,
Cecil R.
|

Myers, Edgar A.
|
|
|
N
O

O'Brien, Allen |

O'Brien,
Jack L. |

O'Brien,
John C. |

O'Hara,
Robert |

O'Neill,
John D. |

O'Quinn,
Michael T. |

O'Riley, B. David |

Riley, Merlin W. |

Oivanen,
Gary L. |

Oliver,
Henry D. |

Ormsbee, Charles
L. |

Ouellet,
Rene J. |

Owers,
Clifford |
|
|
P

Pace, Ronald B. |

Panteluk,
William |

Parfitt, Edward S. |

Parkasewych,
George |

Parry,
Arthur C. D. |
Patterson,
Merville J. |

Pattenden,
John P. |
Paul,
Joseph M. |

Pearce, Harvey C. |

Pearce, Larry D.
M.
|

Peebles, David G. |

Peeling,
Donald A. |

Peletier,
Ronald H. |

Pennycook,
Gordon W. |

Pepper,
Richard
|

Peressini,
Luigi A. |

Peters,
Delbert A. |

Petter,
John C. F. |

Phillips, Larry D. |

Phillips,
Raymond |

Pike, L. Francis |

Pilger,
Charles V.
|

Pilkington,
Ronald W. |

Pinnell,
Alfred O. |

Pittman,
Ernest C. |

Plumb, Alexander D.
|

Poirier,
Charles |

Pokotylo,
August E. |

Poole, Charles E. |

Porter,
Henry A. |

Porter, Henry T. |

Potvin,
Jean-Paul |
Preston,
Thomas P. |

Pringle,
Gilbert J. |

Procher,
Edward J. |

Publicover, Donald
S. |
Pumple, George E. |
|
|
|
Q
R

Renner,
Paul C.
|

Rent,
Frederick C. |

Riach, Gary E. |

Richard,
Donald J. |

Richardson,
Harry H. |

Riutta,
Bill
|

Roberts,
Ralph D. |

Roberts, Trevor J.F. |

Robertson,
Neil S. |

Robertson,
Robert |

Robichaud,
Allain R.
|

Robinson,
Douglas W.J. |

Robinson, Franklin
H.E. |

Rochford, Donald |

Rockley,
Robert A. |
Rodger, A.
Edward |

Rodocanachi, John A. |

Rogers,
Eugene S. |

Ross,
John L. |
Rowat,
Gordon L. |

Rowell,
Sheldon M. |

Roy,
Douglas A. |

Rumble,
Wayne A. |
Rumsam, Jack |
|
Sa-Sh

Saker,
Donald |

Saleski,
George J. |

Salmond,
John A. |

Salsman,
Melvin H. |

Sanftleben,
Melvin |

Saunders,
Gary |

Saunders,
Joseph E. |

Saunders, Oliver M. |

Schuckburgh,
Trevor C. |

Schultz,
Elvin A. |

Schweier,
Oscar G. |

Scott, Gene
R. |

Scoville,
William C. |

Scribbans,
Angus M. |
Seip, Harry
E. |
Sellon,
Murray G. |

Shackell,
Stewart W. |

Sharrow, Al |

Shantz, Mark S. |

Shaw, George
A. |

Shaw, Patrick W. |

Shears, J.E. Wallace |

Shellinck,
Anton A. |

Shields,
Amory R. |
|
Si-Sz

Silvester,
Henry |

Silins,
Janis |

Simper, Allan |

Simpson,
John B. |

Sinkins,
George M. |

Slor, John |

Sly, George
A. |

Smith,
Carmen E. |

Smith,
Donald B. |

Smith, John B. |

Sosnkowski,
J. |

Sowchuk,
Alexander
|

Springer,
David N. |

Squires,
William R. |

St. Onge, Maurice R. |

Steeves, Robert D. |

Stegen,
James W. |

Stevenson,
George F. |
Stewart,
Donald R. |
Stolee,
Erling B. |
Stone,
George A.
|

Strachan, Jack
H. |

Strum,
Gordon E. |

Stymest,
Leslie H. |

Sunderland, Albert E. |
Swansburg, Robert H. |
|
|
|
|
T

Tate, David
H. |

Taylor,
Gary S. |

Tessier,
Yves G. |

Thibault,
Joseph T.L. |

Thomas,
Edgar J. B. |

Thomas, Robert
E. |
Thompson,
C.H. |
Thompson,
John |

Tighe,
Gilbert J. |

Timbrell,
Robert W. |

Timmerman,
Nick |

Tingley, Peter B. |

Tizard,
John |

Tobin, Bruce T.G. |

Todd, David
A. |

Tracey, J. Earle |

Trafford, Gerald
R. |

Treherne,
Thomas C. |

Trinacty,
Edward A.
|
Tudor,
David T.
|

Turner, Anthony N.
|
Turner,
Bruce A.
|
|
|
|
U
V
W

Wach, Raymond S. |

Wainwright,
Ronald |

Walton,
William J. |

Wash,
Ronald T. |

Washen,
Lawrence P. |

Waters,
Brian J. |

Watkins, Kenneth R. |

Weatherup, James A. |
Weir,
David R.E. |

Welland,
Robert P. |

Wenglewick,
Raymond |

Wentzell, Harry N. |

Whelly,
Joseph E. |

Whitby, Joseph E. |

White, Karl
L.
|

White, Thomas C. |
Whittaker,
James A.
|

Wickson,
William F.
|

Wilcox,
Harold R. |

Williamson,
Albert C. |

Willis, Frank C.
|

Wills, Gerald D.
|

Wilson, A. Howard
|

Wilwand,
Robert E.
|

Windsor, Cedric
A.
|

Wiscombe,
Samuel A.
|
Witthoeft,
Karl A.
|

Witwicki,
Anthony
|

Wooder, Frank K.
|
Worthington,
Donald E.
|
Wright,
Kenneth L.
|
Wyatt, William C.
|
|
|
|
Y
Z
Former Crew
Members
Adamthwaite,
Dave V., SLt, BWK, Jun 1967 - Aug 1967 (Attach posted from HMCS
Restigouche) 
Bakody,
David, ER
Banfield,
Dave, Naval Air, RCN / C.A.F. 
Barritt,
Frank
Bell,
John, Naval Air
Bernier,
Jean-Claude - Dec 1964 - Jan 1966
Brannen,
James
Bunn,
Brian (Chuck) (Shotgun), Naval Air
Cantlie,
James Stephen Temple, Lt, RCN - 1963
Couvrette,
Denis 
Devenney,
Thomas G., C2ER
Edison,
William GH. (Bill), P2ET
Freeman,
Byron, ABRT3 / P2LT3, RCN - 25 Mar 1959 - 03 Feb 1963
Lake,
Barry, Lt
Gauthier,
Pierre - 1968-03 Jul 170 (paying off crew)
Gohlish, Heinz E., SLt
Haigh,
George, LS, Cook - 1968
Hall,
Pat
Henry,
Ronald, Cook - 1968-1969
Houston,
Richard (Shorty) 
|
Joyce,
Geoff
King,
Ken - 23 Dec 1962 - 17 Feb 1963
Kloosterman,
Jim
Lapierre, Brian,
ET
Lapointe,
Claude - 1959
Latcham,
Garry J. 
Malott,
Fred
Masterson,
Gerry (Irish) - 1959
Macdonald,
John Robert, LS, Electrician - Jul 1956-1958 (pre-commissioning crew
/ commissioning crew)
McDougall,
Keith, ABEM2, Sep 1963 - May 1966 / LSEM2, Oct 1967 - Jul 1970
McGillivray,
Dennis, RP, 42375-H, RCN - Oct 1958 - Nov 1960
McGuire,
John
McLean,
Bud
Mecredy,
Harold C.
Miller,
William (Dusty), ABER - May 1967 - Dec 1969
Mundell, Robert,
LS
O'Brien,
Larry
Olive,
Mike, LS, Air Bos',n, 581 Safety Systems, RCN
|
Penny,
Harold, LS, Cook - 1968
Price,
Tom, Stoker
Reaume,
Wayne, 27146-H
Rodgers,
Stu
Sweeny,
Earl, Cook - 1969
Tang,
John
Thornton,
Garry - 1957-1959
Tilleczek,
Norbert L.,
Tofflemire,
Bob, RP
Vowels, Gerry
Watkin,
Murray, MA, 38440-H -1960 - 1961
Westlake,
Jimmy, LS, Cook - 1968
Whattam,
Thomas, AB
Wheeler,
Paul, Cook - 1969
Wilson,
Terry - c1967-1968
Woodward,
Robert Leonard |
Ship's
Books and Booklets

Order of Ceremony
Naming and Commission
Courtesy of John Hayden |

Welcome Aboard |

A short history
Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax |

Paying Off Ceremony
Courtesy of David Pattison
|

Carrier Air Traffic Control Procedure |
Photos
and Documents

Routine Orders
23 Sep 1968
Courtesy of David Pattison |

Routine Orders
25 Oct 1969 |

Routine Orders
26 Oct 1969 |

The
Royal Navy Majestic-class aircraft carriers HMS Magnificent (left)
and HMS Powerful under construction at Harland and Wolff's Musgrave
shipyard, Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK). Both carriers would serve
with the Royal Canadian Navy, Powerful as HMCS Bonaventure.
Photographer unknown.
Courtesy of David Shirlaw
|


|
HMCS BONAVENTURE - location unknown
From the collection of Robert Norris |

|
Everything is Here
Newspaper article on storeroom with equipment and
supplied to be loaded on HMCS BONAVENTURE before commissioning in Belfast,
Ireland
The Halifax Mail-Star 11 Aug 1956
Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury
Sailors in photo: Lt (S) Young, of Halifax; PO
Angus McLeod, of Port Arthur, ON; and AB Bill Smith of Toronto, ON. |

|
Battle Board for HMCS BONAVENTURE
Shearwater Aviation Museum
Courtesy of John Knudsen |

AP10 |

AP11 |
Two
Valentines Cards sent from HMCS BONAVENTURE dated Feb 1957
From
the collection of Alfred O. Pinnell, RCN
Courtesy
of Terry Pinnell
|

|
"I
think the bonnie was coming to slackers in this pic from Belfast in
1957. Note the newest car there is a 57 chev."
Courtesy
of John P. Mcguire |


|
HMCS
BONAVENTURE celebrating the RCN's 50th Anniversary
Courtesy
of Dennis McGilivray
DND/RCN
photo |
HMCS
BONAVENTURE circa 1958-60

Courtesy
of Dennis McGillivray
DND/RCN
photo |

|
HMCS
BONAVENTURE RASing with unknown USN ship
Courtesy
of Dennis McGillivray |

|
Lt Herb Addison on HMCS Bonavetnure circa
1958-1959
From the collection of Herb Addison
Courtesy of Time Addison |
Trooper Bonnie
"In
the late 1950's, early 1960's, a friendship had developed between
the members of The Royal Canadian Dragoons in CFB Gagetown and the
crew of the HMCS BONAVENTURE. On a visit to the Regiment in
Gagetown, the crew of the BONAVENTURE transferred to the Regiment a
member of their crew. Documents detailing the transfer are in the
Regimental Archives, along with photos, of one of the first
inter-service Occupational Transfers to take place, prior to
Unification. The gaining unit, The Royal Canadian Dragoons now had a
new member, 'Tpr Bonnie'; a horse, complete with Dog Tags,
Attestation Papers, and Qualifications."
Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Dragoon's Archives
Webmaster's note: This apparently took place in
the Jan-Mar 1960 time frame
|

photo 1 |

photo 2 |

photo 3 |

photo 4 |

photo 5 |

photo 6 |

photo 7 |
(1)
Pedro on the port side of HMCS BONAVENTURE (2) Land on -
"Hopefully" - 1960 (3) Launch Time - 1960 (4)
Flight deck ops - 1960 (5) Bill McMullen - 1960 (6)
unknown sailor by helo on HMCS BONAVENTURE - 1963 (7) possibly
the hangar deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE
From
the collection of William McQueen
Courtesy
of Robin McQueen
|


|
Article from the Trident magazine on "Angel"
also known as "Pedro"
(bottom)
photo from the above article - Front (L-R) Ab William McMullen, LS David
Harding, PO Joseph Carver, AB Sherwood McQueen, AB Noel Black // Back
(L-R) AB Malcolm Marshall, Slt Wallace Morris, Lt Robin Watt, AB Edward
Olliffe |

|
Sunday Divisions on HMCS BONAVENTURE circa 1961
"Capt. Fred Frewer inspecting Engineering Division
I was an OSEM at time. LSER Danny MacDonld is the sailor that Capt. Frewer
is speaking with."
Courtesy of David Bakody |

|
Carrier Group - Jun 1961
Top to bottom - USS
THE SULLIVANS 537, USS JONAS INGRAM
938, HMCS BONAVENTURE, USS ESSEX and HMCS ATHABASKAN 219
Courtesy of Eric Ruff
From
Al Snowie's "The Bonnie" page 138 - Bonnie, Sioux and AthaB (Plane
guard) joined Essex and 5 USN destroyers in June 1961 for an ASWEX against 2
USN submarines. Bonnie's 12 Trackers flew as many hours as Essex's 36
Trackers! |

|
LS Charles Wilkins is greeted by his family in Halifax
after being rescued after a Tracker crash |

|
Newspaper Article on HMCS BONAVENTURE (and the whole
Atlantic Fleet of the RCN) taking part in the Cuban Missile Crisis
Courtesy of Byron Freeman |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE at NAD - circa 1961-63
Courtesy of Claus Mathes |
Collision
between HMCS ATHABASKAN 219 and HMCS BONAVENTURE

(1) Jackstay between ATHABASKAN and BONAVENTURE
(2) ATHABASKAN receives fueling line from BONAVENTURE
(3) Moments after the collision. Fuel line
severed on both end. The haze in the photo is black smoke from ATHABASKAN's funnels
(4) ATHABASKAN pulling away from BONAVENTURE.
Haze caused by funnel smoke from ATHABASKAN
Follow Up on collision with HMCS BONAVENTURE
The
following account of what happened has been taken from a book by J
Alan Snowie published in 1967. This account has now been included in
an Internet history of Aircraft Carriers which formally served with
the Royal Canadian Navy. It would appear that the information
contained there - in, was based on hearsay and the memories of
others not acquainted with the facts. A close friend of yours truly
[# 49753H] who also served with HMCS Cabot, was serving onboard HMCS
BONAVENTURE at the time of the incident, and is one of the sailors
seen standing on the deck of the BONAVENTURE in the photos.
Click
here to read the excerpt referenced by Bud
Courtesy
of Bud Rose |

|
Ted Gibbons, John Thompson, AB Wilton and Larry
Washbrook pose for a photo after Exercise Sharpsquall during which, on Oct
15, 1962, they made the 11,000th landing on BONAVENTURE.
From the collection of Ted Gibbons
Courtesy of Charles (Chuck) O'Neill |

|
Article on the Tracker that crashed on 11 Jun 1963
The Halifax Chronicle Herald - 12 Jun 1963 |

|
Life on Aircraft Carrier Is Like Living in Small Town
With Big Airport
From the Belleville Intelligencer, 27 Nov 1963
Sailors
listed in the photo: AB Doug Harvey of Ottawa; AB Les Fraize of St. John's;
AB Wayne Sarrel of Hamilton; AB Sal Sarino of Toronto; and AB Wayne Harmer
of Niagara Falls.
Source: Belleville Public Library microfilm collection
Researched by / © 2019 John Lyons |

|
BONAVENTURE Adventure
From the Belleville Intelligencer, 28 Nov 1963
Source: Belleville Public Library microfilm collection
Researched by / © 2015 John Lyons |

|
Life on the BONAVENTURE
From the Belleville Intelligencer, 29 Nov 1963
Source: Belleville Public Library microfilm collection
Researched by / © 2019 John Lyons |

|
BONAVENTURE Adventure
NATO's War Languages Are English and French
From the Belleville Intelligencer, 29 Nov 1963
Source: Belleville Public Library microfilm collection
Researched by / © 2015 John Lyons |
 |
Article on Seaman Stan Parsons who survived being throw by a wave on HMCS BONAVENTURE
Halifax Mail-Star 24 Jan 1964
Source: Facebook page - Friends of BONAVENTURE |

|
HMCS Provider conducting a RAS with HMCS
BONAVENTURE and HMCS Cap de la Madeleine - Spring 1965
Courtesy of Robert Norris
|

|
UNTDs take the aircraft elevator down to the hangar
deck during a tour of the Bonnie - summer 1965
From the collection of Gary Medford
Courtesy of Gary Medford |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE, Halifax, summer 1965 - Royal Navy
Amphion class submarine in the foreground
From the collection of Gary Medford
Courtesy of Gary Medford |

DU054 |

DU055 |

DU056 |

DU057 |

DU058 |
Ship's company of HMCS BONAVENTURE fallen in
for the ceremony changing the ship's ensign from the White Ensign to
the Canadian flag on 15 Feb 1965 in San Juan harbor.
Courtesy of David Upright
|

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE leading the Atlantic Fleet into
Halifax after a deployment - date unknown
Courtesy of John Gabel |
Crossing
the Line ceremony on HMCS BONAVENTURE 1966

Courtesy of Keith McDougall |

|
BONAVENTURE Arrives At Rio de Janeiro
Halifax Mail Star, Tue., 08 Feb 1966 pg 26
Researched by George Newbury |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE in a storm - 1967
Courtesy of John Hawley |
(RM05)
HMCS BONAVENTURE Aug 1967 in a North Atlantic Hurricane - Force
10 (RM06) Refueling at sea - HMCS TERRA NOVA, HMCS PROVIDER,
and HMCS BONAVENTURE (RM07) HMCS BONAVENTURE arriving in an
unknown port (RM08) Canadian Task Group - Barber pole Squadron
with HMCS PROVIDER, HMCS CAPE SCOTT and HMCS BONAVENTURE. Helos and
planes from HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Robert
Mundell, LS, RCN
|
Article from the Sentinel magazine on HMCS
BONAVENTURE'S 1967 refit
|

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE - Maple Spring
1968. Photo taken from HMCS Gatineau
Courtesy of Ron MacDonald |

|
Fourth Bedford Wolf Cub Pack Visits HMCS BONAVENTURE - LS Samuel Wiscombe
gives tour of BONAVENTURE to Anthony Bremner (son of LS Reginald Bremner of
HMCS BONAVENTURE) and Timothy Vondette (son of Cdr H. Vondette, CO of HMCS BONAVENTURE)
From the collection of PO2
Samuel Wiscombe |

|
LS.RP Wiscombe (left) on HMCS BONAVENTURE
From the collection of PO2
Samuel Wiscombe |

|
AA-gun on HMCS BONAVENTURE - 1969
Courtesy of Jean-Marie Marion |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE alongside Halifax - 1969
Courtesy of Jean-Marie Marion |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE, Maple Spring 1970
Photos taken from HMCS Annapolis by Jean
Viau, NavSig |

|
Launching a Tracker - HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Jack Soble |
Photos on/of HMCS BONAVENTURE

photo 1 |

photo 2 |

photo 3 |

photo 4 |

photo 5 |

photo 6 |

photo 7 |

photo 8 |

photo 9 |

photo 10 |

photo 11 |

photo 12 |

photo 13 |
|
(1)
Helo landing on HMCS BONAVENTURE (2) Launching a Tracker
(3) Recovering a helo (4) HMCS BONAVENTURE at New Orleans
(5 & 6) Crash on Deck (7) One of Bonnie's Helo's circa 1967 /1968
(8) "Kootenay's Fallen" - The
bodies of those who died in the Kootenay Explosion are being placed
in a Helicopter to be taken ashore from HMCS BONAVENTURE (9
& 10) Landing Tracker 591 (11) Landing Tracker
590 (12) HMCS BONAVENTURE in drydock (13) Trackers on the deck of HMCS
BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Jack Soble
|
Photos on and of HMCS BONAVENTURE

photo 1 |

photo 2 |

photo 3 |

photo 4 |

photo 5 |

photo 6 |

photo 7 |

photo 8 |

photo 9 |

photo 10 |

photo 11 |

photo 12 |
 |
|
(1
& 2) Launching a tracker off HMCS BONAVENTURE (3) Crossing the Line ceremony
(4) Planes secured on deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE in rough seas
(5) Hockey game (6) Trackers on deck (7) Bud McLean, John
Mcguire, Larry
O'Brien and John Tang (8 - 10)
3 photos of a Tracker launch on HMCS BONAVENTURE. Unbelievably, the Tracker
was not lost and managed to get airborne (11) Preparing to launch on HMCS
BONAVENTURE
(12) HMCS BONAVENTURE (13) HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of John P. McGuire
|

|
"Working the flight deck on the Bonnie"
Courtesy of John Knudsen |

|
Visit to 2 Mess on BONAVENTURE by "the pig
of the port"
Courtesy of John Knudsen |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE - 1962
Courtesy of Art Moore |

|
Stu Rodgers on HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Kim Rodgers-Risi |

|
Navy Cap - This is a sailor's
Cap identical to the one I wore during my service in the Royal
Canadian Navy in the mid. to late 1960's. During a portion of this
time, I served on the aircraft carrier HMCS BONAVENTURE.
Credit: Photo by John
Gorman, Halifax, N.S. a former Naval Airman who served at HMCS
Shearwater and on HMCS BONAVENTURE during the mid to late 1960’s. |

|
Christmas dinner on HMCS BONAVENTURE circa 1968
(L-R)
LS George Haigh, LS Jimmy Westlake, LS Bob O'Hara , LS Harold
Penny
Courtesy
of Ronald Henry |

|
How
the Bonnie cooks relaxed after long days at sea - on the beach in
Trinidad (I think) 1969. Paul Wheeler, Shaky Eddy, myself (Ronald
Henry) and Earl Sweeny (first army cook to go to sea). I see we are
all having a wet or two: proud diplomats we are.
Courtesy
of Ronald Henry |

|
LSEM2 Keith McDougall during the
final shutdown of the BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Keith McDougall |

|
Newspaper article on HMCS BONAVENTURE coming
out of refit
Courtesy of Mike Reynolds |
Photos on and of HMCS BONAVENTURE

photo 1 |

photo 2 |

photo 3 |

photo 4 |

photo 5 |

photo 6 |

photo 7 |
(1-4)
Flight deck operations on HMCS BONAVENTURE circa 1966 (5) HMCS
BONAVENTURE post 1966-67 refit (6) Divisions on the flight deck of HMCS
BONAVENTURE - circa 1966 (7) HMCS BONAVENTURE with HMCS
Skeena 207 astern - circa 1966
From the collection of Eugene Miller
Courtesy of Rene Miller
|
(1)
Tracker landing on the flight deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE -1967 (2) A Tracker taking off from HMCS
BONAVENTURE -
1967 (3) A Huey and Sea King helicopter landing on the
flight deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE - 1967 (4) Sea King helicopters on the flight deck of HMCS
BONAVENTURE - 1967 (5) A Tracker being lowered on the elevator on HMCS
BONAVENTURE - 1967 (6) Sea King 4002 on the flight deck of HMCS
BONAVENTURE not long before she crashed into the Atlantic resulting in the loss of two
air crew personnel
Courtesy of Brian Lapierre
© Brian Lapierre 1967
|

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE Arctic Circle Crossing the
Line Certificate for Francis Dowdall - 21 Sep 1968
Courtesy
of Francis Dowdall |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE undergoing inclination trials
Courtesy of the CFB
Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE 1966
Photo taken from HMCS OTTAWA 229
Courtesy of / Photographer: Raymond Cumby |
OM’s Course nineteen…
I'm thinking back to fifty-nine, Observer's
Mates nineteen.
I hoped to wear those wings so fine, those
wings you need not preen.
At any cost, with fingers crossed, I hoped to
make the grade.
There’s something new to learn about, and
flight pay; rightly paid.
A bunch of men from different trades, were
gathered in the cinema,
And what's in store, would be no bore; but
rather, an enigma.
So while we wait, contemplate our fate, we’re
looking at the screen,
at Yankee planes that crash in flames, some
faces turned quite-green.
I'm thinking it’s their likely ploy, for
separating man from boy.
Some they'd lose, and some they’ll choose;
those that they would employ.
As luck would have it, from force of habit, I
answered honestly.
I hoped I’d passed, be accepted fast, to that
great fraternity.
It seems I did, found myself amid, a class with
eleven others,
My life it changed, was rearranged, when i
joined that “Band of Brothers.”
I spout no guff, the course was tough, ‘twas
not an easy road,
for me; when I found; I had to pound, that
bloody Morse’s code.
I persevered, and even cheered, with those
wings on my left cuff,
wore them with a pride I couldn’t hide,
eventually sure enough,
at eight-eighty fixed wing, I did my thing, and
then to “ H.S. fifty”
When I got my hand in, I got to land on, those
bouncing seaborne aeries.
Author: John Thompson
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Vice Admiral J.C. O’Brien inspecting Guard on
HMCS BONAVENTURE
DND / RCN photo - Negative # BV-69-405
From the collection of Robert Bramwell
Courtesy of Brian Lapierre |

photo 1 |

photo 2 |

photo 3 |

photo 4 |
(1-2)
Article on Bonnie Crossing the Arctic Circle. Pers in both
articles: Lt Bingham, 1st Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (being
initiated); Trusty Seals: AB R. Bramwell, AB Ouelette, and LS
S. Wiscombe (3) Original photo used in the articles (4)
Another initiate from the Queen's Own (name unknown)
From
the collection of Robert Bramwell
Courtesy
of Brian Lapierre
|

|
Sea King on the flight deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE
- 1970
Photo taken from HMCS SKEENA 207
Courtesy of / © John Hawley 1970 |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE and HMCS FRASER
233
Note that Fraser does not yet
have her distinctive TACAN mast |

|
Farewell is bid to the Bonnie as she pulls away
from the jetty bound for Cyprus
Courtesy of Tom Price |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE leaving for Cyprus. Armament
laid out in from of aircraft
Courtesy of Tom Price |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE anchored off Cyprus
"We
were in Cyprus anchored off and only had a few hours ashore split in
two watches as the crew unloaded all the army gear .... the boys
topped up big time and many could not climb back up the scramble
nets so the Master at Arms ordered the cargo net lowered to the
barge. That is a P2VS you see in the net I once knew his name but it
has long been forgotten ..... those were days"
Courtesy
of David Bakody |

|
Flight
deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE
This
was the flight deck of the BONAVENTURE on way to Cyprus. I worked
arrestor gear so it was not too bad of a trip. We even had a few Army stowaways
who just wanted out of C.F.B Gagetown - they were found hiding in
trucks, very seasick, and hungry.
Courtesy of Tom Price |

|
Helo operations on HMCS BONAVENTURE. Front helo
being refueled
Courtesy of Tom Price |

|
US Navy jet on HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Tim Price |

|
USN jet ready for launching
Loaded with weapons, bridle gear hooked up for
shot of deck, destroyer in back ground as plane guard, one of the
few times ever had jet on deck
Courtesy of Tom Price |

|
Surg-Lt James Fraser, RCN - HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Alison Fraser |

|
Helo rescues the pilot from a Tracker the
ditched near the BONAVENTURE
From the collection of the late LCdr Larry
Zbitnew, RCN
Courtesy of Dennis Cardy |

|
Two unknown sailors on HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy of Brian Lapierre |

|
EA Donald Hunter on HMCS BONAVENTURE
From the collection of Donald Hunter
Courtesy of Jean Haverkate |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE - date unknown
Courtesy of Jim Brannen |
HMCS BONAVENTURE, Halifax, Apr 1970

Courtesy of Richard Larcheveque |

|
HMCS
BONAVENTURE flies her paying off pennant as she passes under
the Angus L MacDonald Bridge in Halifax harbour.
DND
Photo. Courtesy Moe Beere. |

|
HMCS BONAVENTURE flying her paying-off pennant
Courtesy of David Pattison |
(HG26)
HMCS BONAVENTURE at Jetty 4, Halifax - Aug 1969 (HG27) Working on the
flight deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE (HG28) Forward El and Bridge - Flyco
(HG29) Bridge of HMCS BONAVENTURE (HG30) VS-880 Last Carrier Deployment
- 1969
(HG31)
Passage to Europe - 9-17 Sep 1969 (HG32) HMCS BONAVENTURE conducting a
RAS with HMCS PROVIDER (HG33) HMCS BONAVENTURE conducting a RAS with USS
NEOSHO. HMS OLNA on stbd side of USS NEOSHO (HG35) Tracker on flight
deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE during Exercise Peacekeeper 17-24 Sep 1969
(HG35) Tracker 540 taking off from HMCS BONAVENTURE during Exercise
Peacekeeper 17-24 Sep 1969. Photo taken from the bridge
(HG36)
Aircraft on the flight deck of HMCS BONAVENTURE during Exercise Peacekeeper
17-24 Sep 1969 (HG37) HMCS BONAVENTURE port visit Rotterdam - Oct
1969 (HG38) HMCS BONAVENTURE arriving for port visit in Oslo, Norway -
01 Oct 1969 (HG39-HG40) HMCS BONAVENTURE, Oslo Norway - 01-05 Oct
1969
(HG41-HG42)
HMCS BONAVENTURE, Oslo Norway - 01-05 Oct 1969 (HG43) HMCS
BONAVENTURE at the Shearwater Jetty - 30 Nov 1969 (HG44) HMCS OTTAWA 229
fueling from HMCS BONAVENTURE - 02 Dec 1969 (HG45) HMCS BONAVENTURE
- operational entry into Halifax Harbour - 09 Dec 1969
(HG46)
At Jetty 4 in Halifax -
Army vehicles to be loaded on HMCS BONAVENTURE for Exercise Nimrod Capers in
Jamaica - 13
Jan 1970 (HG47) Craning a duce and a half aboard HMCS BONAVENTURE - 13
Jan 1970 (HG48) HMCS ASSINIBOINE fueling from HMCS BONAVENTURE 24 Jan
1970 during passage south 21-25 Jan 1970 (HG49) Unloading in Kingston,
Jamaica - 26-28 Jan 1970 (HG50)
HMCS BONAVENTURE piping Diamond Rock, Island of Martinique. Pipers led by PO
"Cappy" Shaw
(HG51)
Day off in Roosevelt Road, Puerto Rico. Clockwise from left: Phil Kenny, Jerry
Tannous, Rich Neveu, Dennis Jackson, John Anderson, Bill Colls (HG52) HMCS
BONAVENTURE"S final departure San Juan. Taken from El Morro Castle by the
ship's photographer (who rejoined by helo) - 27 Feb 1970 (HG53) HMCS
BONAVENTURE alongside in Kingston, Jamaica - 06-08 Mar 1970 (HG54)
Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Hugh Campbell, inspects the crew of HMCS BONAVENTURE - 06 Mar
1970 (HG55) HMCS SKEENA 207 fueling from HMCS BONAVENTURE during
Exercise Maple Spring 1970
(HG56)
HMCS ANNAPOLIS 265 fueling from HMCS BONAVENTURE during Exercise Maple Spring
1970 (HG57) HMCS MARGAREE 230, HMCS SKEENA 207 and HMCS ANNAPOLIS 265
conducting personnel transfers during Exercise Maple Spring 1970 while HMCS
ANNAPOLIS was fueling from HMCS BONAVENTURE at the same time (HG58)
HMCS BONAVENTURE at anchor off Narvik, Norway - 07-09 Apr
1970 during Exercise Arctic Express (HG59) A Soviet Riga Class Frigate - 11 Apr 1970 (HG60) HMCS
BONAVENTURE loaded with Army vehicles for transit to Halifax - 23 Apr 1970

HG61 |

HG62 |
HMCS
BONAVENTURE Final Sail Past - 03 Jul 1970
(HG63-66)
Paying off ceremony on HMCS BONAVENTURE - 03 Jul 1970
(HG66)
The ship's ensign lowered for the final time

HG67 |

HG68 |
(HG67)
Former HMCS BONAVENTURE languishing at Pier 8, Halifax from Jul to Oct 1970 -
photo taken 26 Jul 1970 (HG68) Former
HMCS BONAVENTURE at pier 8 - Last day in Halifax - 28 Oct 1970. Photo taken
from Citadel Hill just before the tugs arrives to tow her to the breaker's
yard
HMCS
BONAVENTURE - 1969-1970
Courtesy
of Heinz Gohlish, Lt, RCN / C.A.F.


HMCS BONAVENTURE'S Final Sail past - 1970
Photos taken from HMCS Onondaga
Courtesy of Brian Lapierre
© Brian Lapierre 1970

|
Article on the urban legend of HMCS BONAVENTURE
becoming INS VIKRANT
Ottawa Citizen Feb 1997 |

|
Commissioned Officer Tully and PO1 Mander
remembered 50 years later
Trident Newspaper Nov 2017
Courtesy of Brian Lapierre |

|
The
HMCS. BONAVENTURE anchor memorial in Halifax's Point Pleasant Park
Credit:
Photo by John Gorman,
Halifax,
N.S.,
a former Naval Airman who served at HMCS Shearwater and on HMCS BONAVENTURE
during the mid to late 1960’s |
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