A History of HMS EMPRESS
 |
HMS EMPRESS approaching her mooring at Wellington, New
Zealand, November 3rd. 1945. Photo: Courtesy of Ross
McGregor |
HMS
EMPRESS was an 'Ameer' class escort carrier, her keel was laid
down September 9th 1942 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Tacoma,
Washington, a Maritime Commission C3 type freighter hull number 249,
Seattle-Tacoma hull number 33; the hull was purchased by the US navy
to become the auxiliary aircraft carrier USS CARNEGIE ACV-38,
a 'Prince William' class escort carrier. She was launched on
December 30th 1942. Whilst still under construction it had been
decided that CVE 38 was to be transferred to the Admiralty on loan
on her completion as an aircraft carrier.
Upon
her delivery on August 9th 1943 she was accepted on behalf of the US
Navy by Captain J. L. McGuigan, USN Supervisor of Shipbuilding at
Tacoma. The following day CVE-38 sailed for Vancouver Island,
British Colombia where she berthed at berth No 8 at LaPointe Pier
August 12th and was transferred to the Royal Navy on arrival. She
was accepted on behalf of the Admiralty by Commander T.K. Masterman
RN, as acting commanding officer and commissioned into RN service as
HMS EMPRESS (Pennant number D42).
Modification and preparation to enter service:
At the
time of her arrival in Vancouver it was unclear whether she would
enter the yard for her modification work; due to a shortage of
merchant shipping there had a shortfall in Lend-Lese aircraft
deliveries from the US to India had developed and the Admiralty
proposed that three of the newly completed CVEs should be employed
in the ferry role rather than become fully operational. EMPRESS
(CVE 38), PATROLLER (CVE 44) and RANEE (CVE 46) were
earmarked for this duty, EMPRESS was to begin ferry
operations as soon as possible, while PATROLLER would follow
in November and RANEE in December. This planning was later
amended, with THANE (CVE 48) replacing EMPRESS. This
may have been due to the fact that EMPRESS was fully
operational upon leaving the Seattle-Tacoma shipyard and would be
required for combat operations.
HMS
EMPRESS
was the fourth of nineteen escort carriers to be modified by the
Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver, to meet Admiralty
requirements. While in Vancouver she was to receive her full crew
complement and work-up ready for active service. Alteration work
started on August 30th and as the work progressed the ship moved to
other berths for different phases of the work. She moved to No 3
berth on September 23rd and to no. 4 berth on October 3rd. While at
No. 4 berth her Low pressure turbine rotor on the 10th for remedial
work which required the component to be returned to its
manufacturer. EMPRESS was moved to No 5 berth on Oct 17th and
a replacement LP rotor was received (originally from CVE 41- HMS
NABOB) on November 9th and work began installing this before the
ship entered Burrards floating dry dock on the1 6th. EMPRESS
spent three days in the dry dock before returning to No 8berth after
undocking on the 19th.
During
November many key members of the ship's crew arrived including her
commanding officer Captain H.A. Traill RN, Commander Mastermann
assuming the position of executive officer. Her alterations were
completed in a total of 99 days, work being finished on December
6th. On December 9th she left the LaPointe Pier site and was moved
to the Burrards terminal where she was to load stores and prepare
for sea. On December 27th EMPRESS was moved to a mooring in
the pool before finally emerging from the Burrards works on January
13th 1944 when she was moored in the harbour inlet.
On
December 12th 850 Naval Air Squadron arrived at the RCAF station at
Sea Island, Vancouver with 12 Avengers for service with
EMPRESS; the squadron had flown from USNAS Squantum on the US
east coast to work up and join the ship at Vancouver. The squadron
operated with
EMPRESS for the first time on January 20th 1944, conducting a
period of deck landing training while the ship steamed in the
Georgia Strait, between Vancouver Island and the Pacific coast of
British Columbia. They were to embark again on February 17th when
EMPRESS
departed from Vancouver bound for the UK, via San Francisco,
Norfolk, and New York.
  |
Avenger aircraft being raised from the hanger and
positioned on the flight deck ready for operations on.
HMS EMPRESS |
Maiden voyage: Ferry trip to UK, March 17th - April 8th 1944
On the
21st of February
EMPRESS rendezvoused with NABOB off San Diego; the two
ships were to proceed to Norfolk together, but EMPRESS had
stripped a turbine and could not continue without repairs, so
NABOB was instructed to proceed to Balboa alone. Upon reaching
San Francisco, additional communications equipment was fitted to the
bridge and combat communications room and further stores were taken
aboard. EMPRESS reached Balboa on 8th March and passed
through the Panama Canal the following day. On reaching Cristobal on
the Atlantic side she met up with her sister CVE HMS
SPEAKER and several other US and Canadian vessels which were
destined for Norfolk, Virginia. It was decided that these ships
would form a small convoy consisting of three CVEs, the U.S.S.
TULAGI, HMS EMPRESS and HMS SPEAKER, two
American Destroyer escorts and two Canadian Corvettes proceeded to
Norfolk on March 18th. While on rout to Norfolk one of 850
squadron's Avengers operated with
SPEAKER giving the ship's flight deck parties and air
department their first experience of first deck landings and
take-offs. EMPRESS
and SPEAKER spent a week at Norfolk before sailing on to New
York in preparation for joining the Liverpool bound convoy CU 19
which departed on March 28th. On reaching the Irish coast EMPRESS
broke away from the convoy and made for the Clyde, arriving at
Greenock on April 8th; 850 squadron departed on the 10th bound for
RNAS Lee-on-Solent.
Deck Landing Training Duties: April 11th - November 27th 1944
On
April 11th
EMPRESS was officially allocated to the strength of Western
Approaches Command and was initially employed for Deck Landing
Training operating with aircraft from 768 Squadron based at RNAS
Abbotsinch. On completion of DLT duties EMPRESS placed in the
hands of a Clyde dockyard for defect rectification and later moved
to Rosyth Dockyard for further modification.
The
dockyard works were to take until late August to complete, the ship
sailed from Rosyth to return to Greenock on August 30th to prepare
for another tour of duty as the west coast Deck Landing Training
Carrier. From September 6th to October 13th 1944 EMPRESS
operated with pupils from 768 Squadron, now based at RNAS Ayr. The
squadron operated a mixture of aircraft for DLT courses, including
Hellcats, Avengers, Fireflies, Seafires Sea Huricanes, and Swordfish
and on one occasion Fulmar. On the 7th Sub Lt (E) CB Coleman RNVR
was killed in an accident.
During
November
EMPRESS carried out night DLT sessions with Swordfish from
766 Squadron from RNAS Inskip followed by night and day DLT for the
Fireflies of 1772 Squadron from RNAS Burscough between November 25th
and 27th. Once the DLT sessions were completed a series of exercises
were flown for the benefit of the ship's Fighter Direction Team.
Allocated to East Indies Fleet for operations with 21ACS
Her
flying training duties at an end HMS
EMPRESS proceeded to Devonport, arriving there just before
Christmas. Leave granted to both watches. An ENSA party gave
performances on a stage built in the hangar for those remaining on
board and guests from other ships in the dockyard. Towards the end
of December work began storing and equipping the ship for operations
with the East Indies Fleet. At the beginning of January 1945
EMPRESS began loading F6F Hellcat fighters into the hangar and
flight deck to be transported to India after which she was to join
the East Indies Fleet based in Trincomalee in Ceylon.
EMPRESS
was to complete the first leg of her voyage in company with
convoy KMF 38 which sailed from the Clyde on January 5th and arrived
at Gibraltar on the 10th. After refuelling at Gibraltar the ship
made a solo passage to Port Said and passage through the Suez Canal.
From Port Tewfik she preceded directly to Cochin in Southern India
were her ferry load was disembarked. She next sailed for
Trincomalee; 845 squadron flew aboard with 12 Avengers from RNAS
Colombo Racecourse on February 3rd, EMPRESS arrived in
Trincomalee on February 4th ready to begin operations.
EMPRESS now operated as part of the 21st Aircraft Carrier
Squadron (21 ACS eventually included; AMEER, ATTACKER, EMPEROR,
EMPRESS HUNTER, KHEDIVE, PURSUER, SEARCHER, SHAH, STALKER and
TROUNCER) with the newly created East Indies Fleet. The ship was
pressed into service within days of her arrival on station,
embarking the photo recon Hellcats of 888 squadron from RNAS Colombo
Racecourse on February 7th for a short work-up before embarking a
detachment of 4 Hellcats from 804embarked on the 20th to provide
CAP; the Avengers of 845 squadron were to carry out A/S Patrols.
Operation "STACEY": February 22nd - May 6th 1945
On
February 22nd
EMPRESS sailed as part of Force 62 which comprised of the
CVEs EMPRESS flying the flag of Vice Admiral Walker and
AMEER, the cruiser KENYA, destroyers VOLAGE, VIRAGO,
VIGILANT, and frigates SPEY, SWALE and PLYM.
Logistic support was proved by the Tanker Group, Force 61, RFA
ECHODALE escorted by the frigate
TRENT. Force 62 was to conduct Operation STACEY, a series
photographic reconnaissance missions covering Sumatra and the Kra
Isthmus EMPRESS
spent 24th and 25th February cruising around the Andaman Islands,
small groups of Japanese aircraft were picked up on the radar
screens but it was not until March 1st that the first enemy aircraft
were engaged by 804 Squadron Hellcats. AMEER's planes
claiming a Dinah and an Oscar, while EMPRESS's flight of four
took out another Oscar. These three Japanese aircraft were the first
to be shot down by fighters from British escort carriers. On
completion of the photo reconnaissance of the Kra Isthmus, the
adjacent islands and Penang the ships of Force 62 had moved to a
position off Simalur Island by March 4th where similar missions were
carried out over Sumatra and Sabang. On completion of Operation
STACEY the group returned to Trincomalee, the aircraft of 888
squadron flew off EMPRESS on March 6th and headed for RNAS
Colombo Racecourse.
Force
62 returned to Trincomalee on March 7th after which
EMPRESS
was sent to Colombo for a period of rest and recuperation; one
carrier at a time was taken out of the active force and given the
opportunity to rest between operations. This was particularly
appreciated in CVEs which had not been tropicalised before joining
the EIF. It was a common sight to see the carriers with both lifts
fully lowered to provide a source of ventilation, both at anchor and
at sea when not operating aircraft. EMPRESS arrived in
Colombo harbour on the 9th and disembarked 845 squadron to RNAS
Colombo Racecourse. The ship sailed for Trincomalee on March 29th,
845 re-embarked for passage and disembarked to RNAS Trincomalee when
the ship arrived there on the 30th.
Operation "SUNFISH": April 1945 [See foot note]
EMPRESS was back at sea again with 845 embarked on April 8th
as part of Task Group 63.2 in company with sister CVE KHEDIVE,
Battleships
QUEEN ELIZABETH and RICHELIEU, Cruisers LONDON
and
CUMBERLAND
screened by the Fleet destroyers SAUMAREZ, VIGILANT, VERULAM,
VIRAGO, and VENUS to carry out air reconnaissance flights
of Port Swettenham and Port Dickson, Malaya, code name operation
SUNFISH.
On
April 11th
EMPRESS and KHEDIVE came under air attack, a large
formation of Oscars and Dinahs was detected on radar and KHEDIVE's
Hellcats (808 squadron) intercepted them but some Kamikazes got
through and attempted to attack. EMPRESS was targeted by two
attackers, the first attacked from the stern but being badly damaged
by fighter and AA fire it crashed into the sea once EMPRESS
manoeuvred hard over to starboard. The second managed to approach
EMPRESS to within 200 yards before it was destroyed by gun
fire from her two Port forward Bofors turrets. [See foot note] After
10 days at sea EMPRESS transferred the aircraft of 845
squadron to HMS KHEDIVE; her catapult was put out of action
once 845 had departed, the main accelerator cable was near to the
point of failure and needed to be replaced. While on passage back to
Trincomalee news was received that Captain Traill was being
appointed to a new post and would be leaving the ship when she made
port. The Captain was rowed ashore, as tradition demanded, as the
search for an accelerator cable began. However upon enquiring after
spares the Flight Deck Engineer was informed that no cables existed
anywhere on the island.
A few
days later Captain J.R.S. Brown RN arrived to assume command; he was
dismayed at the news about the delay in repairing the accelerator
cable, and so he set the crew to work painting the ship. Her repairs
completed EMPRESS embarked 804 squadron on April 22nd with 20
Hellcats and a single Walrus from 1700 squadron and put to sea to
test her newly repaired catapult in preparation for her next
operation.
Operation "BISHOP": April - May 1845
EMPRESS joined Force 63 again on April 27th for Operation
BISHOP, a covering operation fori the invasion of Rangoon Operation
DRACULA. "BISHOP" was to involve diversionary strikes against
Japanese installations on the Nicobar and Andaman Islands. Force 63
comprised of the Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH (Flag of Vice
Admiral Walker) and RICHELIEU, cruisers CUMBERLAND
(flag of CS 5),
SUFFOLK, CEYLON and
TROMP, CVEs EMPRESS (20 Hellcats of 804) and SHAH
(l0 Avengers of 851 Sqdn., 4 Hellcats of 804 Sqdn.), destroyers
ROTHERHAM, TARTAR, VERULAM, NUBIAN
and PENN. Logistic support Force 69 RFA OLWEN
escorted by PALADIN.
On
April 30th the Force 63 carried out a dawn bombardment and Hellcat
strikes on both airfields at Car Nicobar, the largest of the Nicobar
Islands. That evening strikes were made against targets at Port
Blair before returning to repeat the Car Nicobar bombardment.
Malacca was attacked on May 1st and Port Blair again on the 2nd. On
the 3rd the force separated into two groups, TROMP, CEYLON,
and
CUMBERLAND, with CVEs SHAH and EMPRESS and
destroyers HMS
TARTAR and
PENN were despatched to make an armed reconnaissance of the
coastal shipping between Mergui and Victoria Point. Operations
concluded with a final strike on Car Nicobar airfield on May 7th;
during the 12 days of the operation only one aircraft was lost, Sub
Lt (A) JA Scott RNVR was killed when his Hellcat JX803 ditched off
the port bow having succumbed to damage from enemy AA fire on Sunday
May 6th, and there was no enemy opposition from the air.
  |
Hellcat maintainers pose with one of their aircraft
aboard
HMS EMPRESS and personnel gather on the flight deck for
a briefing about an upcoming operation. |
On May
8th all the ships in the force celebrated Victory in Europe Day, the
order was given to "Splice the mainbrace"[the issue of an extra tot
of rum] and services of thanksgiving were held throughout the EIF.
EMPRESS reached Trincomalee on May 9th and 804 disembarked to
Trincomalee. Shore leave was granted but all personnel were recalled
later that day when an order was received that all serviceable
vessels in the East Indies Fleet were ordered to prepare for sea.
Operation "Dukedom": the search for the HAGURO - May 10th - 16th
1945
On the
May 10th the CVEs
EMPRESS, EMPEROR, HUNTER, KHEDIVE, and SHAH
put back at sea tasked to provide air support for the 3rd Battle
Squadron as it swept across the Andaman Sea hunting for the
HAGURO; this action was codenamed Operation "Dukedom"Â.
Japanese intelligence however had learned that that the Royal Navy
was at sea, and the two ships returned to Singapore; on May 14th the
HAGURO and KAMIKAZE
tried again and left Singapore.
Of the
five CVEs involved two were to suffer mechanical failures which
affected their operational capabilities, on the 11th SHAH
experienced catapult problems and this prompted a rearrangement of
the squadrons between carriers. The heavy Avengers of 851 were
transferred to EMPEROR while eight Hellcats from 800 squadron
were accepted by SHAH along with four more from 804 squadron
on EMPRESS. The second mechanical failure occurred on the
morning of 14th when
EMPRESS suffered a catastrophic engine failure minutes before
she was to turn into wind to catapult the first of 845 Squadron's
Avengers, which had embarked from RNAS Colombo the day before. The
Chief Engineer reported the ship was suffering from 'condenseritis'
and would need dockyard assistance before the main engines could be
restarted. After being sat dead in the water for several hours with
only auxiliary power she was taken in tow by the cruiser Black
Prince and set out back to Trincomalee.
HMS
EMPEROR was the only carrier to engage the
HAGURO, only inflicting minor damage operating at extreme
range; The HAGURO was later engaged the engaged 26th
Destroyer Flotilla in a battle that saw the HAGURO sunk by gun fire
and torpedo strikes. #her escorting destroyer KAMIKAZE
received light damage. [Operation "Dukedom"Â saw the longest
airborne attack flight ever undertaken from a British carrier, the
target being 530 miles from the launch point, and the final sinking
of the
HAGURO was the last gun action ever fought between surface
ships].
EMPRESS arrived back in harbour on May 22nd and disembarked 845 Sqdn
to RNAS Trincomalee before work began on repairing her engines; she
was visited by Lord Louis Mountbatten while under repair. She was
back at sea at the end of the month.
Squadron work ups and supporting roles: June - July 1945
At the
end of May
EMPRESS embarked squadrons for training in preparation for
the upcoming operation COLLIE; she embarked 888 Sqdn from Colombo
Racecourse on the 31st for a short period of training, the squadron
returned to Colombo on the 4th of June. Next the Hellcats of 896
Sqdn embarked from RNAS Tambaram and the Avengers of 845 Sqdn from
Trincomalee on June 10th; 845 returned to Trincomalee on the 13th
while 896 remained aboard until the 24th when they transferred to
AMEER.
From
July 2nd
EMPRESS was at sea tasked with supporting Force 61 during
operation COLLIE, the force comprised of the cruiser NIGERIA, CVEs
AMEER and EMPEROR Destroyers ROEBUCK, ESKIMO
and VIGILANT as screen. [It is not clear what her role
was in this operation as she does not appear to have embarked any
aircraft]. EMPRESS was back in Trincomalee by the 9th and
spent a week in harbour before embarking the Hellcats of 896 on the
17th in preparation for her next operation.
Operation "LIVERY": July 1945
EMPRESS was deployed with Force 63 for operation LIVERY on July
19th; the force comprised of Battleship NELSON, cruiser
SUSSEX, and CVEs EMPRESS and AMEER with Destroyers
PALADIN, ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE
and RAIDER to cover minesweeping operations carried out
by HM Minesweepers PLUCKY, PINCHER, VESTAL RIFLEMAN and HM
Indian Minesweepers PUNJAB and DECCAN off Phuket
Island and conduct strikes on targets in northern Malaya. The
operation began on the 24th and was to last for three days: This was
an intense flying period for the two CVEs, over a 3 day period
Hellcats from both carriers flew over 150 sorties and destroyed more
than 30 Japanese aircraft on the ground, together with trains and
road transport in attacks on Kra Isthmus. On July 26th HMS AMEER
was attacked by a Kamikaze, a single "Sonia" attempted to dive onto
AMEER, it was hit and successfully deflected by fire from the
ships' defensive armament, splashing into the sea some 500 yards
out. Operation LIVERY was the last offensive operation carried out
by the East Indies Fleet in WW2, two minesweepers were sunk during
the operation: the remaining ships of Force 63 returned to
Trincomalee on the 28th. Once back at Ceylon 896 Sqdn disembarked to
RNAS Trincomalee on July 30th for training, returning to the ship on
August 9th when EMPRESS put to sea again.
Operation "CARSON": August 1945
EMPRESS sailed from Trincomalee on August 8th and re-embarked
part of 896 Sqdn: on the 10th she joined Force 61 for operation
CARSON, attacks on Japanese shipping and airfields in Penang and
Medan areas of Malaya. The force included five CVEs, including
ATTACKER and
KHEDIVE, and the cruiser ROYALIST. On the 11th the
operation was cancelled but the force remained at sea; on 14th
August the long-awaited signal arrived from the Admiralty 'Cease
hostilities against Japan.' Japan had surrendered unconditionally.
Force 61 returned to Trincomalee. EMPRESS continued flying
operations throughout August, her squadron suffering two more
accidents towards the end of the month; JX724 skidded into a walkway
on the 23rd and JX706 burst a tyre landing on the 29th.
  |
The view from the flight deck of
HMS EMPRESS on the night of August 15th 1945 as V-J Day
celebrations are underway. |
Operation "ZIPPER": September 1945
At the
start of September EMPRESS together with sister CVEs
AMEER, EMPEROR, HUNTER, KHEDIVE, and STALKER were tasked
with the reoccupation of Singapore, code name Operation "ZIPPER".
EMPRESS
embarked replacement aircraft before sailing with the force which
left Trincomalee on the 4th. The replenishment went badly as the
first of the Hellcats to fly out to the ship had to be waved off by
EMPRESS' DLCO and had to wait until the second one had landed
safely; on his second attempt Sub Lt. RW George came in to high but
ignored the DLCO signals and attempted a landing anyway. He cut his
engine but passed over all the arrestor wires, and the barriers to
drop onto several airframes in the forward aircraft park. More
replacements had to be organised before she could proceed to join
the task force.
Force
61 arrived off Singapore Island on the 6th and waited for
instructions; on the 8th one of 896 squadrons hellcats, JX679
ditched alongside EMPRESS the pilot Midshipman IC McLean was
picked up by the destroyer SAWNAREZ. On the 10th the order
was given for part of the force to proceed into the harbour, of the
force CVEs
EMPEROR, HUNTER, KHEDIVE and STALKER anchored in
Keppel Harbour, Singapore. AMEER and EMPRESS were
among 90 ships (including 70 RN and RIN warships, 3 Royal Fleet
Auxiliaries, 3 hospital ships and 14 merchant vessels) present in
Singapore Roads for the surrender ceremony which took place on the
12th. EMPRESS returned to Trincomalee on the 13th flying off
the aircraft of 896 Sqdn for the last time to RNAS Katukurunda.
  |
Members of the ship's company participate in the traditional 'Crossing the line'
ceremony as HMS EMPRESS passes the equator. |
Trooping voyage to Australia and New Zealand: October - November
1945
After
a spell in Trincomalee HMS
EMPRESS moved to Colombo on October 11th to embark passengers
for a round trip voyage to Australia and New Zealand; on this trip
EMPRESS was carrying commonwealth naval personnel home for
demobilisation. She embarked (an unknown number) of passengers for
Melbourne together with 370 ratings and 53 officers of the Royal New
Zealand Navy, and 13 New Zealand soldiers for Wellington. She sailed
from Colombo on October 17th.
EMPRESS arrived in Wellington on the morning of November 3rd
having briefly called at Melbourne; once berthed at Aotea Quay she
disembarked her passengers who were greeted by large crowds of
relatives and spectators who lined the dockside. HMS EMPRESS
was one of the first warships to be open to the public after the
war, and for several hours in the afternoon she was toured by eager
visitors. The following day she was moved to another berth for minor
repairs to be carried out before sailing on the return leg to
Ceylon.
Passage to the UK: November27th - December 19th 1945
The
ship arrived back at Colombo on November 23rd and began embarking
more passengers and stores, this time in preparation for a voyage to
the UK. Amongst her passengers were the aircrews and personnel of
896 Squadron; their aircraft were left at RNAS Katukurunda, and the
squadron was to disband on reaching the UK.
HMS
EMPRESS left Colombo on November 27th and arrived in the Clyde
on December 19th. Once all passengers and stores were unloaded
EMPRESS was stood down from active service in preparation for
her return to the US Navy. On completion of de-storing and equipment
removal HMS EMPRESS sailed for Norfolk, Virginia on January
6th 1946
Disposal: return to US custody February 1946
HMS
EMPRESS arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard on January 20th, she was
decommissioned as an RN ship on January 28th.. CVE 38 was returned
to the US Navy custody on February 4th 1946 and stricken for
disposal on 28 March 1946. She was sold for breaking June 21st 1946.
***
FOOTNOTE
The action of April 11th
when
EMPRESS and KHEDIVE came under Kamikaze attack is
drawn from Wellham (2003), an eye witness account from his
biography; he was Commander Flying on
EMPRESS. Other accounts give differing information:
Sturtivant & Balance (1994) list 845 Sqdn as aboard
EMPEROR not EMPRESS darning the period of this
operation,
EMPEROR was an assault carrier and not equipped to operate
Avengers except in an emergency see
HMS SHAH account. Also details of an incident involving
KHEDIVE in Wellham's (2003) account match the dates (April
8th) given in Sturtivant & Burrows (1995) for a Hellcat of 808 Sqdn
crashing into
KHEDIVE's rounddown when the two carriers were embarking
their squadrons prior to sailing for the operation. Claims that the
first Kamikaze attack on an EIF carrier was against
AMEER on July 26th, Brown (1974), must also be questioned in
light of Wellham's (2003) account which put it as over three months
earlier. Another source of confusion is the mixing up of EMPEROR
and EMPRESS
in historical works; Winton (1968, p.234) makes this switch when
describing the air attack on AMEER during operation LIVERY.
Since his account has been widely used by contemporary writers this
error may well have been repeated over several other works.
Content revised:
11 June 2020
Sources used in compiling this account:
Click here for a list of
Primary sources
Additional sources:
Wellham, J., (2003) 'With Naval Wings' Staplehurst,
Spellmount Publishers Ltd
Fold3.com various documents including;
Admiralty War Diaries
Norfolk Navy Yard War Diaries
Mew York Navy Yard War Diaries
Miscellaneous documents
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