H.M.S. HUNTER Gallery

HMS HUNTER gallery

Images marked are from the private collection of Sub-Lieutenant Louis C. Pryor RNVR, one of the Fighter Direction Officers serving on the HMS HUNTER in the Indian Ocean in 1945. Images marked ‡ are from the private collection of Sub-Lieutenant Bill Mullins, who served on HMS Hunter with 807 Sqn between June and September 1945. Images marked ♦ are courtesy of Christopher Pegler, his father, Major Richard Pegler, Royal Artillery, was the Army Liaison Officer on board ATTACKER during the ship’s operations in the Mediterranean, in particular Operations AVALANCHE and DRAGOON. Additional Images, marked © IWM, are reproduced under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Most of these images are sized to fit the screen, however where possible those containing groups of personnel will open large enough to see individuals. Many, but not all, of these images are available in larger, high-res versions and copies can be supplied upon receipt of a photo request. If you have pictures or other memorabilia that you can contribute to this project please contact the Webmaster using the Offer of assistance form.

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Sea trials, Ferry trip to Casablancaand passage to the UK

January 1943: Port broadside view of HMS HUNTER during her builders’ trials off the Mississippi coast. At this stage she carries no armament or Radar.

January 1943: Port side view of HMS HUNTER during her builders’ trials off the Mississippi coast. At this stage she carries no armament or Radar.

Match 18th 1943: HMS HUNTER at Casablanca unloading her cargo of US Army Air Force planes.

March 1943: Swordfish and Seafire aircraft operating from HMS HUNTER - believed to be the scratch squadron assembled at Gibraltar for convoy defence on passage to the UK.

June 30th 1943, Poer broadside view of HUNTER at Greenock after completing her modification work. Note a single Walrus Amphibian is on the flight deck, wings folded, and her flight deck has not been extended. © IWM (A 17691).

June 30th 1943, Starboard broadside view of HUNTER at Greenock after completing her modification work. Note a single Walrus Amphibian is on the flight deck, wings folded, and her flight deck has not been extended. © IWM (A 17689).

c. June 30th 1943, Photo showing the layout of the island structure, the bridge and radar and communications arrays on the masthead.

Operation AVALANCHE: September 1943

September 1943: HUNTER escorting a troop convoy just before the Salerno operations. © IWM (A 20224)

September 1943: A Seafire about to land on HUNTER after a sortie in Salerno Bay. © IWM (A 19536)

September 1943: A Seafire frome HUNTER given the "Wave round" (go round again) signal. © IWM (A 20225)

September 1943: A Seafire safely lands on HUNTER after a sortie in Salerno Bay. © IWM (A 19535)

The landing beaches and objectives for Operation AVALANCHE. ♦

Aerial recon photo of he landing beaches and objectives for Operation AVALANCHE. ♦

The airfield at Monticorvino, a major target for the allies in Operation ‘AVALANCHE’ ♦

September 12th 1943: View from ATTACKER of the CVEs BATTLER, HUNTER and STALKER, as they approach Palermo after Operation ‘AVALANCHE’ ♥

The CVEs of of Force 'V' leaving the Naples area after the Salerno landings. ATTACKER leading STALKER seen trailing BATTLER; the group is lead by HUNTER.

Ships of Force 'V' seen from HMS BATTLER during operation AVALANCHE. The larger carrier in the centre is HMS UNICORN.

Operations in the Mediterranean and Aegean: June – October 19444

An unidentified Harvard Mk.III on board HUNTER. Believed to have embarked in the UK before sailing for the Mediterranean, for pilot training? Loaned to 40 Squadron SAAF in Italy, but crashed on July 10th.

unidentified Harvard Mk.III on board HUNTER. This image suggests the aircraft was flown off the ship. Probably to an airfield in Italy for use ashore, Date unknown.

eafire NN117 of 807 squadron being being manhandled on the flight deck by the aircraft handling party.

Unidentified Seafire which has ended up in the port walkway on landing. Date and location unknown. (1)

Unidentified Seafire with one third of its starboard wing missing, either as a result of battle damage or a crash on landing. Date and location unknown.

August 27th 1944: Seafire NF626 attempted to apply power to gain height after missing all wires the arrester Hook caught No.3 barrier, and the aircraft pitched upside down onto the forward lift, The pilot, Lt J. E. M. Thornhill RNVR was OK.

SEPTEMBER 1944, OFF RHODES, IN THE AEGEAN: The CVEs KHEDIVE, STALKER, EMPEROR, HUNTER, SEARCHER, and PURSUER in line ahead seen from ATTACKER. © IWM (A 26519)

FORCE "A" OPERATIONS IN THE AEGEAN. 2 TO 9 OCTOBER 1944: From near to far: the escort carrier HUNTER, the cruiser ROYALIST, the carrier SEARCHER, and the cruiser COLOMBO seen from the AURORA. © IWM (A 25998)

FORCE "A" OPERATIONS IN THE AEGEAN. 2 TO 9 OCTOBER 1944: The cruiser ROYALIST (nearest camera) and HUNTER seen from the AURORA's quarterdeck. © IWM (A 25997)

The cruiser AURORA signalling the British carrier HUNTER in preparation for refuelling at sea. © IWM (A 26005)

Force A operations in the Aegean. 2 to 9 October 1944: AURORA refuelling from HUNTER off the island of Santorin. SEARCHER and ROYALIST are seen in the background. © IWM A 26009

Force A operations in the Aegean. 2 to 9 October 1944: AURORA refuelling from HUNTER off the island of Santorin. SEARCHER and ROYALIST are seen in the background. © IWM A 26010

King Farouk of Egypt visits the ship at Alexandria. March 1945

King Farouk with Vice Admiral W. G. Tennant, CBE, MVO, Flag Officer Levant and Eastern Mediterranean, on the bridge of HMS HUNTER. On the left is Vice Admiral Mahmoud Hamza Pasha. © IWM (A 28110)

Group taken on the flight deck of HMS HUNTER with a Seafire. Left to right: Front row: Rear Admiral Sir Kenelm Creighton; Lieut General Omar Fathay Pasha; Vice Admiral W. G. Tennant; HM King Farouk; Vice Admiral Mamoud Hamza Pasha; Commander G. N. Oliver; Captain A. D. Torlesse. Back row: Flag Lieut A. Bryden Brown; Flag Lieut Ez El Dinatif; Lieut Commander H. P. Allignham; Surg Lieut Com Youssef Ras Had; Rear Admiral Salem Pasha El Bdan; Lieut Cdr G. C. Baldwin RN; Commander F. R. H. Swann RNVR. © IWM (A 28114)

King Farouk with Vice Admiral Tennant and his Staff ascending to the flight deck of the HUNTER by means of the aircraft lift. © IWM (A 28112)

King Farouk walking across the flight deck with Admiral Tennant; on the right is Rear Admiral Salem, Pash El Badan.© IWM (A 28111)

Seafires of the HUNTER carrying out a bombing attack on a target towed astern of the escort carrier. © IWM (A 28116)

Operations with the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (21 ACS), with the East Indies Fleet: March - October 1945

PP984 ('D5P'), over side attempting -to land on Hunter off Alexandria, Cat Z 1.3.45 (PO GK Igoe seriously injured)

c. March 7th 1945: HUNTER with 807 squadron Seafires on deck passing through the Suez Canal en route to Ceylon.

c. March 1945: NN393 ('D5A') entered the barrier and ended on its nose. Pilot unknown. Possibly occurred during flying exercises on passage to Trincomalee from Port Suez.

c. April 1945: HUNTER underway with 807 Squadron Seafires on deck during the workup period. Before beginning operations with the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron

c. May 1945: PR171 ('D5J') on returning from a Combat Air Patrol over Force 61 entered the barrier and ended on its nose. The pilot, Chief Petty Officer Wright, was OK.

June 27th 1945: Believed to be Seafire NN403 which ended up in the starboard walkway after No. 3 arrester wire parted. The pilot, Sub-Lt G. J. links RNVR was OK but the aircraft was written off on being put ashore to RNAS Trincomalee.

Seafire (‘D5C’) on its nose after a barrier crash. Date unknown.

Seafire ('D5L’) appears to have bounced over No. 1 barrier and has been stopped by the second one, fouling the undercarriage and pitching the aircraft onto its nose. Aircraft serial and date unknown.

June 26th 1945: Seafire PP979 ('D5X’) floats over all the arrester wires and enters the barrier. The pilot, Sub-Lt F. Logic RNZNVR was OK. (1)

June 26th 1945: Seafire PP979 ('D5X’) floats over all the arrester wires and enters the barrier. The pilot, Sub-Lt F. Logic RNZNVR was OK. (2)

June 26th 1945: Seafire PP979 ('D5X’) floats over all the arrester wires and enters the barrier. The pilot, Sub-Lt F. Logic RNZNVR was OK. (3)

Possibly Seafire NN153 ('D5N’) partially jutting out over the deck edge after a barrier crash. Date unknown.

September 11th, 1945: HUNTER in company with STALKER, entering Keppel Harbour, Singapore, manning the rails- the Seafires of 807 squadron neatly ranged on her flight deck, and the ship's company are "manning the rails". A peacetime ceremonial procedure in which the crew stand at attention along the vessel's outer edges and superstructures to render honours. The two ships were present for the official surrender of Japanese forces in Singapore on September 12th.

Paying off, the voyage home to the UK

October 18th 1945: HUTER on passage northbound through the Suez Canal on the voyage home to the UK with the Seafires of 807 squadron ranged aft on the flight deck.

October 18th 1945: HUTER approaching Lake Timsah on passage northbound through the Suez Canal on the voyage home to the UK. The Suez Canal Defence Monument (often called the Ismailia Monument) is visible in the distance.

October 18th 1945: HUTER departing Port Said? on the voyage home to the UK. Note the ship is flying her distinctive paying-off pennant, a tapering white flag with a red St. George's cross at the hoist traditionally flown to signify the conclusion of a ship’s commission or its final return to home port before being retired from active service. The length of the pennant is directly determined by the ship's length and length of service, often stretching so far into the water behind it that it is difficult to keep the tail afloat.