H.M.S. PREMIER Gllery

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HMS PREMIER gallery

Images marked ♣ are courtesy of Peter Evans, his father, formeer Air Fitter (Electrical) Gomer Evans, served on PREMIER January 1944-April 1946. 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.

The Royal Navy Research Archive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License See our terms of use for conditions regarding using these images in other works.

Under construction at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington: October 1942 – March 1943

This is AVG-46 (RANEE) at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington. The hull and flight deck support beams are complete, and the ship is ready for launching. Whereas this vessel was completed on site, AVG-42 (PREMIER) is to be towed up the Pacific coast to the shipyard of Willamette Iron & Steel, Portland, Oregon, for the completion of her construction as an escort carrier (1) Image via Navsource.net

This is AVG-46 (RANEE) being launched at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington. The hull and flight deck support beams are complete. Whereas this vessel was completed on site, AVG-42 (PREMIER) is to be towed up the Pacific coast to the shipyard of Willamette Iron & Steel, Portland, Oregon, for the completion of her construction as an escort carrier. Image via Navsource.net

Modification period at Vancouver: November 1943- February 1944

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (1) Image: e000762191 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (2) Image: e000762192 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (3) Image: e000762195 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (4) Image: ee000762194 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

The first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. Image: e000762205 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Aft starboard quarter view showing the first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. Image: e000762204 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Stern view showing the first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. Image: e000762207 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

New torpedo storage racks being put to the test using dummies. Image: e00076219Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Seen form the flight deck looking down the forward lift well, one of the new fire screens is tested to isolate the hangar. Image: e000762209 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

Checking the Installation of steam heating in the 40mm Bofor gfun tubs. Image: e000762188 Ronny Jaques / National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada

High and dry in the floating dock at Burrard’s North Yard, Vancouver. Stern view. PREMIER spent four days in dock for remedial work before returning to No 4 berth on December 10th, where her alterations were completed. Photo courtesy CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Neg: VR995.30.08

High and dry in the floating dock at Burrard’s North Yard, Vancouver. Bow view. PREMIER spent four days in dock for remedial work before returning to No 4 berth on December 10th, where her alterations were completed. Photo courtesy CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Neg: VR995.30.22

Ferry voyage to the UK

c. February 24th 1944: PREMIER underway, approaching Norfolk, Virginia, where she is to embark a ferry load of Lend-Lease airframes for delivery to the UK.

c. March 1944. HMS PREMIER on passage to the UK with a ferry load of 42 Lend-Lease Corsair fighters on her flight deck.

March 23rd 1944. Starboard broadside of HMS PREMIER at anchor off Greenock. © IWM (A 22527)

March 23rd 1944. HMS PREMIER at anchor off Greenock. © IWM (A 22526)

March 23rd 1944, Greenock. Captain H. J. Gardner, RN, Commanding Officer of HMS PREMIER, on the bridge. © IWM (A 22528)

Flight operations

The officers and men of 856 Naval Air Squadron. Picture taken c. late May 1944 at US Naval Air Station Squantum , Boston, Mass., U.S.A., before joining PREMIER in the YK in September 1944.Image courtesy David Miller.

PREMIER anchored in Scapa Flow. Crew members are embarking stores using the port derrick while Wildcat fighters are parked along the starboard side of the flight deck. Six aircraft are visible in the picture, suggesting this is later than December 1st 1944; before this date, 856 Sqn fighter flight had only four aircraft, increasing to eight on November 27th.♣

c. September 1944: One of the four Wildcat fighters of 856 Sqn has just safely landed on PREMIER, and the deck party rushes to unhook the arrester wire and marshal the aircraft forward of the barrier. ♣

An Avenger from 856 Sqn takes to the air during an unaccelerated takeoff from PREMIER. Picture believed to have been taken during Flag Officer Carrier Training work-up in September/October 1944.♣

March 30th 1945, Operation ROUNDEL: Avenger JZ532 ('6A') suffering from heavy icing, stalled on approach to the rounddown and hit it. The port wing has penetrated the rounddown, and the aircraft, stuck fast, has caught fire. ♣

March 30th 1945, Operation ROUNDEL: Avenger JZ532 ('6A') has crashed into the rounddown and the port wing has penetrated through the rounddown, narrowly missing the aft AA guns and their director. The aircraft is stuck fast, and the fuselage is hanging out over the stern. The pilot, Sub-Lt A. S. Murray, RNVR, was seriously injured; Sub-Lt N. Muir, RNVR & Leading Airman S. A. Crawford were unhurt; the aircraft was a write-off and was jettisoned into the sea. ♣

An unidentified Corsair has drifted to starboard on landing and run off the deck edge into the walkway. Date unknown, possibly an 1835 Sqn (August 1945) or 768 Sqn (September 1945) aircraft embarked for DLT. ♣

Believed to be a Hellcat JZ915 ('M') of 892 Squadron, which embarked in PREMIER 2-5th July 1945 for DLT. No accident records are available, but this machine was repaired and is recorded as being at RNAS Donibristle Storage Section on October 1st 1945. ♣

Ship's company

PREMIER at anchor, sometime in 1945, location unknown.Photo courtesy CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Neg: VR999.693.25

April 1945: PREMIER in drydock at Glasgow during a two-week spell in dockyard hands for maintenance and repairs. ♣

CVE-42 ex HMS PREMIER at Norfolk Navy Yard c. April 1946. Photo: From the collection of RM1c Dale Magnus, USN via Navsource.net