H.M.S. QUEEN Gllery

HMS QUEEN gallery

Images marked ♣ aare Telegrapnist Grosvenor Dove. Images marked † are courtesy of Mrs Kay Morgan (nee Howlett whose father, Leslie Howlett, was an Air Mechanic serving with the Naval Air Equipment Unit at Colombo.Additional Images, marked © IWM, are reproduced under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

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Modification period at Vancouver: December 1943 – April 1944

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (1)

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (2)

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (3)

The removal of the original rounddown in preparation for fitting the flight deck extension. (4)

The first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension.

Aft starboard quarter view showing the first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension.

Stern view showing the first section of the longer rounddown is in place for the flight deck extension. .

High and dry in the floating dock at Burrard’s North Yard, Vancouver. QUEEN spent three days in dock for remedial work before returning to No 7 berth on February 5th, where her alterations were completed.

QUEEN alongside. possibly No 7 berth at Burrard's dockyard for final fitting out.

QUEEN underway, c. March 1944, possibly about to begin her post-modification work-up off Vancouver.

Maiden voyage: embarking 853 quadron and ferry laod to Glasgow April - May1944

May 6th 1944: Flying exercises in Chesapeake Bay, an Avenger of 855 squadron on approach for a deck landing.

May 6th 1944: Flying exercises in Chesapeake Bay, Avenger JJZ500, piloted by Sub-Lt R. K. H. Johnson RNVR, drifted to port on landing, and the port wheel dropped into the deck edge walkway.

Communications department ratings pose with a Corsair fighter on the flight deck on completion of loading the ferry load at Norfolk. ♣

853 squadron joins the ship for work up on the Clyde: January 28th – March 1st 1945

An 853 squadron Avenger sits at the aft e end of the flight deck, running up its engine to full power, ready for a rolling take-off, during flying workup.

The brakes are off - an 853 Squadron Avenger picks up speed down the flight deck, during a rolling take-off, during flying workup.

An 853 squadron Avenger catches a wire landing during flying work up.

TThe maintenance personnel of 853 squadron. c. May 1945, possibly around the time of escorting Convoy JW.67 - the last escorted convoy to Kola Inlet, Russia, codenamed Operation TIMELESS.

Operations with the Home Fleet March – May 1945

QUEEN at Greenock March 1944 © IWM A 22178

May 4th 1945, Operation JUDGEMENT the last offensive operation against the Germans: Avengers sweep in from an overland approach to Kilbotn Bay. The U-boat depot ship is centre right; a tanker is in the centre, and a flak ship can be seen above the aircraft. © IWM (A 28658).

May 4th 1945, Operation JUDGEMENT the last offensive operation against the Germans: A pillar of smoke rises from the explosion in the U-boat depot ship, which is burning furiously.© IWM (A 28657)

May 4th 1945, Operation JUDGEMENT the last offensive operation against the Germans: Bombs bursting on a tanker (foreground), which later sank, while swirls of water behind hide the end of the 5,000-ton U-boat depot ship, which had just blown up after being hit by other naval bombs. A flak ship, which was left in a damaged condition, is in the left foreground. © IWM (A 28656).

The ship's company and recreation

Representatives from junior rates messdecks queue up to receive the daily rum allocation for those in their mess aged 20 or over. A daily amount of Grog was 1/8 pint of 95.5% proof rum -for junior ratings it was diluted with two parts of water to make 3/8 pint, senior ratings could take theirs neat. Image probably taken at Scapa Flow. ♣

March 1945, Scapa Flow: Cafeteria-style dinner at the ship's company galley on board the QUEEN.© IWM (A 29179)

March 1945, Scapa Flow: Sick berth attendants preparing sun-ray treatment in the sick bay of HMS QUEEN. © IWM (A 29180)

Date unknown: Rehearsals for a ship's concert on board HMS QUEEN. ♣

Match 31st 1945: A church service held in the hangar; Captain K. J. D'Arcy RN is on the small stage with guests and the ship’s chaplain, the Rcv. J. Stanley.

March 1945, Scapa Flow: A joke appreciated by all at a ship's concert on board HMS QUEEN. © IWM (A 29180)

Date unknown: The signals room on board HMS QUEEN. ♣

Date unknown: The signalers and telegraphists mess on board HMS QUEEN. ♣

c. 1944, location unknown: Divisions are held on the flight deck. ♣

Operations as a Trooping carrier November1945 - October 1946

September18th 1945: QUEEN underway from Greenock bound for Barrow-in-Furness for her conversion for trooping duties. © IWM (FL17806)

September18th 1945: QUEEN underway from Greenock bound for Barrow-in-Furness for her conversion for trooping duties.

January 3rd 1946: QUEEN moored port side to at 4C Dolphin, Little Sirius Cove, Sydney.

March 31st 1946, Colombo harbour: QUEEN (moored in front of PATROLLER) is allocated for the dumping of surplus airframes and equipment out at sea. The airframes, engines and other gear were jettisoned on April 1st during the return voyage to the UK en route to Aden. †

Personnel from the Naval Air Equipment Unit at Colombo are ferrying the carcasses of stripped-down Barracuda Torpedo Bombers for disposal at sea. These airframes were hoisted aboard QUEEN using her own derricks.†

March 31st 1946, Colombo harbour: QUEEN is being employed in dumping surplus airframes and equipment out at sea. The airframes, engines and other gear were jettisoned on April 1st during the return voyage to the UK en route to Aden. †

June 12th 1946: QUEEN entering Valletta harbour, Malta to deliver a naval draft of 206 Fleet Air Arm ratings and three Royal Marines. On departure from Malta, she sailed for Port Said on passage to Hong Kong.

June 12th 1946: QUEEN entering Valletta harbour, Malta to deliver a naval draft of 206 Fleet Air Arm ratings and three Royal Marines. On departure from Malta, she said fleor Port Said on passage to Hong Kong.

October 1946, QUEEN on passage to Montreal to deliver a consignment of Aircraft for the Canadian Fleet Air Arm. In the picture, 7 Fairey Firefly aircraft can be seen lashed on the flight Deck. Photo: Patrick Martin

Operation DRAGOON.: Sub-Lt (A) R. A. Wiltshire, RNVR, (left) and Sub-Lt (A) D. Symons, pilots on board QUEEN, with Wildcat ‘K’. © IWM (A 25494)