HMS SHAH at Cochin, India, delivering a ferry load of aircraft

View of ships of the East Indies fleet at anchor in Trincomalee harbour taken in May 1945. The photo is taken from the flight deck of HMS SHAH looking over the port side funnel. The Battle ship QUEEN ELIZABETH is on the right of the shot and an unidentified escort carrier on the extreme right edge of the photo. HMS PIONEER is clearly visible in the centre, anchored during her brief stay on route to Sydney to join the BPF. A county class cruiser is on the far left.

V.Adm. Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command, addresses members of the ship's company during a visit to ships of the East Indies Fleet during May 1945

Catapulting an Avenger of 841 squadron to bomb targets in the Nicobar Islands 1945. The Anti-Aircraft Cruiser HMS Royalist is in the background. Photo: Courtesy Roy McCully

A Mk XI aerial depth charge being loaded onto an 851 squadron Avenger on board the escort carrier HMS SHAH © IWM (A 27853)

A Hellcat of 800 Squadron taking off from SHAH without the aid of the ships accelerator..

Walrus Air Sea Rescue plane W3022 of 1700 squadron landing on to return rescued aircrew. This aircraft operated from SHAH 8-26 August 1945.

Avenger JZ208 ('1G') flown by S/Lt. CH Whitehead being recovered from the port catwalk where it ended up after catching No.6 wire and hitting No.2 barrier landing on Shah, January12th 1945.

Avenger JZ138 (' lL') is prepared for descent into the hanger for repair - the aircraft, piloted by S/Lt. JGV Burns, successfully caught an arrestor wire which carrying out Deck Landing Training on February 3rd 1945.but the prop entered barrier.

Corsair JS640 from the Station flight of RNAS Trincomalee with its tail in the starboard forward twin 40mm Bofors mount after it floated over all the arrestor wires and went through Nos.2 & 3 barriers on Shah July 11th 1945. The pilot, S/Lt. A Renshaw RNZN was OK; The aircraft was put ashore by lighter to RNAS Trincomalee and later written off.

The wreckage resulting from Avenger JZ121 (' IF') bouncing over the barriers and hitting the tail of Avenger JZ234 in the forward aircraft park on Shah, January 13th 1945. The pilot, S/Lt CR I Whitehead was OK.

Members of the flight deck party watching Avenger JZ122 ('IG') as the ship steams past her; After attempting a slow and high landing, lost overboard from Shah, on June 25th 1944. S/Lt. F Scudder & crew were rescued OK.

Above & below: Avenger JZ123 stalled and ditched on take of from Shah, August 10th 1944. The pilot, S/Lt. JI Delany RNZN was rescued OK.