HMS BATTLER Gallery

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HMS BATTLER gallery

Images and memorabilia from the private collection of

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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Life on board: With the Eastern Fleet December 1943

The Navigator, Lt. Cdr H. V. Williamson, RNR plotting a course in the chart room. © IWM A 21658

The Navigator, Lt. Cdr H. V. Williamson, RNR (left) and his assistant in the chart room. © IWM A 21657

Personnel of the Fighter Direction Centre closed up. © IWM A BATTLER-Dece_43_ IWM_A21661

Pay parade, after confirming the man’s ID he removes and presents his cap into which his pay packet is placed. © IWM A 21633

Stirring the pot, food preparation in the well-equipped galley. © IWM A 21638

Hundreds of loaves are produced every day in the ship’s bakery. © IWM A 21628

Junior ratings are Served meals cafeteria style on the American built ship, a big departure from the traditional RN messing system. © IWM A 21647

The Soda fountain, or "Gopher" bar, ratings enjoy this American luxury found on all US Navy built ships. © IWM A 21646

The Sunday church service is held in the hangar with a backdrop off Swordfish biplanes. © IWM A 2160

The ship’s Padre, the Rev. J. G. Falconer leads the Sunday church service in the hangar. © IWM A 21665

Nose Art: A squadron Swordfish crew apply "Thumper" to their aircraft. © IWM A 2160

Three Fairey Swordfish pilots of 834 squadron posed with one of their machines.. © IWM A21632

Aircrew of 834 Squadron, wearing shorts and flying gear walking to their Swordfish in readiness for taking-off on a anti-submarine patrol. © IWM A 21651

A Fairey Swordfish crew of 834 squadron check their equipment prior to take-off. © IWM A 21618

Five of 834 squadron’s Seafires pilots just before taking off on a detachment ashore to operate out of RAF Santa Cruz, India between November 17th and December 26th, the first Seafires to land there. © IWM A 21640

An 834-squadron fighter pilot, with his maintenance crew, a fitter, a rigger, an armourer, a radio mechanic, and an electrician. © IWM A 21620© IWM A 21620

Christmas 1943 at Bombay, a fancy dress deck hockey match.

Christmas 1943, at Bombay a fancy dress deck hockey match.

Christmas 1943, a feast served up in the mess.

January 15th 1944, the crossing the line ceremony: The Captain greets King Neptune.

January 15th 1944, the crossing the line ceremony: King Neptune, his first assistant Davy Jones and her Highness Queen Amphitrite and various dignitaries plus the royal guard.

January 15th 1944, the crossing the line ceremony:

March 1944: Aircraft of 834 squadron flying over the coast line off Durban, South Africa.

Seafire NM979 of 834 squadron moments after crashing on landing during flight operations off Durban. South Affric. Date unknown.

Admiral Moody visits the ship in Colombo.

October 27th 1944, members of the crew listen to Captain Stephenson as he gives his farewell speech.

Captain H. Norman RN is piped aboard as the new commanding officer.

Captain H. Norman addressee the ship's company assembled on the flight deck.

Operations as a Ferry Carrier: November 1944 - March 1945

November 1944: BATTLER on passage to the military harbour at Adabiya on the Gulf of Suez, to meet up with the escort carrier HMS THANE for an exchange of aircraft for her first Ferry voyage. Her flight deck has her own Seafires and Swordfish on the flight deck plus a large number of mixed aircraft, Hellcat, Avenger and Corsair covering half of the deck.

November 1944: The military Harbour at Adabiya - view aft from the Island of HMS THANE showing mostly Hellcats and Corsairs for BATTLER's ferry load for Cochin

On passage to RNAS Cochin with aircraft transferred from HMS THANE lashed on deck.

The access alley between the carefully loaded and lashed aircraft On passage to RNAS Cochin.

Avengers being hoisted ashore from BATTLER alongside at RNAS Cochin, India.

December 1944: BATTLER encountered heavy weather crossing the Great Australian Bight and some of her deck cargo was lost overboard; of 34 aircraft lashed on the flight deck only 23 remained on clearing the bad weather.

HMS BATTLER arriving at Sydney Harbour to unload her ferry load to establish a small stock of aircraft at Bankstown airport to await the arrival of Mobile Naval Air Base No.II.

Avengers being offloaded by lighter in Sydney Harbour for transport by road to Bankstown airport.

Operations as a Deck Landing Training Carrier: May - December 1945

May 1945: A Hellcat from 768 DLT squadron comes in for a landing

June 1945: Corsair IT420 has landed with port drift and the pilot has lost control.

June 1945: Corsair IT420 has drifted over the deck edge and the port undercarriage has dropped into the catwalk. Ratings are positioned on the end of the starboard wing in an attempt to balance the aircraft and prevent it sipping further over.

An unidentified Seafire catches a wire.

An unidentified Seafire catches a less that perfect wire.

An unidentified Seafire misses catching s a wire and applies power to go round again.

May 12th 1945: Seafire L.11c, NM921 Swung to port on its take-off run and its port wing tip hit forward Bofors gunsight, the aircraft dived into the sea killing the pilot Midshipman L.W. Hammond RNVR

OA Swordfish from 731 squadron during a session of DLCO qualifying. Possibly HS158 ('E3E'which made a fast landing and had its undercarriage sheared off by the crash barrier on August 30th 1945. The starboard oleo leg and wheel can be seen flying rearwards. partly obscuring the last letter of the side code.

September 1st 1945 Swordfish LS422 of 768 Sqn showing damage two both upper and lower wings after it bounced into the barrier.

Unidentified Firefly coded ('E1L') is stopped by the crash barrier

September 3rd 1945, Z1971 (NF.11) of 731 Sqn Easthaven, possibly coded ('E3S'); the aircraft landed with the arrester hook locked up and its progress was slowed by Nos.2 & 3 barriers, its undercarriage was torn off before it came to rest two thirds of the way up the flight deck. (1) viewed from the bridge.