Her keel was laid down on February 2nd 1942, at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Tacoma, Washington, a C3-S-A1 type freighter, Maritime Commission hull number 238, Seattle-Tacoma hull number 22. On July 27th 1942, the U.S. Navy purchased the hull to become AVG-22 (no name announced). Whilst still under construction, it had been decided that AVG-22 (later changed to ACV-22) was to be transferred to the Admiralty on loan upon her completion as an aircraft carrier. After 138 days on the Ways, the hull, complete with flight deck support beams and its engines and associated machinery installed, was launched on June 20th 1942.

On June 24th, it was towed by the tug USS TATNUCK (AT—27) from Seattle to the port of Astoria, Oregon, on the south shore of the Columbia River, where the river flows into the Pacific Ocean. ACV-22 was the second of 10 escort carriers to be contracted out for completion in Portland, Oregon, 5 each to be outfitted by Commercial Iron Works and Willamette Iron & Steel; the first, TRACKER ACV-5, was allocated to Willamette Iron & Steel while SEARCHER, ACV-22, was assigned to Commercial Iron Works.

From Astoria, she was towed up the Columbia River to Portland and delivered to the Commercial Iron Works yard where work was to begin outfitting the basic vessel as an escort carrier, this included creating and equipping the internal compartments, the hangar deck, fitting the flightdeck, accelerator and arrestor gear, the island superstructure, sponsons and guns She spent the next 291 days under construction in the water, in total she took 429 days to complete.

RN crew members for SEARCHER began to arrive in Portland beginning in January 1943 and were under the charge of Commander L. J. Sedgwick RN, the ship’s executive officer and officer in charge, until the appointment of Captain G.O.C. Davies RN on February 15th.

ACV-22 was ready for her builder’s and Admiralty acceptance trials in late March. These trials began on the morning of March 25th 1943. A four-man board of naval officers carried out the acceptance trial, rechecking the findings of the builder's trials and more. Rear Admiral Noyes USN headed the trial board; two captains and a lieutenant-commander completed the board. Also present for these runs were the RN officers and crew, a large force of Commercial Iron Works workmen, Commander Leland D. Whitgrove, the local supervisor of naval shipbuilding, together with members of his staff, and a group of Commercial Iron Works officers.

After passing down the Willamette River, she entered the Columbia River and trials began at 09:00. The first test was a full power run and speed run over a measured mile, downstream, turning around at 10:40 and repeated the runs upstream, completing her maximum speed run over a measured mile commencing at 13:20 with an emergency stop. After testing her anchors, steering, engines, and general handling, she returned to her berth at 16:00 after completing the test schedule.

Transferred to Admiralty custody

On completion of defect rectification and final fitting out, ACV-22 was delivered to the US Navy April 7th 1943; she was accepted on behalf of the US Navy by Commander Meagher, USNR, and after the playing of the American national anthem he delivered her to Captain G.O.C. Davies RN, who accepted her on behalf of the Admiralty. AVG-22 was then commissioned into RN service the same day in a short ceremony when Captain Davies read out the commissioning warrant and the ship was named HMS SEARCHER (D40). The following day marked her build complete, and preparation began for her sea trials and work-up at Seattle.
 

Seattle: working up the ship

On completion of storing, ship SEARCHER left Portland on April 29th 1943, on passage to the US Navy Station Seattle, where she was to take on ammunition and stores, carry out gunnery practice, and undergo a short work-up. On May 2nd her engines broke down while exercising off Cape Flattery en route to Puget Sound. She requested immediate tug assistance; The tug BLACK DOUGLAS stood by, and a fleet tug was dispatched immediately from the Puget Sound Navy Yard. However, shortly thereafter SEARCHER reported that she was able to proceed under her own power and resumed course to Seattle, arriving at Naval Station Seattle at 19:29 on May 2nd. Work began loading stores and ammunition in preparation for exercising at sea in the coming week. ON may 5th, the ship received a Royal visitor when Her Royal Highness Princess Alice and His Excellency the Governor General of Canada came aboard.

SEARCHER put to sea at 07:10 on May 7th to begin her work-up, returning to her mooring at 19:02 on the 8th. She made a second foray on the 10th, sailing at 07:10 and returning at 09:00 the following morning. She now began loading more stores and equipment in preparation for her departure on her maiden voyage to the UK.
 

Maiden voyage: Ferry trip Seattle to UK; June - July 1943

SEARCHER sailed from Seattle at 09:12 on May 13th bound for Balboa and the Panama Canal. She arrived at Cristobal on the Atlantic side of the canal on May 24th. On the 26th, she sailed independently from Cristobal for Norfolk. She sustained major damage in extreme weather conditions only one day out from the Canal, and repairs were to be made on arrival at Norfolk Navy Yard on June 1st.

In addition to making good the voyage repairs, SEARCHER spent some time in dry-dock and received work to repair her hull, valve drains and main stop valve drains. Work was also carried out to install radar equipment, repair the pitometer log, gyro repeater, and wiring, and correct the adjustment of the training gear on two heavy AA Gun mounts. A boiler clean was also carried out. En route from Seattle, she also developed an H.P. Turbine defect, and these repairs delayed her planned departure date for New York, where she was to join a convoy. Her original sailing date was June 12th to join convoy HX.244; this was revised to sail on the 18th to join HX.245, but further delay put the sailing date back to June 28th to join HX.246.

On completion of repairs, she put to sea at 13:15 on June 16th for post-repair shake-down, arriving back at berth in Norfolk Navy Yard at 17:35. On the 19th, she cast off at 08:35 and relocated to a berth at the Norfolk Naval Operating Base, and work began to embark a ferry load of 4 Tarpon (Avenger), 16 Hellcat, and 5 Martlet V (Wildcat), along with stores and equipment in readiness for sailing for New York. She returned to her berth in the Navy Yard at 16:30 on the 20th.

SEARCHER sailed for New York at 11:00 on June 27th. She was to sail for the UK in company with sister escort carrier STRIKER , the latter having embarked 10 Curtis Seamew, 10 Tarpon (Avenger), 16 Martlet V (Wildcat), 10 Hellcat, and 8 Corsair at Norfolk. Both carriers arrived at New York on the 218th and were taken in hand by Bethlehem Steel Co. at 28th Street, Brooklyn, for voyage repairs, which were completed the same day. SEARCHER also embarked passengers and a consignment of engine spares while alongside.

The two carriers Sailed from New York with convoy HX246 on June 30th, this was a large convoy consisting of 64 merchantmen and 19 escorts. After an uneventful crossing STRIKER  & SEARCHER escorted by ACANTHUS, POTENTILLA & VERVAIN detached as fast section on July 11th, arriving in Liverpool Bay on the 13th.
 

Modification to RN standards July - October 1943

On completion of unloading her ferry load, SEARCHER was taken in hand by Harland & Wolff shipyard in Liverpool for modification work to bring her to RN operational standard. .

This work included installing British Type 79B aircraft warning and Type 272 surface search radars, replacing the US 5-in gun mountings with British models, and modification of her petrol distribution system. The work took three months; after the dockyard work was completed, the ship began post-modification sea trials on October 6th. She was allocated to Western Approaches Command and sailed for the Clyde, arriving on October 7th 1943.

On her arrival on the Clyde SEARCHER was to prepare for a ferry trip to New York; it was intended that she embark 50 lend-lease aircraft and those of 1834 Squadron, plus their personnel, equipment and stores; however, these orders were changed, and she was to begin a full work-up as a Fighter Carrier. 

She was next seriously considered for a voyage to Iceland to recover RN aircraft for return to the UK to sail on October 26th; however, the need to install V.H.F. radio equipment needed to complete her preparations for active duty was considered more important, and work to fit this began on October 26th while she was moored at the Tail o’ the Bank on the Clyde.

Her operational readiness was further delayed by the development of a serious engine problem; all ships of her class were discovered to have a manufacturing defect in the Low-Pressure Rotor of their marine steam turbine, which, if uncorrected, could lead to catastrophic engine failure. This issue was also detected in EMPEROR , and after completing the basic work-up period, both carriers were to sail to the US for remedial work.
 

Work-up No. 882 & 898 Naval Air Squadrons joined the ship

It is unclear what SEARCHER’s work-up program entailed, but she was not ready to receive her aircraft until early December 1943.

The ship was to operate two fighter squadrons, 882 & 898, each equipped with 10 Wildcat V aircraft. They were part of the 7th Naval Fighter Wing, which comprised of six squadrons; two Hellcat squadrons 800 and 804 for service in the assault carrier EMPEROR , and four Wildcat squadrons for service on fighter carriers, 881 and 896 for PURSUER and 882 and    898 for SEARCHER. The squadrons worked up together at RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland conducting training sorties and exercises throughout October and November 1943.

Both of SEARCHER’s squadrons embarked on December 6th to begin a short flying work-up in preparation for the ship sailing in company with EMPEROR as part of the westbound convoy UC.8. Although worked up to a satisfactory level and able to safely operate her squadron aircraft, SEARCHER was travelling to New York to have repairs made to her L.P. Rotor. Convoy UC.8 departed Liverpool on December 18th 1943, and was due to arrive at New York City on January 2nd 1944. EMPEROR s’s engine began to develop problems almost straightaway, and she had to turn back on the 19th.

 SEARCHER managed to remain in the convoy until 11:00 on December 31st, when in position 38°49’ N, 64° 24’ W, she suffered engine troubles; she later resumed course, making 8 knots under escort of U.S. Destroyer USS HOPPING. Attempts to increase speed to 14 knots were unsatisfactory, as was a reduction to 12, and then 7 knots. On the morning of January 1st 1944, she stopped again, in position 38°46’ N, 64° 30’ W and Tugs SAGAMORE and POINT JUDITH were dispatched from New York and Tug RESCUE from Cape May.

 On January 2nd, SEARCHER made temporary repairs and proceeded at seven knots. Late that afternoon, all three tugs made contact and were ordered to stand by and escort her to New York. She arrived off the entrance of Ambrose Channel on January 4th and hove to, awaiting favourable weather conditions. The Tug POINT JUDITH, herself experiencing difficulties after losing her lifeboat and developing trouble with her heating system, detached and proceeded to Cape May. On January 5th, the RESCUE and SAGAMORE put lines onto SEARCHER and assisted her into port. She secured alongside at the 35th Street Pier.

       Voyage repair work began on January 6th, when workers from Bethlehem Steel Company, Hoboken, took her in hand. While alongside, both squadrons were disembarked by crane on January 10th; they were to operate fro   USNAS Brunswick, Maine, approximately 400 miles to the north while the ship was in the dockyard's hands. [1]

Initially, it was planned that SEARCHER would go to Charleston Navy Yard for her repairs; this was changed to Norfolk Navy Yard before she left the UK, but due to the serious damage received on passage she would now remain in New York for repairs, The ship was moved to the Bethlehem Steel Co. yard at Hoboken on the 12th to enter drydock and complete repairs, arriving at the yard at 13:15. The task of replacing the defective engine parts was a considerable one, usually taking as much as 4 weeks to accomplish however SEARCHER’s Work was completed on February 2nd 1944 when she departed Hoboken at 05:00 to return to her berth alongside at 35th Street Pier.

SEARCHER sailed from New York for Norfolk on February 7th. Her squadrons, which had relocated to Norfolk on February 4th, re-embarked on the 8th, before the ship entered harbour on the 9th to embark reserve aircraft and stores. She departed Norfolk on the 10th, escorted by the captain-class frigate EKINS, to join the eastbound convoy UT.8 which departed from New York for the UK on the 11th. 

 On arrival back in the UK, SEARCHER anchored in Liverpool Bay around 17:00 on February 22nd after an uneventful crossing. She weighed and proceeded into Liverpool docks at 08:50 the next morning. After offloading her ferry load of reserve aircraft, SEARCHER sailed for the Clyde on the 28th; her squadrons flew off to RNAS Eglinton on passage. The ship then anchored off Greenock on March 1st to unload further stores brought from New York. The following day she re-embarked her squadrons for a two-week work-up in the Clyde training area.
 

Operations with the Home Fleet: March - June 1944

SEARCHER was loaned to the Home Fleet for her next operation, sailing from the Clyde on March 17th in company with sister CVEs EMPEROR, FENCER, and PURSUER, to participate in providing fighter escort for air attacks on the German battleship TIRPITZ (Operation TUNGSTEN). She arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th.

Flying training continued through the remainder of March and along with exercises conducted by the carrier force off Scapa. On March 21st, Sub Lt C. G. Saltville RNVR (882 Sqn) in JV379 ('6H') caught No.7 wire, and continued into the barrier. On the 22nd EMPEROR, FENCER, PURSUER & SEARCHER and the light cruiser ROYALIST (flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.W. la T. Bisset, RN) with 3 escort destroyers conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. During the day’s flying, Sub-Lt H. J. Pain RNVR ( 898 Sqn) in JV399 ('7Y'), missed all the wires and damaged his prop in the barrier; Sub-Lt C. O. Cullen RNVR ( 898 Sqn) made a heavy emergency landing in JV538 ('7X') after his canopy was broken, obscuring his vision. On the 23rd Lt R. J. Harrison RNZNVR ( 898 Sqn) wrote off JV405; he landed on the rounddown, the aircraft broke its back, and pulled off the tail unit; Sub Lt D. S. Farthing RNVR ( 898 Sqn) in JV398 and Sub Lt C. O. Cullen ( 898 Sqn) in JV471 both had barrier crashes. EMPEROR, FENCER, PURSUER , SEARCHER and ROYALIST conducted a second set of exercises on the 24th without any incidents. This was repeated on the 27th, this time the only flying incident involving SEARCHER was a fatality; Sub Lt M. C. Brown RNZNVR ( 898 Sqn) was killed when his aircraft, JV377 went over the side and sank – he was attempting to land on a pitching deck with low wind speed, opened the throttle to go round again but changed his mind, closed the throttle and his port wing dropped, hit Nos.2 & 3 barrier stanchions and damaged Wildcat JV437, (882 Sqn) parked forward of the barriers before going over the side inverted.

The 28th was the last flying day before the force would sail for the operation. One final day of exercising saw the 4 carriers, and ROYALIST joined by the cruiser JAMACIA and escorted by the destroyers URSA, SWIFT JAVELIN and ORP PIORUN. SEARCHER’s squadrons had 2 landing incidents; Sub Lt H. J. Pain RNVR in ( 898 Sqn) JV402 had a barrier crash, while Sub Lt A Sharpe RNZNVR, (882 Sqn), flying in JV424, one of 898 Squadron's aircraft, had a lucky escape after he swung to starboard landing; the aircraft hit the island structure before falling into the sea and sinking.
 

Operation TUNGSTEN: April 1 – 3rd 1944

Operation TUNGSTEN forces left Scapa on March 30th in two groups; Force 1 comprised Battleships DUKE OF YORK and ANSON, Fleet Carrier VICTORIOUS (1834 & 1836 Sqns – 28 Corsair II, 827 Sqn – 9 Barracuda, 829 Sqn – 12 Barracuda II), Cruiser BELFAST, and 5 destroyers left Scapa early morning and after conducting brief exercises proceeded to a position off Bear Island to cover the passage of convoy JW58. Force 2 comprised the Cruisers ROYALIST (Rear Admiral Escort Carriers), SHEFFIELD, and JAMAICA, Fleet Carrier FURIOUS (801 Sqn – 6 Seafire IIb, 880 Sqn – 8 Seafire L.II.c, 830 & 831 Sqns – 18 Barracuda II), and Escort Carriers FENCER (842 Sqn - 12 Swordfish II & 8 Wildcat IV), CVEs SEARCHER (882 & 898 Sqns – 20 Wildcat V), EMPEROR (800 & 804 Sqns – 20 Hellcat), PURSUER (881 & 896 Sqns - 20 Wildcat V), 2 oilers, and 5 destroyers left Scapa p.m. and preceded west of the Orkneys.

On April 1st, the date for the operation, which had been April 4th, was advanced 24 hours to take advantage of favourable weather and lack of air reconnaissance of Force 1. Force 1's first screen from Skaalefiord joined Force 2 the following day, and on April 1st the two oilers with two destroyers were detached to the oiling position. On April 2nd, ANSON, VICTORIOUS, BELFAST, and 4 destroyers were detached from Force 1 and joined Force 2. The TUNGSTEN force then steered for the flying off position. Flying conditions were perfect when the flying-off position was reached at 04:00 on the 3rd, and the aircraft flew off according to plan, except for the loss of one Barracuda, which ditched. 40 Barracudas and 81 fighters took part in the two strikes, and a further 25 fighters and 9 Swordfish were kept for the defence of the Fleet.

The good weather allowed the two strike forces to reach their desired altitudes and take the best route over the mountains. No enemy aircraft were seen by the strike aircraft or the Fleet, and the flak around the TIRPITZ was much less than anticipated. Both fighters and bombers carried out the attack; fighters strafed the defences from low altitude, and bombers pressed home an accurate attack. The losses during the attack were remarkably small. One Barracuda was shot down over the target and another by shore batteries, both after dropping their bombs. A third Barracuda was lost taking off from VICTORIOUS, and a Hellcat ditched when unable to land on EMPEROR . Both strikes returned and landed safely, with the exception of the one Hellcat. The question of repeating the attack the next day was considered, but owing to fatigue of the air crews and serious damage reported to TIRPITZ, this was abandoned, and the force withdrew to the west. 

The only damage suffered by SEARCHER’s aircraft was on their return to the ship on the 3rd; two had obscured visibility due to oil on their windscreens – JV519 & JV576 ('7M'), both were flown by Sub Lt R. J. Harrison RNZNVR and were almost identical incidents, caught last wire, and damaged the prop. The third was Sub Lt A. R. Duff RNZNVR in JV496 ('6V'); he missed all the wires and went into the barrier damaging the undercarriage. All incidents were 898 Sqn aircraft.

SEARCHER developed defects later in the day on April 3rd and dropped astern, screened by JAMAICA and destroyers VIRAGO and SIOUX; the remainder of the force proceeded to Scapa, arriving on the 6th. SEARCHER, JAMAICA, the 2 destroyers and the oiling force returned to Scapa the following day. On arrival at Scapa, SEARCHER disembarked her squadrons to RNAS Hatston, Orkney, before sailing p.m. on April 7th for Rosyth for repairs escorted by SWIFT. Repairs began on April 8th and took a week to complete; the ship departed to return to Scapa on the 15th escorted by VIGILANT.
 

Operations PLANET, RIDGE, and VERITAS: April 23rd – 27th 1944

These three operations were all carried out by the same two forces. Force 7 – Battleship ANSON (VA, 2IC Home Fleet), Fleet Carriers VICTORIOUS (1834 & 1836 Sqns – 28 Corsair II, 827 Sqn – 9 Barracuda, 829 Sqn – 12 Barracuda II), and FURIOUS (801 Sqn – 6 Seafire IIb, 880 Sqn – 8 Seafire L.II.c, 830 & 831 Sqns – 18 Barracuda II), Cruiser KENT, Destroyers ALGONQUIN, KEMPENFELT (Captain (D) 26), KELVIN, SIOUX, SWIFT, VENUS, VIGILANT. Force 8 -Cruisers ROYALIST (Rear Admiral Escort Carriers), JAMAICA, CVEs SEARCHER (882 & 898 Sqns – 20 Wildcat V), EMPEROR  (800 & 804 Sqns – 20 Hellcat), PURSUER (881 & 896 Sqns20 Wildcat V), STRIKER (824 Sqn – 12 Swordfish II & 6 Sea Hurricanes), Destroyers JAVELIN, ORP PIORUN, SERAPIS, UNDAUNTED, URSA, WAKEFUL, and WIZARD. Both Forces sailed from Scapa on Friday April 21st.

Operation PLANET: This was a repetition of Operation TUNGSTEN. The attack was planned for April 24th and involved 40 Barracudas with 40 escort fighters. When the forces arrived in the area on the 23rd, the weather forecasts were unsuitable, and they reversed course for 48 hours. Weather on the following day was equally bad. Both forces proceeded to the flying off position, but there was no improvement, and the Vice Admiral, Second in Command, abandoned the operation and proceeded to carry out Operation RIDGE ABLE.

Operation RIDGE was originally intended to be carried out in two parts – RIDGE ABLE (Attack by Force 7 on the shipping in the Bodo area) and RIDGE BAKER attack by Force 8 on shipping in the Rorvik area). In the event, it was decided that both forces should carry out RIDGE ABLE with two strikes, one attacking Bodo harbour and the other sweeping the leads to the south. The two forces arrived at the flying off position at dawn on April 26th.

Weather conditions were not ideal and were worse inshore and, in the end, both strikes attacked the same target – an escorted convoy of 4 or 5 merchant ships in approximately 67°06’ N, 13°57’ E at about 06:00. The convoy was southbound, presumably having left Bodo about an hour previously. Four merchant ships and one escort vessel were claimed to have been hit with bombs. The largest merchant ship was reported beached and burning and two others on fire. Two Barracudas and several fighters succeeded in penetrating Bodo Harbour in spite of the weather, and one hit was obtained on a large merchant ship. Two other Barracudas bombed a derelict merchant ship ashore and obtained at least one hit. No German aircraft were seen; light but accurate flak was encountered, particularly at Bodo, and the force lost 1 Barracuda, 2 Corsairs, 1 Hellcat, and 1 Wildcat.

VICTORIOUS, KENT, and two destroyers were detached at 07:00 to carry out Operation VERITAS, and the remainder of Forces 7 and 8 returned to Scapa; SEARCHER arrived back at Scapa early in the morning on April 28th, and her squadrons flew ashore to RNAS Hatston.
 

Operation CROQUET: May 2nd – 7th 1944

After only five days ashore her squadrons were back on board for Operation CROQUET, a strike by aircraft from FURIOUS and SEARCHER against shipping on the Norwegian coast between Bud (62˚55' N, 06˚55' E) and 63˚20' N, 8˚20' E. The Force (BERWICK (Senior Officer), FURIOUS, and SEARCHER, screened by SAVAGE, PIORUN, BLYSKAWICA, ALGONQUIN, WIZARD, and WAKEFUL) left Scapa late on May 3rd and proceeded to the Norwegian coast, arriving in the flying off position early on the 5th. Owing to unfavourable weather, the operation was postponed until the following day, and the force reversed course for 12 hours, returning to the same position at 0630 on May 6th. A striking force of Barracuda from FURIOUS, escorted by Wildcats from SEARCHER, was flown off and swept the leads from south to north. Two southbound convoys were found and attacked successfully; one ship of 2500 tons was sunk, and one of 6000 tons and a 5000-ton tanker probably sank. An escort vessel was hit by bombs, and other merchantmen were damaged by near misses.

Two enemy flying boats were shot down by Wildcats from SEARCHER; 1 BV 138, shared by 898 Wildcats JV460 ('7T') & JV538 ('7X'), and JV367 ('6L’) of 882 Sqn crashed into the sea in flames NE of Vevang at 08:10 on May 6th., and a second BV 138 shared by 898 Sqn Wildcats JV576 ('7M'), JV487 ('7P'), JV425 ('7Q'), JV404 ('7W'), and JV 384 ('6F') of 882 Sqn, was shot down into the sea, NE of Vevang at 0820. Two Barracudas were lost. SEARCHER’s only casualties were two barrier crashes on returning to the ship: Sub Lt J. O, Bignell RNVR ( 898 Sqn) in JV492 on the 6th and Lt. Cdr O. R. Henderson RNVR ( 898 Sqn) in JV576 ('7M') on the 7th. On completion, the force retired, returning to Scapa, arriving on May 7th. SEARCHER, however, was detached to join Rear Admiral Escort Carriers' Force for Operation HOOPS.
 

Operation HOOPS: May 7th - 1944

Operation HOOPS was another strike against shipping off the South Norwegian coast. The Force comprised of the Cruisers ROYALIST (Rear Admiral Escort Carriers) and JAMAICA with CVEs EMPEROR, and STRIKER, screened by Destroyers KEMPENFELT, ONSLAUGHT, MARNE, UNDAUNTED, WAGER, and SIOUX, left Scapa on the 7th and proceeded west of the Orkneys, where SEARCHER joined, 20 miles north of Noup Head, having been released from theOperation CROQUET force. The Force arrived in the flying off position at 07:30 on May 8th and two strikes, each of 8 Hellcats escorted by 8 Wildcats, were flown off. The Hellcats were armed with bombs, and this was the first time they had been utilised as Fighter/Bombers even though the pilots had not received any dive-bombing training.

The first strike of 8 Hellcats from 800 Squadron attacked a northbound convoy of 5 merchant ships with ten escorts 15 miles southwest of Kristiansand. One merchant ship was probably damaged, but two Wildcats were shot down by flak; JV367 ('6L') of 882 Sqn ditched; the pilot, Sub Lt K. B. Pearson RNVR, was taken prisoner, and JV538 ('7X') 898 Sqn crashed into the sea, killing the pilot, Sub Lt I. A. Cotching RNVR. Returning from the strike, the remaining aircraft were 'jumped' by a mixed force of 6 Me109Gs and FW190s. One Hellcat JV 107 flown by Sub-Lt R. L. Thompson, RNVR, was shot down; he bailed out 7 miles off Smolen Island, swam away, but drowned. The remaining Hellcats engaged with Lt. B. Ritchie, RNVR, shooting down a FW190 and Sub-Lt J. G. Devitt, RNVR, a Bf109; Sub-Lts T. H. Hoare, RNZNVR and I. D . Scarves, RNZNVR, shared a second Bf109.

The Second strike failed to locate a convoy, so the 8 Hellcats from 804 Squadron attacked oil tanks at Khjen and a Herring Oil factory at Fosnavaag. One merchant vessel was machine-gunned off Aalesund and two BV138 Maritime patrol flying boats were shot down by the escorting 898 Squadron Wildcats. After recovering the second strike, the force withdrew to the west and returned to Scapa on May 9th.
 

A Royal visit: May 11th  1944

His Majesty the King visited the Home Fleet from 10th to 13th May and he Visited SEARCHER on the 11th where he met with the ship’s officers, including representatives from other escort carriers and their squadrons present at Scapa. Her squadrons were put ashore to RNAS Hatston later that day once the Royal visit was completed. SEARCHER took passage on the 12th to Rosyth for routine maintenance and repair. The work was completed by the 31st and the ship sailed for the Clyde to re-join Western Approaches command for convoy protection duties; she detoured to the Orkneys on passage, re-embarking her squadrons from RNAS Hatston o June 7th.

 

Convoy protection duties: June 1944

SEARCHER began trade protection duties on June 12th when she sailed to cover the passage of Combined convoy OS 80 / KMS 54. This had assembled off Oversay and sailed with an escort comprising of SEARCHER, destroyer HIGHLANDER, frigates BAYNTUN, FOLEY, HELMSDALE and the corvettes KENILWORTH CASTLE and PORTCHESTER CASTLE. SEARCHER covered their passage until June 21st when cover switched to the inbound convoy SL 161. Convoy SL 161 rendezvoused with Convoy MKS.52 on June 22nd and proceeded to Liverpool, arriving there on July 2nd. SEARCHER detached from the combined convoy on July 1st and proceeded to the Clyde.

There were three barrier crashes for 898 Sqn pilots during June; Sub Lt C. O. Cullen in JV510 had his arrester Hook pulled out, and went into the barrier on the 7th; Petty Officer Pilot I. H. H. Shell in JV487 missed all wires on the 17th he repeated this performance again on the 19th, again in JV487 but this time missed all wires, hit the foc'sle, and floated into 2 parked aircraft. Sadly, there was one fatality: Sub-Lt H. A. Francis RNVR (882 Sqn) was killed when returning after a 2-hour patrol in JV621, made a tight circuit, turned on approach, and spun into the sea 100 yds astern.

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on July 2nd 1944, and SEARCHER returned to the Clyde to prepare for passage to the Mediterranean for her next operations. On July 5th, a change in policy regarding the structure of the Naval Fighter Wings changed the number of squadrons embarked in the escort carriers; the two squadrons embarked in each carrier were to be combined to form a single 24-aircraft squadron, and the other disbanded. No. 898 Squadron was disbanded on July 5th 1944 aboard SEARCHER; her aircraft and aircrew being absorbed into 882 Squadron. [2] The next 10 days were spent embarking stores and additional airframes in preparation for sailing.

 

Re-allocated to the Mediterranean Fleet July - November 1944

SEARCHER, in company with assault CVEs EMPEROR, KHEDIVE, and PURSUER, Fighter Direction ship ULSTER QUEEN, Anti-Aircraft sloop STORK and frigate AWE, sailed from the Clyde at 22:30 on July 15th 1944 to rendezvous at 05:07 in the Irish Sea with Task Group 120.8, comprising the USS TEXAS and her screen consisting of USS JEFFERS, BUTLER, HERNDON, MURPHY, SHUBRICK, and GHERARDI for passage to the Mediterranean. The convoy passed Gibraltar in the early hours of July 22nd, and at 09:39 the USS TEXAS, HM Ships EMPEROR, and KHEDIVE, escorted by USS JEFFERS, SHUBRICK, and HERNDON, detached and proceeded for Oran at 15 knots. The remainder of the convoy continued on for Malta.

The convoy passed Gibraltar in the early hours of July 22nd, and at 09:39 the USS TEXAS, HM Ships EMPEROR, and KHEDIVE, escorted by USS JEFFERS, SHUBRICK, and HERNDON, detached and proceeded for Oran at 15 knots. The remainder of the convoy, consisting of HM Ships SEARCHER, PURSUER,, ULSTER QUEEN, STORK and AWE, escorted by the USS BUTLER, GHERARDI, and LARSH, continued on for Malta. The destroyer USS MARSH joined at 21:45, and at 11:35 the following day ATTACKER joined the convoy. joined the convoy. The convoy arrived at Grand Harbour, Malta, at 08:51 July 25th.

Later that morning, 10 aircraft were flown off to RNAS Ta Kali for pilot training. The aircraft were to spend one week ashore training 12 pilots as spotters and 12 as fighter-bombers for the upcoming operation. A less-than-ideal amount of time to spend practising a technique not previously trained for by the squadron, which only received their tasking orders on arrival at Malta. The fact that all pilots could not gain experience in both roles severely handicapped their effectiveness in the coming operations. This shore-based training was also mirrored by 881 Sqn from PURSUER.
 

Task Force 88 and Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France: August 1944

At Malta, SEARCHER joined Carrier Force TF 88 for Operation DRAGOON, the invasion of Southern France. The Carrier Force comprised of two Task Groups; TG 88.1 HM Ships ROYALIST (Rear Admiral Troubridge, CTF 88 and CTG 88.1), COLOMBO CVEs ATTACKER (879 squadron with 28 Seafire), EMPEROR (800 squadron with 23 Hellcat), KHEDIVE (899 squadron with - 26 Seafire), PURSUER (881 squadron with 24 Wildcat), SEARCHER (882 squadron with 28 Wildcat), with 7 destroyers, TYRIAN, TEAZER, TROUBRIDGE (Screen Commander), and US Ships JEFFERS, H. P. JONES, MARSH, NIRLACK and MURPHY. TG 88.2 comprised of the CVEs USS TULAGI (Rear Admiral Durgin USN, CTG 88.2, VOF-1 with 24 Hellcat), USS KAZAN BAY (VF-74 with 24 Hellcat), HUNTER (807 squadron with 24 Seafire, plus 1 Swordfish) and STALKER (809 squadron with 23 Seafire), AA Cruiser CALEDONO, 6 US destroyers.

SEARCHER sailed for tactical exercises off Malta with TG88.1 on August 1st, sailing at 07:30. At 19:40, ships of the Task Group conducted a barrage fire exercise. The force continued to exercise off Malta between August 1st and 11th.

SEARCHER sailed for tactical exercises off Malta with TG88.1 on August 1st, sailing at 07:30. At 19:40, ships of the Task Group conducted a barrage fire exercise. The whole of Task Force 88 departed Malta on August 6th for exercises in the Tyrrhenian Sea - Operation PREFACE, a rehearsal for the upcoming landings in Southern France. Exercises commenced around 06:00 and were completed around 12:00 on the 7th. On returning to Malta, SEARCHER re-embarked her detachment from RNAS Ta Kali. The ships of TG88.1 sailed from Malta at 18:00 on August 12th to proceed to the flying-off position; TG 88.2 followed at 18:30.

Operation DRAGOON commenced in the early hours of August 15th. TF 88 flying operations commenced at 06:00; the last aircraft landed at 21:05. Only daylight flying operations were carried out. The assault area, centred on St Tropez, extended some 30 miles along the Cote d'Azur. It was divided into four sectors, code-named (from east to west) Camel, Delta, Alpha and Sitka. The assault troops were formed of three American divisions of the VI Corps, reinforced by the French 1st Armoured Division. The 3rd Infantry Division landed on the left at Alpha Beach (Cavalaire-sur-Mer), the 45th Infantry Division landed in the centre at Delta Beach (Saint-Tropez), and the 36th Infantry Division landed on the right at Camel Beach (Saint-Raphaël). A fourth Force, the First Special Service Force, a joint U.S.-Canadian special forces unit, landed on the offshore islands in Operation Sitka to neutralise the Hyères Islands (Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Bagaud, and Levant). By the end of the first day, 60,150 troops and 6,737 vehicles had been put ashore, including the first French armoured contingent.

On ‘D’ Day EARCHER r and TG 88.1 were at the flying off position at 05:30, and 882 Squadron had 24 serviceable aircraft that could be tasked with any of six mission types: Fighter Bomber (F/B), Straffing, Tactical Reconnaissance (TacR), Force Cover, Beach Cover, and Bombardment Spotting. There were 22 pilots and 24 Wildcats on board, with limited reserve aircraft held ashore at Casabianda airfield in Corsica.

A pre-planned flying programme had been promulgated covering the first 5 days of operations, ‘D’ to ‘D’ + 4. The prepared flying programme for D-Day called for 882 Sqn to launch for 34 sorties: 14 Bombardment Spotting with 4 on call, 4 F/B, 12 Low Force Cover. Low wind speeds across the deck meant that all sorties were launched by catapult.

The first two aircraft launched at 05:55, 10 minutes behind the plan. The two aircraft were to act as spotters for the British Cruiser DIDO off STIKA area; the pilots could not locate any worthwhile targets still standing after an early bombing run, and any others were obscured by cloud cover; DIDO did not fire on any targets.

The second launch was severely delayed by multiple engine failures, starting at 06:05 when the engines of six Aircraft failed to start. In the end, only three out of four fighter bombers were launched for the Serial at 06:39. Some, if not all, of the starting failures were caused by the very damp morning and condensation in the air intakes. Since then, all aircraft parked on the deck were kept covered. The missions provided little of interest. The Fighter Bombers located their targets with difficulty through the cloud and could only observe a few bomb flashes in the target area.

The third launch was a second pair for bombardment spotting aircraft launched at 06:16, this time for ALPHA area for the British Cruiser BLACK PRINCE; low cloud again prevented any target identification. At 07:10, launch no. 4 was a spotting pair for STIKA area. However, they could not establish contact with DIDO but observed troops landing on STIKA Red & Yellow beaches. Launch No. 5 was a second spotting pair for BLACK PRINCE in the ALPHA area; it launched at 08:10 but, on arrival, found the target inactive, and the shoot was cancelled. The pilots were ordered to carry out TacR in the area, but cloud again made target identification difficult, and none were engaged.

The sixth mission launched at 09:13 with two aircraft for spotting duty in the STIKA area, but the mission was cancelled soon after launch, and the aircraft were recalled. On their return to the ship, Sub-Lt P. J. M. Canter RNZNVR in JV555 bounced on landing, floated into the barrier, and overturned; the pilot was OK, but the aircraft was a write-off. Between 10:21 and 10:36, three aircraft went unserviceable on deck, but the seventh mission, another pair spotting for BLACK PRINCE in ALPHA area, launched at 10:21; no targets were found, and no shoot took place.

The same occurred for the 2 aircraft for mission 8 for spotting in the ALPHA area, which launched at 12:11; they were not assigned to a ship but remained aloft on call. The ninth mission of the day was the first tasking for force cover; 4 aircraft were ordered, but only 2 aircraft launched at 12:12.

At 12:49, trouble occurred in the engine room with the Feed Pump, and speed had to be reduced to 12 knots. While repairs were made, SEARCHER was screened by TUSCAN until it could increase to 17 knots and regain station at 13:08.

The next launch for force cover, mission 10, comprised 3 aircraft launching at 14:23. Mission 11 had 2 spotters launch for ALPHA area at 15:51, but they failed to make contact on arrival, and although contact with other bombardment units in the sector was made, no shoot took place. At 14:40, Sub-Lt R. Brierley RNVR force-landed in the sea due to engine failure. He successfully escaped and was rescued in his dinghy by AURORA. Two more aircraft launched in mission 12 for Force cover; the first left the deck at 16:26. There were Catapult delays of some minutes, but the second aircraft was launched at 16:33. With this launch, the catapult shuttle return gear failed. The light winds persisted, so flying was suspended and SEARCHER became a spree deck for the remainder of the day. The last of the squadron aircraft landed at 18:58. There was one more landing that evening; a Wildcat VI from PURSUER’s 881 Sqn was accepted at 20:40. Shortly after TF88.1 withdrew to the southward during the night The Catapult was repaired and satisfactorily tested by 22:15.

During the day, 882 flew 28 sorties: 18 Bombardment Spotting, 3 F/B, 7 Force Cover. Two Wildcats were written off.

On D+1 882 Squadron had 22 aircraft and 22 pilots available. The prepared flying programme called for 34 sorties; 4 F/B (plus 4 F/B on call), 6 Spotting (plus 6 on call) & 16 Force Cover. SEARCHER began flying operations at 06:00 when an attempt was made to launch the first of 4 aircraft for a Fighter/Bomber mission; the catapult failed on the first attempt. It remained out of action all day while the firing valve was dismantled for repair. A successful unassisted launch was made at 08:30 when the Wildcat VI belonging to 881 Sqn departed; this variant of the Wildcat could launch with considerably less wind needed over the deck, 6 knots less than the Mk.V.

Wind speeds improved slightly by noon to permit unassisted launches; beginning at 12:15, two aircraft were launched to search for two missing pilots from KHEDIVE’s  899 Sqn, and a further two for a Bombardment Spotting mission to ALPHA area. During their time on station, no targets were identified for the bombardment Cruiser, and no shoot took place.

SEARCHER was to act as a spare deck for the remainder of the day but was not required to land on any aircraft. Repairs to the firing valve of the Catapult were completed about 23:00, and it was prepared for a test firing when both H.P. Air Compressors required to charge the catapult mechanism broke down. These defects were made good during the night, but the catapult was not finally tested and recharged until 11:10 the next day.

During the day, 882 flew 4 sorties, 2 for a search & 2 for Bombardment Spotting.

On D+2 882 Squadron had 22 aircraft and 22 pilots available. The prepared flying programme called for 32 sorties: 4 F/B on call, 6 Spotting (plus 6 on call) & 16 Force Cover. SEARCHER began flying operations at 06:00, but only Force Cover flights were launched throughout the day.

The first two aircraft took off at 06:01 with sufficient wind to be unassisted. The next launch at 11:10, of four aircraft, used the catapult, and all subsequent launches were boosted in this way. The third launch again involved four aircraft, beginning at 13:28; there were three more Force Cover missions, each with two aircraft, launching at 15:08, 16:47 and 18:36. The last aircraft landed at 20:44.

During the day, 882 flew 16 sorties, all for Force Cover. On several occasions, a section was vectored to intercept unidentified aircraft; all proved to be friendly..

On D+3 882 Squadron had 22 aircraft and 22 pilots available. The prepared flying programme called for 32 sorties; 4 F/B on call, 6 Spotting (plus 6 on call) & 16 Force Cover. SEARCHER began flying operations at 06:00 with the launch of the first of three pairs for Force Cover, the other two launching at 08:0-2 and 10:14. The next take-off was a pair scrambled at 12:12 for an urgent Bombardment Spotting mission in the CAMMEL area. Two-Gun emplacements were shelled, of which the first, with 1 gun, received one hit on the emplacement and one very near miss.

Another spotting pair launched at 14:51 for ALPHA area. During their shoot, seven shells fell well within the target area with a possible direct hit, but poor visibility made hits difficult to define. Scant but accurate flak was encountered. On completion of the shoot, the section was instructed to search for & report any sighting of PT Boast to SITKA 2.

Four aircraft launched for an armed reconnaissance mission at 14:40; they were to join a flight of 4 Wildcats from PURSUER to cover the roads between Brignoles- Mirabeau - Cadenet - Aix- Cap Sicié. The eight aircraft were under the command of the 881 Sqn leader, but 882 pilots reported an unsatisfactory mission because the two groups appeared to have received different briefings, and the flight leader did not direct the bombing when targets, though scarce, arose. 881 bombed rolling stock and sheds at the rail yard while 882 attacked a stretch of road with bombs; there was very little enemy ground activity, but medium and considerately accurate flak was encountered. Two bombs hit the road.

A final spotting pair launched at 16:26 for ALPHA area; no targets were found. The final two missions of the day were two pairs for Force Cover, launching at 18:00 and 1945. The last aircraft landed at 20:45, and TG 88.1 withdrew southwards for the night.

During the day, 882 flew 20 sorties: 4 armed reconnaissance, 6 spotting, and 10 Force Cover.

On D+4 882 Squadron had 22 aircraft and 22 pilots available. The prepared flying programme called for 32 sorties; 4 F/B on call, 6 Spotting (plus 6 on call) & 16 Force Cover.

On reaching the operational area, SEARCHER ranged 2 aircraft at standby from 05:45 and two spotters on call from 06:00. From 09:20, SEARCHER was allocated as a spare deck, and at 09:30 a Hellcat from EMPEROR’s 800 Sqn was landed on. This aircraft was found to have a faulty magneto, which was rectified before it returned to EMPEROR at 14:45. at 14:45. A Seafire was landed on at 17:26 and returned t KHEDIVE at 18:07.

The first Wildcat launch of the day began at 10:01 when four were catapulted off the deck for a joint armed recon mission with four from PURSUER  to cover the roads between Aries - Tarascon – Cavailion – Carpentras – Orange - Avignon, in the Rhone Valley, further west than their previous recon area. They reported sighting 6 merchant vessels at Port-de-Bouc before investigating the airfields at Plan de Dieu and Orange-Caritat. Targets were located at Orange-Caritat, and 881 Sqn attacked first; they bombed and strafed hangars and dispersed aircraft. On completion of their own strike, the pilots from 882 Sqn observed hits on D hangar and the runway. Strangely, on exiting the area, they did not form up after the attack and attempted to return to the ship singly. Two arriving back on board, the first, Lt R. Harrison at 11:40, the other, Sub-Lt N. J. Gardiner at 13:11 after over three hours in the air after losing his way on the return leg, he landed with an empty petrol tank; his engine cut while he was taxying up the flight deck and it is possible that had he not refrained from lowering his wheels until he was almost over the flight deck, he would ditch. The two other pilots, Sub-Lts A. Share RNZNVR and F. T. Sherborne RANVR, had not been seen after the strike. It was thought that their aircraft may have been hit by light flak, as one (later identified as Sub-Lt R. Banks of 881 Sqn) called over the intercom that he was ditching in a river, but nothing further was heard. Sub-Lt Share had indeed been shot down in Wildcat JV384 ('6F') and was killed in the crash; Sub-Lt Sherborne was reported safe aboard ROYALIST and later re-joined the squadron (circumstances unknown).

Two sections were launched for Force Cover in the afternoon, the first at 12:19 and the second at 14:17. A second fighter-bomber mission was flown off at 14:49 to attack railway infrastructure at Tarascon, securing six bomb hits on target. Starting at 16:25, three spotting aircraft were flown off, the third as a single aircraft at 16:28; although communication with their respective Cruisers was satisfactory, no shots took place, and all the Aircraft returned to base. A section was launched at 18:04 for Force Cover; shortly after, at 18:25, a plug blew out in the superheater of the ship’s port boiler, and the ship was stopped for ten minutes while the Boiler was disconnected.

At 18:45, on instructions from Commander TF 88, the ship proceeded independently at 11 knots for Maddelena, Sardinia, escorted by the destroyer TEAZER. . PURSUER had to accept the two Force Cover aircraft airborne at the time, as SEARCHER could not raise enough wind over the deck to safely land aircraft.

The two Task Groups of Force 88 had operated together for the first five days of the operation, but separated late on the 19th; ATTACKER , EMPEROR, and PURSUER, followed SEARCHER and withdrew to Maddalena, Sardinia for a 24 hours replenishment and rest period while KHEDIVE’ transferred to TG 88.2 to bolster that force which remained off the French coast providing air cover.

During the day,  882 flew 19 sorties; 8 F/B, 5 Spotting & 6 Force Cover. 882 lost 2 aircraft to enemy action, and one pilot was killed in action.

D+5, rest dayTTG88.1 arrived at Maddalena at 08:00 on August 20th and the carriers anchored in Arcachon Bay; SEARCHER dropped anchor at 11:00. The pilots had a day’s rest, but most of the ship's company were busy with maintenance work, embarking bombs, ammunition, petrol, stores, etc. With repairs completed, SEARCHER sailed with TG88.1 at 18:00 to return to the operational area.

On D+6 TG88.1 carriers arrived at the flying off point south of Marseilles at 06:00 on August 21st; 882 squadron had 20  aircraft and 20pilots available. The programmed flying schedule had ended on D+5, so the carriers were now supplying sorties on request from the Bombardment co-ordinators and Amy Co-operation teams. Cloud conditions were not so favourable for bombing or spotting as on previous days, but SEARCHER began flying operations at 06:00 with the launch of the first of two sections for Force Cover at 06:28 and the second at 07:42. A fighter-bomber mission of 4 aircraft led by Lt. Cdr G. R. Henderson launched at 08:05 to strike road and rail targets. They secured four hits and four near misses on a bridge and railroad at map reference N.8311 and reported a target of about forty M.T.at map reference S. 7S98. Sub-Lt N. WOOD RNVR in JV331 failed to return from this mission and was last sighted just before going in to the attack, at which time his R/T was not working. He was not seen after the attack, and he may either have been hit by flak or lost his way and force-landed. He survived and re-joined the ship later.

Reports of considerable enemy road movement led to more fighter bombers being ordered off to deal with the increased enemy activity. Four more F/B aircraft, led by Lt R. Harrison, launched at 12:15 with the brief to bomb targets reported as suitable by TacR aircraft from ATTACKER . Communication between strike and TacR aircraft failed, however, due to considerable enemy transmissions on the same frequency. Four bombs were dropped on either side of the railroad approach to the bridge at S.784839. Visibility was poor & no movement was seen on the roads; scant & inaccurate light A.A. fire was encountered at Remoulin. A third F/B mission was ordered, led again by Lt.Cdr G. R. Henderson, launching at 14:15 for strikes against M.T. on roads near Uzes. They scored 4 Bomb hits on separate Trucks, near misses on others at N.8102 in a column of 30 stationary trucks. They observed 45 other assorted vehicles on roads northeast out of Uzes.

Deteriorating conditions over the land during the morning led to fighter-bomber activity being temporarily cancelled, and only force cover being maintained. Conditions later improved, and three fighter-bomber missions were eventually undertaken. No sorties were made by spotters, but force cover was carried out for fourteen hours from 06:48 to 20:40.

At 17:02, an accident occurred in the hangar, resulting in the firing of the guns of one of the aircraft with wings folded. Two ratings were slightly wounded. The Refrigeration machinery was put out of action for twenty hours, and bullets penetrated three decks, perforating the Diesel oil tank on the port side and fracturing a fire main on the starboard side. During the night, the ship was stopped twice for short periods. The first was caused by a loss of water level in the boilers due to the inexperience of a new feedwater tender relieving a man sick. The second time, the power supply to the Steering motor failed because a diesel generator stopped. This was due to water in the diesel fuel.

During the day,  882  flew 22 sorties: 12 F/B & 10 Force Cover. 882 lost 1 aircraft to enemy action, and one pilot was missing in action.

On completion of the day’s flying, TG88.2 withdrew and proceeded overnight to Maddalena, Sardinia, for their 24-hour replenishment and rest period.

On D+7 882 Squadron had 19 aircraft and 19 pilots available. The flying off position was moved to the western side of the Gulf of Lyons in response to information that a German division was believed to be moving across from the Biscay coast. The division, however, moved north instead of east, and targets were hard to find in the new operational area in the area between Montpellier and the river Rhone.

At 07:35 SEARCHER, in company with TUSCAN and WHEATLAND detached to operate independently, the Controller and Operations Officer from 12th Tactical Air Force transferred to SEARCHER from ATTACKER, embarking from WHEATLAND. SEARCHER began flying operations at 08:10 with the launch of a pair of aircraft for spurring duty. Eleven spotting and one fighter-bomber missions were flown during the day.

The fighter-bombers attacked a railway bridge at S.4264, scoring several near misses on the approach to the bridge but no direct hits. Of the spotting missions, there were four instances when the bombarding ship did not answer the aircraft, although R/T communication with SEARCHER was good; the remainder put in useful work. Coastal Defence Batteries and other tactically useful vantage points in the Toulon area were bombarded by units of the Fire Support Group under the direction of our Spotting Aircraft.

The last aircraft was recovered at 19:31, and SEARCHER with TUSCAN and WHEATLAND proceeded to position 42° 48’ N, 94° 42’ E to rendezvous with Commander TF88 at 20:55. The Force then retired towards the Southeast for the night. During the day, 882 flew 24 sorties: 16 F/B & 8 Spotter.
 

On D+8 882 Squadron had 19 aircraft and 19 pilots available. Overnight, TF88 had relocated east to their original operating area off Marseilles, and focus returned to the Rhone valley. The carriers arrived t at the flying off point south of Marseilles at 06:00. SEARCIIER launched her first aircraft at 09:44, when 8 fighter bombers took off to attack motorised transport on roads and bridges at map reference S.6586; bombs were dropped on 6 – 8 vehicles moving north at speed, one direct hit and 10 bombs hit the road, 4 near misses and 2 misses. Observed 6 barges on a canal at ref. S.8067 carrying white boxes; target info relayed to ship.

The first of 4 spotter missions launched at 11:20. This was a scramble to direct gunfire in the DELTA area against target K.21; they observed 4 hits and 3 near misses. Also, 2 hits and 1 near miss on target K.43. Observed 2 medium coastal defence guns firing and directed 2 salvos on target before being relieved and returned to base. Next, a spotting pair launched at 15:54 for ALPHA area; found targets obscured by smoke from K. 49; only 6 shots fired before handing over to relief.

The second fighter bomber strike of the day launched at 13:5, they bombed a railway bridge at N.8102 but no hits observed. Continued with armed reconnaissance of roads and sighted 18 vehicles moving southwest into Bellegarde.

The third spotter pair launched at 16:20 and was directed to look for movement around Toulon. Directed shoot on a fort and observed 8 plus shells hit the target, and 2 hit the east wall; however, dust and smoke soon obscured the target, and damage could not be assessed. The fourth and final spotting mission was to the STIKA area and launched at 16:22; given a Fort as the target but, on arrival overhead, discovered this was already engaged by another ship. Returned to base after searching for targets of opportunity.

The final mission of the day was a fighter-bomber sweep by 6 aircraft, which began launching at 18:00. They dropped 2 bombs on a road and another 2 on a bridge and 6 on motor transport near Orange. The last aircraft landed at 19:36. No force cover was flown, but SEARCIIER was on standby for Force Cover from 20:00 to 20:30.

Flying operation for TG88.1 ended at 19:45, and the 12th Tactical Air Force Command Controller and Operations Officer were transferred to DELHI at 20:00. The Task Group left the operational area at 21:00 and set course for Magdalena. TG88.2 arrived back on station at 06:30 on August 24th (D+9) to resume operations; they were to remain on station until D+12, August 27th.

During the day,  882 flew 22 sorties; 16 armed reconnaissance & 18 Spotter.

On D+9 TG88.1 anchored in Arcachon Bay, Magdalena, at 1:130 on the 24th. The ships of TG 88.1 did not return to relieve TG88.2, and they were released from Dragoon operations, which ended at dusk on Sunday, August 27th HUNTER and STALKER arrived at Maddalena at 10:45 on the 28th and anchored in Arsachona Bay at about 11:30. Elements of TG88.1 left Maddalena later that day to proceed to Alexandria.

SEARCHER’s squadron had completed a total of 365 hours and 35 minutes of flying time, completing 160 sorties over eight days of operational flying: 59 Bombardment Spotting, 51 Fighter Bomber/armed reconnaissance, 47 Force cover and 2 search missions. 882 Squadron began operations with 24 Wildcats; at the end of operations on August 23rd, they had 19; four aircraft were lost in action and 1 in a barrier crash; one pilot was killed and two missing in action. No enemy aircraft were encountered.
 

Operations in the Aegean Sea: September 1944

HMS SEARCIIER arrived at Alexandria on September 1st. A detachment of 6 Wildcats was flown ashore to RNAS Dekheila before entering harbour. While at Alexandria, the seven carriers of Rear Admiral Troubridge’s Escort Carrier Squadron were reallocated for operations in the Aegean; a new force, Force 120, was constituted on September 2nd and initially comprised ROYALIST (F.O.E.C.) ATTACKER, EMPEROR, HUNTER, KHEDIVE, PURSUER,  SEARCHER STALKER, Destroyers TROUBRIDGE (Capt. ( D) 24), TYRIAN, TEAZER, TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE, TUMULT, TUSCAN, TENACIOUS, NAVARINON, and GARLAND. They were later joined by the cruisers ORION, AJAX, ROYALIST, BLACK PRINCE, ARGONAUT, AURORA, and COLOMBO from Naples.
 

Operation OUTING I

Force 120 and the Cruisers were to split into two groups; the carriers HUNTER, KHEDIVE, PURSUER, and SEARCHER  sailing with Force A, their task was to hamper and delay German troop movements in the Dodecanese Islands, (Leros, Kos, Samos, Rhodes and Levitha). Force A sailed from Alexandria between 0730 and 0830 on the 9th of September to operate off the south coast of Crete, SEARCHER re-embarked her aircraft once clear of the harbour.

The first phase of the operation was the neutralising of the outer air defence ring formed by the Islands of Crete-Scarpanto-Rhodes. The carriers were to carry out reconnaissance and strikes by day, and provide CAP (combat air patrols) for the force, while the Cruisers and destroyers carried out bombardments or struck targets by night. .

Force A operated south of Crete on the 11th and 12th; starting around 07:00 ROYALIST and NAVARINON were fuelled by HUNTER and TUSCAN by SEARCHER. Around 13:30 on the 13th, Destroyers TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE and ORP GARLAND commenced fuelling from SEARCHER, PURSUER and KHEDIVE respectively. On completion of fuelling, around 18:30 KHEDIVE was detached to proceed to the vicinity of position 37°30'N, 19°30'E. She was escorted by ORP GARLAND. They were then to make rendezvous on the 15th with the landing ship HMCS PRINCE DAVID and the destroyers TENACIOUS and TUMULT and provide air cover for these ships. HMCS PRINCE DAVID was to land a force which was to establish a coastal forces base on Kythira Island.

Elements of Force A were now further allocated into groups of two for anti-shipping sweeps: (Group 1) ROYALIST with RHS NAVARINON, (Group 2) TROUBRIDGE and TUSCAN and (Group 3) TYRIAN and TEASER. During the night of 12/13, they conducted anti-shipping sweeps in the Aegean; Group 1 drew blank; Group 2 encountered a convoy of one cargo ship, two escorts, and three caiques between Santorin and Candia. The entire convoy was destroyed, but TUSCAN sustained some minor damage in the action. Group 3 conducted a sweep from Pigadia Bay on Karpathos and then along the east side of Rhodes. They sighted nothing. Groups 1 and 2 made rendezvous in position 35°30'N, 25°36'E at 063:00 on the 13th, and then set course to re-join the Remainer of Force A. Fighter cover was provided by aircraft from PURSUER.

During the night of 13/14 September, Group 1, now comprised of TYRIAN and TEAZER, and Group 2, comprising TERMAGANT and TERPSICHORE, conducted anti-shipping sweeps in the Aegean. Both groups sighted nothing, and rejoined the Force around 07:30 on the 14th.

Around 17:30 on the 14th, SEARCHER, escorted by TYRIAN and Greek Destroyer NAVARINON were detached to proceed to the vicinity of position 35° 40' N, 22° 20' E. Around 20:00, HUNTER and TROUBRIDGE were detached to return to Alexandria where they arrived around 14:00 the next day.

During the night of 14/15, ROYALIST and TEAZER conducted another anti-shipping sweep. These two ships sank two German transports around 20 miles north-east of Suda Bay around 04:00 on the 15th. Around mid-day on the 15th, in position 35°02'N, 26°28'E, the CVEs ATTACKER and EMPEROR, Cruiser BLACK PRINCE, and Destroyer TUSCAN joined Force A in preparation for the first air operations on the 16th. BLACK PRINCE, however, was experiencing refrigerator trouble and was ordered to return to Alexandria. SEARCHER and KHEDIVE provide air cover over the Kythira area.

Around noon on the 15th, the Cruiser AURORA and Destroyer TERPSICHORE joined Force A; around 12:30 they were detached and proceeded to Milos, where at 16:00 they began a bombardment. Fighter protection and air spotting would be provided by aircraft from PURSUER.

For the first three days of operations, the Seafires from HUNTER and KHEDIVE, and the Wildcats from PURSUER and SEARCHER provided combat air patrols during the daylight hours for the Command Cruiser ROYALIST and her destroyers, and also for a minesweeping force clearing a path for the occupation of Kithira Island, between the western end of Crete and the Peloponnese.

On the 16th Wildcat fighter-bombers from PURSUER and SEARCHER attacked vehicles on the roads of Crete and sank four caiques and damaged a further six with bombs. They also strafed transport ashore and spotted for shore bombardment.

On the 17th, aircraft reported that the German minelayer DRACHE had arrived at Milos. AURORA then opened fire on the harbour while TERPSICHORE blockaded the harbour entrance. The target, however, proved to be elusive, but shore installations, including the radar station, were hit. Meanwhile TROUBRIDGE bombarded a number of caiques seen in Santorin harbour.

AURORA and TERPSICHORE carried out a further bombardment of W/T and radar stations on Milos on the 18th with the assistance of air spotting. During the day the Destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE, TUSCAN and ORP GARLAND fuelled from ATTACKER and KHEDIVE . A strike of 16 dive bombers attacked 15 German flying boats in Suda Bay but the results were unclear due to the weather conditions which prevented a photographic reconnaissance after the attack.

Armed reconnaissance sorties were flown over the islands of Milos and Thia, and at 10:20 on the 19th the force carried out dive-bombing of targets on Rhodes; targets included four airfields, all vessels in its harbours and coastal waters, and all transport on its roads. 68 motor vehicles and two Ju.52 aircraft were destroyed. Two Depot ships and five calques were sunk and a Radio Station and 1,000 ton merchant ship were damaged. Operation OUTING I was completed on the 20t . SEARCHER and other carriers of the force returned to Alexandria for replenishment.

SEARCHER, escorted by TYRIAN and RHS NAVARINON arrived at Alexandria around 1:815 on the 21st. A detachment of 4 Wildcats was flown ashore to RNAS Dekheila before entering harbour.

The Carrier element of Force 120 was to change once back at Alexandria. SEARCHER, PURSUER and KHEDIVE, were released for return to the UK, leaving only ATTACKER , EMPEROR and HUNTER to continue operations in the Aegean.
 

Return to the UK and operations with the Home Fleet

SEARCHER, PURSUER and KHEDIVE, departed Alexandria for Malta at 09:00 on October 1st on the first leg of their journey to the UK, arriving there around 08:00 on the 4th. They sailed for Gibraltar at 07:00 on October 5th.

The three carriers arrived at Gibraltar Around 07:00 on the 8th and, after refuelling, sailed around 13:15 the same day bound for the UK. They were escorted by the Destroyers KEMPENFELT, WHIRLWIND, and WRANGLER. At around 05:00 on the 10th, these Destroyers were relieved by the Canadian Destroyers ASSINIBOINE, CHAUDIERE, ST. LAURENT and SKEENA. While off Northern Ireland, on the 12th, PURSUER detached at around 09:30 to proceed to Greenock. SEARCHER and KHEDIVE, arrived in Bangor Bay around 10:30. 882 squadron was flown off to RNAS Ballyhalbert , Northern Ireland on route.

After disembarking the squadron personnel and unloading their equipment, the ship sailed for Greenock on November 13th to enter a commercial dockyard for a refit. This work was to take two and a half months to complete; she had completed her post-refit shakedown by the first week of February 1945 and embarked her squadron from RAF Long Kesh on February 9th. She now commenced a work-up period in the Clyde training area; on the 22nd she exercised with the submarine TOTEM. There are two barrier crash recorded during this work-up period, JV719 ('SB') flown by Sub-Lt A. R. Childs RNZNVR Floated into barrier on February 10th and JV814 ('SA') JV814 ('SA') flown by Sub-Lt D. R. Burgess RNVR who was dazzled by sun, unable to see the DLCO he entered the barrier on the 21st. On the 19th, an aircraft was lost when JV791 ('ST'), flown by Sub-Lt J. E. McMullen RNVR, suffered engine failure and ditched near Lady Island Light; he was safely rescued.

SEARCHER sailed for Scapa Flow to join the Home Fleet on March 2nd, arriving the next day. She now conducted exercises with other ships of the fleet in preparation for participating in Operation CUPOLA. On March 11th, Rear-Admiral R.R. McGrigor, CB, DSO, RN, (Rear Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron) temporarily transferred his flag from the Cruiser NORFOLK to SEARCHER. He transferred his Flag to PUNCHER on the 19th when Force 1 sailed to execute Operation CUPOLA: Two Firefly night fighters from 746A Flt at RNAS Hatston carried out DLT on SEARCHER on the 9th before the detachment joined the ship on the 14th. Also, on this date Wildcat JV695 had engine failure and ditched, the pilot Lt H. Morrison RNZNVR was safely picked up.

On embarking on the 14th Firefly MB400, flown by Lt. Cdr K. Holme made a heavy night landing during a DLT session, the impact was heat enough to break the rear wedge (the structure that the tail surfaces & fin bolt on to). She exercised with the submarine TRUSTY on March 15th.

Operation CUPOLA: March 18 -21st 1945

CUPOLA was a joint air-minelaying operation to lay air-laid mines at the southern entrance to the Askenvold anchorage (61°19'5"N, 05°04'E), and a shipping strike off the coast of Norway undertaken by Force 1 which comprised of CVEs SEARCHER (882 Sqn – 20 Wildcat), PREMIER (856 Sqn - 8 Avengers & 8 Wildcats) and QUEEN (853 Sqn –12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat) the Cruiser BELLONA, and Destroyers ONSLOW, ZEST, SERAPIS, HAIDA (RCN) and IROQUOIS (RCN)). They were to arrive in position 'AA' (61°52'N, 01°45'SE) at 07:00, but bad weather was encountered en route, and the operation had to be postponed to the afternoon.

Around 13:25 the strike commenced flying off. PREMIER 's 856 Squadron launched all sixteen aircraft for this mission, 8 Avengers carrying mines and 8 Wildcats, these were joined by a further 12 Wildcats of 882 Squadron from SEARCHER, providing fighter cover. Two Avengers from QUEEN's 853  Squadron flew a/S patrols around the force while two Wildcats were launched to provide top cover over the carriers.

Landfall was made at the correct location at 1420A/20, with the weather just beginning to lift on the coast and good visibility in the Leads. The Avengers turned north when over Bygdefeld, a conspicuous hill to the south of Askevold. The approach was made to the laying position unopposed, and at 1429A/20 seven mines were laid in the shipping channel, close south of Prestoy Island. One aircraft was unable to release its mine due to material failure and returned with it to the carrier.

The fighters, in close support, also encountered little resistance while strafing shore targets, including a coastal gun battery and a patrol vessel. All aircraft returned safely to the carriers in rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.

The bad weather caused some problems for returning aircraft on completion of the operation on the 20th, with the wind gusting to 40 knots on the surface and 60 knots over the carrier decks. Most affected were those operating from HMS QUEEN; both of 853  Squadron's Wildcats were damaged on recovery, one (JV735 'QW') taking the barriers while the undercarriage of the other (JV753 'QX') collapsed; in addition, one of her Avengers (JZ409 'QL') had to land on PREMIER bursting both tyres in the process. The force arrived back at Scapa Flow at 1400 hours on the 21st. Rear Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron transferred his flag back to SEARCHER. The force returned to Scapa Flow around 13:5 on the 21st.
 

Operations MUSCULAR and PREFIX; March 24th – 28th:

This set of concurrent operations called for day and night strikes against enemy shipping on the Norwegian coast: MUSCULAR was a night strike in the Leads between Stadlandet and Bredsund, while PREFIX I called for a day strike in the Leads between Trondheim Fjord and Kristiansund North, and PREFIX II a second day strike if targets were located.

Force 2, comprising of the Escort Carriers SEARCHER ((Flag CS 1) 882 Sqn, 20 Wildcat), PUNCHER (821 Sqn, 9 Barracuda & 12 Wildcat), NAIRANA (835 Sqn, 14 Swordfish & 6 Wildcat), QUEEN (853 Sqn, 12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat), Cruisers BELLONA and DIDO, Destroyers ONSLOW (D 17), SERAPIS, CARYSFORT, ZEST, ZEALOUS, HAIDA (RCN), and IROQUOIS (RCN) sailed from Scapa on March 24th.

On reaching the operational area on the morning of the 26th, the weather was marginal; however, PREFIX I commenced with a strike by aircraft from QUEEN and SEARCHER; 9 Avengers, each armed four 500lb bombs, and 4 Wildcats (top cover) from 853  Sqn escorted by 19 Wildcats from 882 Sqn to attack shipping in Trondheim Leads and North Kristiansand. As they approached the coastline at 300 feet, conditions were better, and two ships, a tanker escorted by a minesweeper, were attacked by two flights of Wildcats. The force was intercepted by a group of eight or ten Messerschmitt Bf 109Gs, which were engaged by two flights of Wildcats, which shot down three and damaged two others. The Avengers in the strike package found no suitable targets, so they had to jettison their bombs and return to the fleet.

MUSCULAR was to have commenced on the night of the 26th, a night strike by NAIRANA’ s Swordfish against targets in the Leads between Stadlandet and Bredsund, but bad weather forced this part of the operation to be cancelled. The bad weather continued throughout the 27th and the task force remained off the coast waiting for it to clear.

PREFIX II was carried out in slightly better weather on the 28th when 15 Wildcats from 882 Sqn launched to strike targets at Aalsund; 7 of these aircraft were fighter-bombers, each carrying 2 2501b SAP bombs. The strike was led through rain, sleet and poor visibility by a single Firefly Night Fighter from 764 Sqn specially embarked in SEARCHER for this operation. A low-level attack was made on 2 merchant ships seen alongside a quay, but no hits were observed. As they withdrew, the fighters strafed a W/T station on Vikero Island, leaving it burning. Lt (P) K. Holme & Lt (O) G. L. Davies RNVR in Firefly night fighter MB400 led the 15 Wildcats on this daylight op to Aalsund; 10 miles east of the target position, their guns did not fire. They took 2 photographs through the sleet & snow over target, before returning to the ship. Weather conditions were no better, and a heavy landing was made -the starboard wing hit the deck, causing the starboard to collapse.

An attack by six to nine Bf109s was prevented, and three were shot down by Wildcats, and two more were damaged. At 10:45, Sub-Lt A. F Womack RNVR in JV709 ('SW') shot down the first Bf109; this was followed by Sub-Lt R. F. Moore RNVR in JV768 (SX') sharing in bagging a second at 10:50 with Sub-Lt J. A. P. Harrison RNVR (aircraft unidentified). A third Bf109 was reported by Lt. Cdr R. A. Bird RNVR in JV792 ('SA') at 10:55; the pilot was seen to bail out, and he claimed another Bf109 damaged. One of 882 Sqn aircraft was damaged in the dogfights, Sub-Lt 1. F. Pullen RNVR in JV719 ('SB') had his Starboard tailplane blown off by cannon shells during a shipping strike on Trondheim. Once all aircraft had landed, the force withdrew to return to Scapa around 10:15 on the 29th.  On arrival at Scapa 882 Sqn was disembarked to RNAS Grimsetter.
 

Operation NEWMARKET: April 6th – 12th

SEARCHER spent only a week in harbour before embarking on her next operation. She was next at sea on April 5th, re-embarking her aircraft for Operation NEWMARKET. She was part of a powerful force which included four CVEs, PUNCHER(821 Sqn – Detachment of Barracuda II, 825X Sqn – 8 Wildcat), QUEEN (853 882 Sqn, 20 Wildcat), and TRUMPETER (846Sqn, 12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat), Cruisers BELLONA, BIRMINGHAM, and the destroyers ONSLOW, OFFA, SCORPION, SCOURGE, ZAMBESI, ZEALOUS, ZEST and CARYSFORT. The Force sailed form Scapa at 07:00 on April 6th, to conduct air strikes against German submarine tenders off Kilbotn, Norway.

This was an abortive mission to attack U-boat depot ships at Kilbotn on April 7th; bad weather at the flying-off position prevented the strike, but the force steamed back and forth for five days in squalls and mountainous seas before the operation was finally cancelled. The ships returned to Scapa Flow around 21:30 on the 12th 882 flew ashore to RNAS Grimsetter the next day.

On April 16th, Vice Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron transferred his Flag from SEARCHER to NORFOLK. SEARCHER put to sea for exercises on the 17th, re-embarking her squadron once clear of the harbour. Upon completion of the exercises, she returned to Scapa on the 19th and disembarked 882 to RNAS Grimsetter. She put to sea again on the 27th, her squadron re-joining her to prepare for their next operation due to commence on May 1st.
 

Operation JUDGEMENT: May 1st– 6th

The main object of the operation was the destruction of U-boat depot ships at Kolbotn. The secondary object was to destroy enemy shipping anchored off Sandnesjoen.

The Force assembled for this operation comprised oof the Cruisers NORFOLK (C.S.1), DIADEM, CVEs SEARCHER (882 Sqn, 20 Wildcat), TRUMPETER (846 Sqn, 12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat), QUEEN 853 Sqn, 12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat), Destroyers OPPORTNE, SCOURGE, ZAMBESI, SAVAGE, CARYSFORT, OBEDIENT, ORWELL, and RFA Tanker BLUE RANGER. They departed Scapa Flow around 11:30. In the early morning of May 3rd, the destroyers were fuelled by NORFOLK, SEARCHER, TRUMPETER and the RFA tanker BLUE RANGER. The Tanker detached at 10:20 to return to Scapa, escorted by ORWELL.

The Carriers commenced flying operations at 16:00 on May 4th, launching 44 aircraft to attack the German base at Kilbotn, just south of Harstad. The base comprised the 5,000-ton depot ship BLACK WATCH, a former North Sea passenger ferry, supported by a Norwegian coastal battleship converted by the Germans into a Flak ship, two barges fitted with anti-aircraft guns, and numerous gun emplacements on the land around the harbour. Also present, and a target, was the 950-ton Norwegian cargo ship SENJA.

Four Wildcat fighters were assigned to provide top cover against any attempted intervention by German aircraft, while most of the other Wildcat fighters were to arrive at Kilbotn at the start of the operation to attack the anti-aircraft gun emplacements on land and in the harbour. Eight of these latter Wildcats were fighter Bombers armed with one 250-lb bomb with which to attack the Flak ship THETIS, which was armed with seven 102-mm, two 40-mm and nine 20-mm guns. The Avenger attack aircraft were then to arrive, each armed with four 500-lb bombs, and carry out their glide-bombing runs in quick succession, No. 846 Squadron’s aircraft attacking BLACK WATCH and No. 853 Squadron’s machines tackling SENJA. The bombs were released at an altitude of 2,000 ft after a glide from 6,000 to 8,000 ft. The airborne force, under the command of Lt. Cdr (O) C. L. F. Webb, commanding officer, 846 Squadron, arrived from the west over Kilbotn at 17:00 on a sunny afternoon, and achieved almost complete surprise.

On the run in Lt H Morrison RNZNVBR of 882 Sqn was killed when his Wildcat JV809 ('SP') acting as escort to the Avenger, took a direct flak hit at low altitude, and his aircraft disintegrated. As the attack developed over the following seven minutes, several aircraft received Flak damage: Avenger JZ217 of 846 Sqn ('JC') was hit by heavy AA fire on run in during the strike, it was last seen flying towards Lofoten Islands, crashed at Harried, the crew Lt F. J. Gahan RNVR, Sub-Lt A. D. H. Bider RNVR & Leading Airman P. B. Mansfield all killed. Two Avengers from 846 and 1 from 853 were damaged by flak; however, the attack went according to plan. The attack destroyed BLACK WATCH and SENJA and also the submarine U-711, which had been moored alongside BLACK WATCH. The remaining 42 aircraft returned to the carriers; this was the last Home Fleet Operation against Germans in the war.

TThe Force dispersed at 07:00 on May 5th. The Cruisers and most of the Destroyers returned to Scapa. The three escort carriers remained at sea and were joined around 23:59 on the 6th by the escort carrier CAMPANIA and the destroyers OBDURATE, HNoMS STORD and ORP PIORUN.

May 4th 1945, the last offensive operation against the Germans: Left, the 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). Right, bombs bursting on a tanker (foreground) which later sank, while swirls of water behind hide the end of the 5,000 tons 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).

Operation CLEAVER, 6th-9th May

By the start of May, it was clear that the Germans were ready to surrender. Operation CLEAVER was a mine-clearing operation in the Skagerrak and Kattegat between Norway and Sweden in the north and Denmark in the south to allow the shipborne return of the Danish government-in-exile to Copenhagen by Force 5 and to take the surrender of German warships in Danish waters.

The vessels involved in this operation were split into three groups: Force 5 comprised of Cruisers BIRMINGHAM (Flag of R. A. Commanding, C. S. 10), DIDO, Destroyers ZEPHYR (Captain D 2), ZEALOUS, ZODIAC, and ZEST. Force 6 comprised NORFOLK (Flag of R. A. Commanding, C.S. 1), CVEs SEARCHER (882 Sqn, 20 Wildcat), TRUMPETER (846 Sqn, 12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat), QUEEN 853 Sqn, 12 Avenger & 4 Wildcat), Destroyers SCOURGE (Captain D 23), SAVAGE, OPPORTUNE, OFFA, CARYSFORT, ZAMBESI, OBEDIENT. And the 40th Minesweeping Flotilla: CATHERINE, ELFRIDA, GRECIAN, GAZELLE, TABOO, STEADFAST, MAENAD, and CYNTHIA.

Cover for the minesweeping operation was provided by the Carriers of Force 6 commencing on May 6th, on the same date Force 5 left Scapa for the Skagerrak. Having passed through the German minefields off the Skagerrak, Force 5 reached Copenhagen on May 9th, where the British naval force accepted the surrender of the German heavy cruiser PRINZ EUGEN and light cruiser NÜRNBERG.
 

Nominated for service in 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron with the East Indies Fleet

Their tasking for Operation CLEAVER was completed; 882 squadron was transferred to CAMPANIA on May 10th and SEARCHER returned to Scapa. Sailing for the Clyde on the 14th to enter a dockyard for refit to prepare her for service with the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron in the East Indies Fleet. She entered the dockyard on May 15th.

After 5 weeks in refit, SEARCHER proceeded to Belfast, where she re-embarked the personnel, stores, equipment and aircraft of 882 squadron alongside at RNAS Belfast on June 25th. This unit was still equipped with 20 Wildcat Mark VI aircraft. The aircraft were stowed in the hangar; there would be no flying on passage, as a ferry load of aircraft was hoisted onto the flight deck for Delivery to India. On completion of loading, she sailed for Cochin, S. India.

SEARCHER arrived at RNAS Cochin, on July 20th and disembarked her ferry load. 882 882 squadron was also disembarked. It is unclear what the ship did next, possibly receiving repairs in a local Dockyard. She was at sea off Cochin to re-embark her squadron on August 8th for refresher flying training on passage to Trincomalee. During the landing on Lt J. A. Pullin RNVR caught No.9 wire in JV866 and entered the barrier, and JV882 flown by Lt G. A. M. Flood RNVR had its arrester hook snapped off on the rounddown and continued on into the barrier, the aircraft was put ashore to RNAS Trincomalee and written off. The following day there were two more landing accidents: JV861 flown by Sub-Lt R. S. Portsmout RNVR had its port wing stall on landing and it struck the deck; JV865 flown by Sub-Lt DR Blundell RNZNVR came in high and landed on the barrier; the aircraft then went over the side, the pilot was OK.

SEARCHER arrived at Trincomalee on August 9th to work up in preparation for joining the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron. Flying training continued; on the 10th Sub-Lt RF Moore RNVR caught No.8 wire landing in JV888 ('D') and went into the barrier. The next day another aircraft was written off when Lt JA Pullin in JV884 struck the rounddown, which smashed the undercarriage; the wreck was offloaded to RNAS Trincomalee on the ship's return to harbour on August 17th. There was one more barrier crash on the 11th; Sub-Lt P. D. Lock RNVR missed all the wires and flew into the barrier. This aircraft was also put ashore on the 17th and written off.

TTowards the end of SEARCHER's short work-up, the Japanese surrender was announced on August 15th; 882 squadron was disembarked to RNAS Katukurunda on August 20th while the ship awaited further orders.

C. August 1945: Wildcat JV889 (‘C’) wearing Eat indies Fleet markings has landed with port drift causing the part undercarriage leg to collapse.
 

With her squadron gone, work began outfitting it as a makeshift troop transport to assist the humanitarian efforts of the RAPWI (Recovery of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees) organisation. The squadron equipment and stores were also disembarked to clear as much space as possible for accommodation. Her hangar became a vast dormitory outfitted with tiers of bunks, and spaces previously used by the air engineering department, squadron mess decks, and pilots' cabins were put to use. SEARCHER was now employed on one or more troop voyages to evacuate Allied PoWs and internees from the Dutch East Indies for passage to Colombo. Details of her exact ports of call are unclear, but she arrived back in Colombo on September 3rd. Anecdotal evidence suggests she delivered around 800 passengers, indicating at least two humanitarian voyages.
 

Passage home to the UK: September - October 1945

On release from her work with the RAPWI organisation SEARCHER, she was no longer required for service with the East Indies Fleet, and orders were received to return to the UK. In preparation for sailing, she embarked stores, equipment and passengers at Colombo for passage to the UK. On September 19th, the personnel of 882 squadron Squadron boarded [2] and the ship sailed later that day bound for the Clyde via Aden, the Suez Canal, Malta and Gibraltar.

On her arrival on the Clyde on October 9th, 882 Squadron was officially disbanded. 
 

Disposal: Return to US Custody

Her arrival on the Clyde marked the end of her operational service, and as soon as her passengers had departed, work began to de-store her in preparation for her return to US Custody. Her crew were soon drafted to their respective RM Barracks, and only a steaming party remained onboard while preparations were finalised for her return to US custody.

SEARCHER and her sister CVE TRACKER sailed for Norfolk, Virginia, on November 14th. It is not known if they made the passage in company, but both vessels arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard on the 24th.

On December 6th, a USN Care & Maintenance party embarked to inspect the ship and take possession of CVE-22; SEARCHER was paid off, and CVE-22 was returned to US Navy custody on that date. No further use was to be made of her as an aircraft carrier, and she was marked for disposal. After the removal of further salvageable equipment, CVE-22 departed Norfolk Navy Yard for a berth on the James River and was listed for disposal on February 7th 1946.

On December 6th, a USN Care & Maintenance party embarked to inspect the ship and take possession of CVE-22; SEARCHER was paid off, and CVE-22 was returned to US Navy custody on that date. No further use was to be made of her as an aircraft carrier, and she was marked for disposal. After the removal of further salvageable equipment, CVE-22 departed Norfolk Navy Yard for a berth on the James River and was listed for disposal on February 7th 1946. She appears to have remained on the disposal list far longer than her former sister CVEs; she was not purchased until 1952.

Her exact post-military career is a little confusing; two names come up as the owner/purchaser: Theophilos J. Vatis of the Trans-Ocean Steamship Agency, Inc., New York, and Compañía Marítima Ador, S.A. (Cia Maritima Ador) based in Panama. Trans-Ocean operated primarily as a managing agent, chartering broker, and sub-agent for various international shipowners rather than maintaining a permanently owned proprietary fleet, whereas Cia Maritima Ador registered the CAPTAIN THEO under the Liberian flag. So, the ship would appear to have been acquired by Trans-Ocean and sold to Compañía Marítima Ador, S.A., while under conversion, but still managed by Trans-Ocean.

The S. S Captain Theo. Photo: shipspotting.com

She was towed to the shipyard of the Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Georgia, for her conversion to a cargo ship. She emerged in late 1952 as the S.S. CAPTAIN THEO. On entering service, she primarily operated across the North Atlantic, shuttling bulk goods between European ports, the eastern United States, and the Caribbean. In 1957, the vessel underwent a major structural modification at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe, Japan, where it was lengthened by over 57 feet to increase its cargo capacity.

In 1966, she was sold to the Chinese shipping magnate Tung Chao Yung, becoming the S.S. ORIENTAL BANKER, operating as a bulk goods and general freight carrier between major industrial ports in East Asia (including Japan and Taiwan) and the West Coast of North America and Canada. She was sent to the breakers in Kaohsiung in 1976.

Last modified: 29 August 2026

 

Primary information sources
 

Additional sources:

Fold3.com various documents including;

Admiralty War Diaries

Norfolk Navy Yard War Diaries

Mew York Navy Yard War Diaries

COMEASTSEAFRON Rescue tug activities for January 1944

Miscellaneous documents