Royal Canadian Navy Aircraft Carrier HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951132)
HMCS Bonaventure off the coast of England, 7 June 1957.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951124)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), at Harland and Wolff yards, Belfast, Ireland, 1957.
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) was a Majestic class aircraft carrier. She served in the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces Maritime Command from 1957 to 1970 and was the fifth and the last aircraft carrier to serve Canada. The ship was laid down for the British Royal Navy as HMS Powerful in November 1943. At the end of the Second World War, work on the ship was suspended in 1946. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design. Bonaventure never saw action during her career having only peripheral, non-combat roles. However, she was involved in major NATO fleet-at-sea patrol during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As HMS Powerful she was laid down at Harland and Wolff in Belfast on 21 November 1943, and launched on 27 February 1945. Work was suspended after the end of the Second World War, and was not resumed until the ship was bought by Canada. She was acquired in the early 1950s by the Royal Canadian Navy, which was looking to replace its aging Second World War–vintage light carriers Magnificent (another Majestic class carrier) and Warrior, which were deemed unsuitable for the jet age. Several surplus US and UK ships were considered, and the then-incomplete HMS Powerful, a Majestic-class light fleet carrier, was purchased in 1952 from the Royal Navy on the condition that it be refitted with an angled flight deck and steam catapult. Bonaventure, named after Bonaventure Island, a bird sanctuary in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, was commissioned into the Canadian Navy upon completion of its refit and modernization on 17 January 1957.
HMCS Bonaventure carried five squadrons. Initially, she had up to 34 planes and helicopters embarked at any time. The number of aircraft gradually reduced until the refit in 1967, when the air group peaked at 21 aircraft. Initially, two types of fixed-wing aircraft were operated from Bonaventure. The McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee was flown by VF 870 and VF 871 Squadrons, while Grumman CS2F Tracker anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft were operated by VS 880 and VS 881 Squadrons. Bonaventure also carried Sikorsky HO4S helicopters operated by HS 50 Squadron. By 1958, Bonaventure was able to conduct around-the-clock sustained operations, keeping four Trackers and two HO4Ss in the air at all times, saturating an area of 200 square nautical miles (690 km2) with anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The Banshees were retired in 1962. In 1964 new Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King helicopters were added to Bonaventure's complement. In 1966 the carrier docked in Quebec for a mid-life refit. This second refit took 18 months and cost $11 million. After the 1968 unification of the Canadian armed services, Bonaventure was decommissioned in Halifax, on 3 July 1970, and was scrapped in Taiwan in 1971.
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951199)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1957.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951348)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1960.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951344)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), port bow view, 1960.
(Dennis McGilivray Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating the RCN's 50th Anniversary in 1960.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951341)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating the RCN's 50th Anniversary in 1960.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), eight Trackers on deck and members of the crew spelling out BONNY.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), with Trackers on deck.
(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), celebrating 10,000 trapped landings.
(Dennis McGillivray Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(Dennis McGillivray Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(Dennis McGillivray Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(Dennis McGillivray Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), RASing with a USN ship.
(Eric Ruff Photo)
Carrier Group - June 1961. Top to bottom: USS The Sullivans 537, USS Jonas Ingram 938, HMCS Bonaventure CVL 22, USS Essex, HMCS Athabaskan 219.
(Gary Medford Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure, Halifax, summer 1965, with Royal Navy Amphion class submarine.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure along with five Destroyers and one tanker, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Margaree, HMCS Gatineau, HMCS Fraser, HMCS St. Laurent and HMCS Provider tied-up in the port of New Orleans for a six-day visit in March 1968. There are 5 Trackers on Bonaventure's deck.
(Rene Miller Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure, post 1966-67 refit.
(Rene Miller Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure with HMCS Skeena 207 astern, ca 1966.
(Tom Price Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure flight deck flight deck with Ferret scout cars with the Recce Squadron, RCD, en route to Cyprus in 1964.
(Tom Price Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure flight deck with a visiting USN Douglas A-4 Skyhawk on deck.
(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)
HMCS Bonaventure showing the proposed white landing triangle rolled out around 22.
(RCN Photo via Mike Kaehler)
HMCS Bonaventure view from a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 228).
(RCN Photo via Mike Kaehler)
HMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter, RCN (Serial No. 228) on deck.
(RCN Photo)
Flight deck of HMCS Bonaventure as the Naval helicopters "co-mingle" with Army equipment. This movement of Army equipment from Norway to Canada was one of the Bonaventure's last missions before it was decommissioned on 3 Jul 1970.
(Claus Mathes Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure with a Sikorsky H0S4 helicopter hovering over the main deck.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951213)
Sikorsky HO4S-3 Helicopter line up on HMCS Bonaventure, ca 1957.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951209)
HMCS Bonaventure, Sikorsky HO4S-3 helicopters, 1957.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951212)
McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee, RCN (Serial No. 103), preparting to launch from HMCS Bonaventure.
During her service life, Bonaventure carried five squadrons. The aircraft carrier's initial air group was composed of sixteen McDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighters and eight Grumman CS2F Tracker anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. (Wikipedia)
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821339)
McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee, HMCS Bonaventure, 1957.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951224)
de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker landing on HMCS Bonaventure.
(Tom Price Photo)
de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker displaying armament, on HMCS Bonaventure.
(Rene Miller Photo)
de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker preparing to launch from HMCS Bonaventure.
(Rene Miller Photo)
de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker preparing to land on HMCS Bonaventure.
(Tom Price Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Sikorsky HO4S-3 Helicopter rescuing the crew of a ditched de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker.
(Rene Miller Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Sikorsky HO4S-3 Helicopter, Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King helicopter hovering with de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Trackers on deck.
(RCN Photo BV70-208 via Mike Kaehler)
A day in the life of HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. You can see deck hands holding the rotor tie down ropes to steady them on Sikorsky HO4S (Serial No. 55875) as Sea King (Serial No. 4017) from HMCS Annapolis (DDH265) takes off behind it. At the tail of 55875 you can see a deck hand with flags is giving the Sea King pilot a "thumbs up" that he is clear of 55875. Another deck hand is walking away with the chocks and two are wearing firefighting gear. Note the large speakers on 55875 just above the rear landing gear. Looks like a small DC power cart by 55875.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951223)
de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker landing on HMCS Bonaventure.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951250)
de Havilland (Grumman) C2SF-1 Tracker, view of the port side, HMCS Bonaventure.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821374)
HMCS Bonaventure, 13 Oct 1957.
(USN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), ca. 1960.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821237)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), trials, 1 May 1957.
(Claus Mathes Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) under the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge (opened 2 Apr 1955), with two Oberaon submarines, ca 1961.
(Claus Mathes Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) RASing with HMCS Iroquois.
(DND Photos)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(RCN Photo)
McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee is positioned on the steam catapult of the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), in 1957.
(USN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), 1961.
(DND Photo, BVC68-14)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Atlantic Fleet with her air group overhead, 1968.
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), possibly Malta harbour.
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), Halifax harbour.
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), with HMCS Iroquois escorting.
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22).
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure, Majestic Class, riding a heavy sea.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Bonaventure CVL 22 underway 1961
(DND Photo)
In good company. HMCS Bonaventure and HMCS Swansea, pictured on 18 May 1959.
(Eugene Miller Photo via Rene Miller)
Canadian Task Group, c1966. Right to left, front to back: HMCS Kootenay 258, HMCS Restigouche 257, HMCS St. Croix 256, HMCS Skeena 207, HMCS Provider 508, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22, HMCS Nipigon 266, HMCS Antigonish 301.
(Eugene Miller Photo via Rene Miller)
Canadian Task Group, c1966. HMCS Skeena 207, HMCS Provider 508, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22.
(Eugene Miller Photo via Rene Miller)
Front to back: HMCS Restigouche 257, HMCS Bonaventure CVL22, HMCS Skeena 207.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4718900)
A last look at HMCS Bonaventure, 12 December 1969.
(DND Photo)
Trackers on HMCS Bonaventure.
