Dates: 1942 - 1956
HMS Indefatigable (R10) was an Implacable-class aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy.
Built at the famous John Brown Yard on the Clyde, at Clydebank, Scotland, Indefatigable was laid down on 3 November 1939 and launched on 8 December 1942. She commissioned into the Royal Navy on 3 May 1944, joining the Home Fleet. The ship’s first commander was Captain Q. D. Graham.
The first mission (rather in the form of a ’working-up’ exercise) was a set of raids on the German battleship Tirpitz in the fjords of Norway. It was not a spectacular success with all sorts of equipment problems showing up.
The ship’s squadrons operated a number of aircraft types including the Supermarine Seafire and Fairey Firefly.
After dockyard work on the problems the ship sailed on 19 November 1944 for the Far East to join the British Pacific Fleet as flagship of Rear-Admiral Philip Vian (former captain of Cossack) who commanded the carrier group of the BPF. He transferred his flag to Indomitable on arrival at Colombo on 10 December 1944.
On 1 April 1945, while operating in support of the Okinawa operation, the ship was hit at the base of the superstructure by a kamikaze suicide bomber. Fourteen men were killed. Thanks to her armoured deck however, Indefatigable was able to operate aircraft again after just 5 hours.
Indefatigable was present at the formal surrender of the Japanese on 2 September in Tokyo Bay. She later helped to repatriate Allied POWs held in Japan and was used as a spotting ship for later US nuclear tests in the Pacific ocean.
She decommissioned after the war but recommissioned in 1950 as a training ship. After being decommissioned for the last time, Indefatigable was scrapped in 1956
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Indefatigable
" Harry.reference Task Force 57.Yes.I was able to tell the kids a little about this having served on HMS Indefatigable for part of the operation.I found them a bloodthirsty lot however,probably due to some T/V films.But it brought back a host of memories,particularly poignant at this time of year.And ..."
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" Quoting: frances cooper would some kind person tell me what the fleet air arms concists of and was there some in egypt in the second war sorry for the ignorence frances Hi Frances, Have a read of this below.... Fleet Air Arm History Fairey Swordfish Of all the aircraft operated by the ..."
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" Quoting: Bob Draper Hi Frances, Have a read of this below.... Fleet Air Arm History Fairey Swordfish Of all the aircraft operated by the Royal Navy since 1912 when the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps was formed, the Swordfish aircraft is historically the most important. Swordfish ..."
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" Another newbie here..... I am a relative of Ernest Stuart Greaves RN and now having his full service history thought I would share incase anyone knows him. Entered RN in 1937 as ERA app. HMS Pembroke 1937 - 1939 HMS Rayleigh (ATE) 1940 HMS Drake 1941 HMS Furious 1941 HMS Illustrious 1941 - 1945 ..."
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