HMS Indefatigable   

HMS Indefatigable laid down 3rd November 1939 and built at John Brown Shipyard on the Clyde.  She was launched on the 8th of December 1942 and completed in May 1944.In July and August 1944, HMS Indefatigable's aircraft made unsuccessful strikes on the Tirpitz.  In November 1944 she sailed from Portsmouth, heading for the Far East.  Embarked were 887 and 894 Sqdns Seafire and 820 Sqdn Avenger NAS.  On the 1st of April 1945, the carrier was hit by Kamikaze, killing 21 and injuring 27.  The incident also temporarily disabled the flight deck.  In July and August 1945, Indefatigable commenced strikes over Japan.  On the 15th August 1945, without knowing of the ceasefire, Indefatigable's Avenger aircraft took part in the last air combat of WW2, shooting down 8 of 12 Japanese Zeros, and losing one Seafire.  In December 1946, she was placed in reserve at Portsmouth, and was finally towed to the Gareloch in June 1955, to be sold to the British Iron and Steel Corp for scrapping.

HMS Indefatigable, May 1947.

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HMS Indefatigable, May 1947.

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These four photographs sent in by a visitor to the site of HMS Indefatigable's visit to Sydney

HMS Indefatigable.

HMS Indefatigable off Portland 1949.

HMS Indefatigable on her way through the Suez to Singapore.

A Seafire of 894.887 Sqdn on HMS Indefatigable

A Seafire of 894.887 Sqdn on HMS Indefatigable

Seafires of 894/897 Sqdn on Indefatigable

An aircraft of HMS Indefatigable in WWII

An aircraft crash lands on HMS Indefatigable in WWII

Aircraft on their way to be dumped on HMS Indefatigable.

A crash on Indefatigable.....

...and the only survivor of the crash.

Firebrand, "Indy" 1949   (presumably HMS Indefatigable)        Pilot Lt. Honeywell.

Torpedo Electricians Crew, Sydney, c1945.

Contributed by Brian Pardoe :

I am sending a pick taken in Sydney Australia circa 1945. It pictures my dad John Pardoe who served on board from 44 to 46 with others of the torpedo (electricians) crew. Dad is top row 2nd from left, top row 5th from left Lofty Cheeseman, top row 4th from left M.R. Churchman, he thinks, top row 1st from right Nobby Clarke,  bottom row 2nd from left Colin Seaton, bottom row 2nd from right M.R. Lloyd, John Pardoe left the ship for home, not going to  Japan, on the H.M.S. Beully firth from Freemantle.