Crate from HMS BONAVENTURE

Road King

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Had this crate for years, can't remember where I got it but could have came off the ship while it was at the Saint John Dry Dock. Can't be much stuff still around that can be associated with Canada's last Aircraft Carrier.

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A friend of the family served aboard the Bonaventure. In fact he was the first to talk to me about the Sea Cadet when I was a kid, I joined and stayed 6 years.
 
Not much left of the Bonny but razor blades. I toured her in Halifax in 69. I had never seen such a big ship, being from Ontario. I was overwhelmed by the scale of her. I later saw a photo of the Bonny beside a U.S. carrier and couldn't believe how small she was in comparison.
There are some old Grumman Trackers parked out at the Abbotsford airport that may have served aboard her. I havn't been able to find out.
The government had just spent millions on a refit of her and as soon as that was done, they sold her for a few cents for scrap. How typical
 
My father served on the Bonnie (and Maggie) and I can remember going abort as a child. I have the strongest memory's of the smells, the ladders, steel decks etc.
 
Not much left of the Bonny but razor blades. I toured her in Halifax in 69. I had never seen such a big ship, being from Ontario. I was overwhelmed by the scale of her. I later saw a photo of the Bonny beside a U.S. carrier and couldn't believe how small she was in comparison.
There are some old Grumman Trackers parked out at the Abbotsford airport that may have served aboard her. I havn't been able to find out.
The government had just spent millions on a refit of her and as soon as that was done, they sold her for a few cents for scrap. How typical

http://www.noac-national.ca/article/varner/rumoursofasianaircraftcarriers_byjoevarner.html

Sold her or traded her? You decide...
 
My father served on the Bonnie (and Maggie) and I can remember going abort as a child. I have the strongest memory's of the smells, the ladders, steel decks etc.

Mine too. It was in the late '50's.

After Bonnie was scrapped, he served on the Gatineau and the Fraser.
 
http://www.noac-national.ca/article/varner/rumoursofasianaircraftcarriers_byjoevarner.html

Sold her or traded her? You decide...

Legends we love to love. One Avro Arrow escaped and was whisked away to points unknowen.
I think a carrier is a hard thing to hide. But. Who knows. Stranger things have been done.
 
Are we long lost brothers? My dad served on both also and I have fond memories of eating in the PO's mess. Odd that the stencil reads "HMS Bonaventure".

Talk about a misprint The guy forgot the "C" in HMCS. It was For the Canadain ship though. Tag says Canadian Navy.
 
Thanks for posting the pics! I bet you are right that there are few artifacts left. My Dad served on the Bonnie, Maggie, Ontario and the Haida proceeding and up to the Korean war era. He told me of a terrible storm that they were in out in the atlantic in the Bonnie( I think). Apparently they lost aircraft, anchors and chains off the deck. It was insane!
Al
 
Thanks for posting the pics! I bet you are right that there are few artifacts left. My Dad served on the Bonnie, Maggie, Ontario and the Haida proceeding and up to the Korean war era. He told me of a terrible storm that they were in out in the atlantic in the Bonnie( I think). Apparently they lost aircraft, anchors and chains off the deck. It was insane!
Al

That storm was called " Bonnie's Storm " by all hands aboard and it struck Dec 6th 1959. they were hit with a one 67 foot wave came over the compass platform and took out the radar antenna and after catwalk. She took on so much water that squadron personnel trying to work on aircraft asked to draw diving pay. This all happen off the coast of France
 
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