Unidentified Hospital Ship, possibly in the English Channel 1944. Photo taken from HMCS MAYFLOWER. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL-ROB020)
Canadian Sailors in HMS Puncher
Several of HMS Puncher’s sailors take advantage of the hot weather to tan on the carriers crowded flight deck, while ferrying aircraft to Casablanca in July 1944. Too hot to touch they cover the deck with blankets and towels. Howard Abbott is front left. The Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Howard Abbott, RCNVR. (RTL-HA050)
HMSub TRUSTY with German U-Boat
Unknown German U-Boat, secured alongside HMSub TRUSTY (N45) possibly in Rothesay, UK, May 1945. Roger Litwiller Collection -Photo courtesy Raymond Leslie Reid, RCNVR. (RTL-RLR018)
HMS PUNCHER Tragedy
A tragic crash landing on HMS PUNCHER. This Firefly attempted to land at too great a speed, the arrester hook snapped on contact with the wire and the plane burst through both wire barricades as the plane shot off the carriers bow and plunged into the water. The pilot, Lieutenant M.C. Malone was saved, his […]
HMS PUNCHER’s Duty Boat
One of HMS PUNCHER’s boats comes alongside the Canadian manned escort carrier in 1944. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Howard Abbott, RCNVR. (RTL-HA094)
HMS DIANTHUS
HMS DIANTHUS in 1943 escorting a convoy, photo taken from HMCS ARVIDA. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Howard Abbott, RCNVR. (RTL-HA075)
The First Women to Serve in Canada’s Navy
The legacy of women serving in Canada’s Navy is legendary, beginning in 1914 in the early days of the First World War. Six nurses joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served in His Majesty’s Canadian Hospital Ship (HMCHS) PRINCE GEORGE. At the time, concern was not given to making history or furthering women’s rights, in […]
Canada’s Navy Honours the Sacrifice of our Sailors Past
By: Roger Litwiller -Canadian Naval Author and Historian Recently the Royal Canadian Navy unveiled two of Canada’s warships painted in a multi-coloured camouflage scheme. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship REGINA (2nd), a Halifax class frigate and HMCS MONCTON (2nd), Kingston class maritime defence vessel, have been given the “new” paint scheme. The purpose of this remarkable […]
Operation Neptune -The Naval Operations for DDay
When we speak of the Normandy Invasion or D-Day as it is more commonly called, photos of soldiers hitting the beaches are usually the first images we think of. The hard fought assault on five beaches to gain a foot hold on Fortress Europe on the morning of 6 June 1944. Very little is discussed […]
Friendly Fire Incident -Normandy
A wounded sailor from the cableship HMTS Monarch is transferred to HMCS TRENTONIAN after the two allied ships came under friendly fire from USS PLUNKETT off the Normandy coast on the night of 12-13 June 1944. See HMCS TRENTONIAN: A Victim Of Friendly Fire Photo credit SBA A. Singleton courtesy of Bruce Keir, RCNVR, Stoker, HMCS […]