The Wartime Memories Project - HMS Formidable

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Information. HMS Formidable was an Aircraft Carrier of the Illustrious class. She was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd. in Belfast, Northern Ireland being launched on the 17th of August 1939 Her initial role during the Second World War was to accompany a convoy to Capetown from December 1940 to January 1941. Subsequently she was called to the Mediterranean to replace the damaged HMS Illustrious in February 1941. She saw action in the Battle of Cape Matapan 27-29 March 1941, and in the two following months was involved in convoy escort. She supported Crete operations in May where she suffered serious damage on the 26th of May 1941 in air attacks by 1000kg bombs, whioch put her out of action for six months. Between June and December 1941 she underwent repairs in America and then joined the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean from March until August 1942. In October 1942 she returned to the Mediterranean taking part in the North African landings in November and the Sicily landings in July 1943 and Salerno landings in the September. In October 1943 she took part in an Arctic convoy. On the 17th of November, the German submarine U-331 was sunk in the Mediterranean north of Algiers after she had been badly damaged by a Hudson aircraft and attacked by a torpedo-equipped aircraft Albacore of 500 and 820 Squadrons flying from HMS Formidable. HMS Formidable was refitted between January and June 1944 and then her aircraft were involved in Operation "Mascot" an attack on the German Battleship Tirpitz in Norway on the 17th July 1944. She took part in further attacks on Tirpitz between the 22nd and 29th of August. She then set sail to rejoin the Eastern Fleet on 16 September 1944, stopping at Gibraltar after machinery breakdown, which halted her voyage until January 1945. In April 1945 she joined the British Pacific Fleet in place of HMS Illustrious who had been damaged. She took part in air strikes against Sakishima Gunto in April and May 1945. In May she was hit by Kamikazes but was able to operate aircraft within a few hours of attack, her aircraft later took part in air strikes against Japanese home islands between July-August 1945. The ship arrived in Sydney, Australia on 23 August 1945, subsequently undertook trooping voyages to the United Kingdom between September 1945 and November 1946. She was reduced to a reserve ship at Rosyth in March 1947 and sold in November 1953 being scrapped at Inverkeithing from November 1956. Petty Officer Frank Brady air mechanic HMS Formidable My Father-leading seaman promoted to Petty Officer air mechanic Frank Brady served on H M S Formidable for the bulk of WW2. He was assigned to maintain the aircraft of 895 Pursuit Squadron, the aircraft included U.S. built Grumman F4F Wildcats, known in the Royal navy as Martlets. While preparing for Operation “Torch” Frank painted U.S. white star markings over the British roundels on the fuselage and wings of the aircraft on the flight deck of the carrier and had photographs of the painting taking place at sea. Leading Seaman Frank Brady and LACW Mary Elizabeth Needham (my mother) My Father put together quite a photograph album of his sorties around the world, Arctic, North Atlantic, in the Med and the Pacific. Unfortunately the album was lost just before he died in 1996. I would like to hear from anyone who remembers my father or may have photographs of any of the ships company. I have photos of H.M.S.Formidable, and of my father John Young,CPO, his friends and many places they visited or battle locations. In particular I have many poems and prose about sea battles, his shipmates and the experience of war at sea. Some of these can be found in a published book "Poems" by John Young - Torrance Publishing U.S.A. He was a native of Burntisland, Fife. When H.M.S.Formidable was badly damaged and in Belfast for repair he met my mother Veronica. After the war he continued his involvment with ships and the sea by becoming the General Manager of the Liffy Dockyard in Dublin, Ireland. I followed in my fathers example by joining the W.R.N.S. Francesca Young

My Father served on HMS Foridable during the 2nd World War - CPO Alexander William Steele. He was an Artificer. I have a very large collection of photographs, ships crew, under attack, burial at sea etc. John Alexander Steele

Photographs If you have any Photographs you would like to share please get in touch.

List of those who served on this Ship Petty Officer Frank Brady air mechanic Read his Story. Claudius Antoon Dick van Dongen. dutch FAA (d. 03/08/1944 ) Hans Laufer. dutch FAA (d. 03/08/1944 ) CPO Alexander William Steele. artificer. Read his Story CPO John Young. Read his Story If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch.

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