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HMS Formidable
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.
27th March 1941 Battle of Matapan
28th March 1941 Battle of Matapan
1st Apr 1942 Search
5th July 1943 Convoy Duty
10th July 1943 Protection
6th Jul 1945 On the Move
17th Jul 1945 Air Attacks
3rd Aug 1945 Bad Weather
5th Aug 1945 Air Attacks
12th Aug 1945 Fuel
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Those known to have sailed in HMS Formidable during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Benson Albert Edward.
- Bower John Machell. Able Sea
- Brady Frank. PO.
- Bunker George Herbert. RPO
- Burley Edwin John.
- Dewhirst Jack.
- Dodd James. CPO
- Dow James.
- Dow James.
- Fletcher Norman. PO.
- Gray VC, DSC Robert Hampton. Lt. (d.9 August 1945)
- Gray VC, DSC Robert Hampton. Lt. (d.9th August 1945)
- Griffin Milton John. PO.
- Heselgrave Albert. P O
- Hinkins George. PO. (d.9th May 1945)
- Jenkins Henry Llewelyn. PO
- Leng Frederick William. Sub.Lt. (d.19th Apr 1943)
- Marley William. Armourer.
- Merritt William Oliver. A/PO.
- Noble Charles. CPO.
- Phillips Ronald Ernest. Able Sea.
- Powell Lawrence. Sea.
- Remnant Denis Alfred. Able Seaman
- Rutledge John Patrick. Stkr 1st Cl.
- Smith George Henry. Stoker (d.26th May 1941)
- Tatham Alan William. Seaman
- Terry Ronald.
- Thomas Dave Henry. Killick.
- Waugh James Grey. Able Sea.
- Williams Leonard George. Able Sea.
- Youd Jack Winston .
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of HMS Formidable from other sources.
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Want to know more about HMS Formidable? There are:11 items tagged HMS Formidable available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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PO. George Hinkins HMS Formidable (d.9th May 1945) My dad, PO George Hinkins was on HMS Formidable from 6 January 1942 until he was killed by a Kamikaze on 9 May 1945. At a reunion a few years ago I was told the full story of his death and how he saved a
number of young sailors lives by sending them away from the gun and into
shelter behind the island. Unfortunately the Kamikaze hit the ship and
killed my father who had continued to fire the gun single handed until the
plane hit. Captain Ruckean's only entry about my Dad's death was
(Satisfactory) which I find rather insulting to his memory.
Now I am retired I am aware of his death more than at any time in my life
and I am applying to the First Sea Lord for some kind of recognition for my
father and the brave and selfless way in wish he died. Any information I can get to put to the First Sea Lord to support my application would be
appreciated. I never thought about any award for my father until the reunion I attended and was told by some of the men that my dad saved that he should have had a medal so now I am trying for my Fathers memory to get him justice. Can any one help me in my quest?
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Jack Winston "Yipper" Youd HMS Formidable Twice Yipper, Jack Youd fell overboard and was rescued by the same seaman each time. When the ship was docked many ratings were involved in mending damage to the outside of the hull. My father was pictured in overalls painting over repairs. There would be two or three men on the cradle suspended over the side of ship.
Apparently they always had one in three who could swim, my father couldn’t.
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A/PO. William Oliver Merritt HMS Golden Hind My father, William Oliver Merritt, was stationed at HMS Golden Hind, Warwick Farm from 7 May to 4 July 1945, recuperating after being injured (burns to back) on 6 May 1945 by a kamikaze strike on HMS Formidable. He transferred to HMS Nabbington at RAAF Nowra until 15 November 1945, when he transited back to Portsmouth. He was a career Navy man, joining on 26 January 1937 and retiring as a CPO on 19 August 1961 at Portsmouth.
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Able Sea John Machell "Ginge" Bower HMS Formidable My Dad, John Bower, joined the Royal Navy in 1941 and continually served on HMS Formidable during WW2, where he went to Australia, Ceylon, Gibraltar, Singapore and Alexandria. His ship was hit by kamikaze attacks twice and he saw many horrific things of which he never spoke. The Royal Navy was in his blood, coming from a strong Royal Navy family.
Following the war he joined the Royal Naval Reserves and assisted in bringing home prisoners of war who had been captured by the Japanese.
He was a truly genuine, kind, decent and brave man who will always have my deepest and utmost respect.
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Edwin John Burley HMS Formidable My father, Edwin Burley known as Ted served in the Royal Navy in WW2 on the HMS Formidable. I was wondering if anyone had any information or photos for his last two surviving brothers who are now in their eighties. Thank you.
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Seaman Alan William "Spud" Tatham HMS Pozarica My father Alan Tatham only served one year on HMS Pozarica before he transferred to HMS Collingwood as an instructor. My Father was transferred to HMS Formidable early in 1944 from HMS Collingwood as a leading seaman and saw extensive action with the Pacific Task Force. He never spoke about the horrors he witnessed but after his demise in 1989 l found a secret diary written in dark corners that tells of those awful times, the Diary took me six months to decipher the hurried scribble and I have given it in perpetuity along with the transcription and photographs to the Royal Navy Museum at Portsmouth who said that a diary such as his was very rare. The Diary is accessible to read at the Museum on request.
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Ronald Terry HMS Formidable My cousin Ron Terry joined the Royal Navy in 1944 at the age of 15 having lied about his age. After HMS Formidable was damaged in a kamakazi attack she limped into Sydney harbour and Ron, together with most of the crew, were sent to farms in Australia to help with the harvest.
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