49.
Dec. 5, 2016

I would like to try and find any information out about my grandad who served from 1943 - 44 not sure how long for. His name was Ray Collins, his nickname was Trigger. Unfortunately he passed away in 1994. If anyone has any information or where I might find photos please let me know.

Regards,
Mike Collins

48.
May 18, 2016

Was interested to see the post from someone whose father flew from Implacable in the Pacific in Mike Crossley's squadron. Our friend Norman Dent also flew Seafires from Implacable during this period. I believe the squadron was 880NAS though. His CO was Mike Crossley. He flew raids against Truk Atoll, Pelambang and Japanese airfields and installations, even strafing a train on the Japanese home islands. His log book shows that he also flew Shuttleworth's Sea Hurricane Z7015 at Yeovilton in 1943 during his fighter training after returning from training on Harvards in Canada. He was on board Implacable during the raid on Norway and also flew over the Normandy beach-head spotting for ship's guns, before rejoining Implacable to go to the Pacific. His photo album and logbooks are fascinating. He is still very much alive and well. We are taking him to Duxford again next weekend.

Regards,
Steve Wigley

47.
Apr. 29, 2016

My mother, Betty Edith Huxley -- deceased April 22, 2016 (93) -- dated a sailor while Implacable was in Sydney during WWII. From her memoirs she recalls his name as Eddie O'Neil or Eddie O'Brian (apparently from Ireland). Eddie had a beautiful singing voice, she writes, and was a gentleman. He was invited to sing on 2KO for a talent quest. Not much more detail, however.

Regards,
Glenn Huxley
Riddells Creek, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

46.
Apr. 19, 2016

My father, Eric Johnson, joined the Navy as a volunteer during WWII and was posted to the Pacific on the Implacable. He worked as Storeman. Sadly, I don't have all the details and I'm not very clued up technically but one of the stories he related was of a time the Implacable was docked in Sydney Harbour when the crew were recalled urgently back to the ship from shore leave. The Liberty boat became over-full and began to sink. My dad, being a strong swimmer and in a rough sea, made it safely back to the ship still clutching the bunch of bananas he'd bought ashore, although the paper bag had disintegrated! He was extremely impressed with Australia and he and my mother considered the £10 passage post-war but finally decided against it. Tragically my dad passed away in October 2010 on what would have been his wedding anniversary day, aged 89. It would be wonderful if there's anyone who remembers him.

Carole Redfearn

45.
Oct. 26, 2015

My brother Sam (Samuel Arthur Waters), 12 years older than me, was shot down and killed off Norway flying a Fairey Firefly from HMS Implacable in October 1944. The telegram arrived at our home in Dublin, Ireland, during a Halloween party! It is late in the day but I wonder if anyone knew him or has any details of his life and death?

Alan Rufus Waters, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
California State University
Fresno, California

44.
May 24, 2015

I read with interest Message 39 and the response from Joan Crosley. My father was a pilot on HMS Implacable with Mike Crosley as his CO for 801 Squadron. I have recently received my father's old flying log books and have been going through them as they record his flying activity over Japan in 1945, they include Mike's monthly signature from August 1945 (when he was made CO) up until April 6 1946, when my father was released, prior to his demob on June 6 1946. I have looked up the book 'They gave me a Seafire' and will now buy it!

John McLean

42.
Dec. 21, 2014

I visited your site seeking for information re the above vessel. I am trying to find any information re her as a former colleague of was a gunner aboard and is in his 90s and would appreciate any information.

John Hucknall

41.
Oct. 23, 2014

Having just come across your page relating to the HMS Implacable, it brought back memories of a time growing up from a baby to a young boy with a hero for an uncle. My dad was from Walworth in London SE when he met my mother whilst serving with a south coast battery during the war. She lived at Lymington in Hampshire. They married and when mum became pregnant with me Dad was re-stationed at Royal Signals Droitwich. When I was less than a year old and Mum became pregnant again with my oldest sister and they were allocated a tiny cottage in Malvern.

For the next few years of growing up I became aware of my uncle "Lennie" the youngest of dads four
brothers. He was the only one of my dad's family to visit us during that period and as young boy living in
rural Worcestershire (60 miles from any sea) it was amongst my proudest times and treasured memories when my Uncle "Lennie" visited while on leave from his ship. 

He was easy to spot as he sashayed along the road with his bell bottoms blowing in the wind and his knapsack swung over his shoulder. I was the envy of all the kids in my street as I ran up to him and took his hand. He brought us gifts from around the world and showed us photographs of the Implacable and his shipmates. I don't think he was anything except seaman first class but he was my hero and I was so proud of him. His name was Leonard (Lennie) Brown if anyone can recall. Unfortunately his marriage failed later in life and after being severely attacked in London became very reclusive. He died in the 1970s.

Richard W. Brown
Malvern, Worcestershire, U.K.

40.
July 22, 2014

I have just come across your web site and found it interesting reading about Implacable, as I was on board when she went to the West Indies with the Argyles in 1953. I was the only aircraft electricity on on board I was with her from 1953 until 1955.

Les Everett

39.
Apr. 14, 2014

My father was an aviator in the 801 squadron. He started flying on the HMS Furious in the North Atlantic with operations against the Tirpitz and costal convoys. With the war in Europe winding down HMS Furious was decommissioned and 810 transferred to Implacable. They transited Suez, which was apparently interesting since the vessel was so wide that the flow of water at the stern was reversed, which also reversed the rudder leading to a couple of groundings. 

After transiting Suez the Implacable stopped in Tricomalee, and then some stories about Truk and spotting for 16" shells that hit the ground and tumbled towards the target. Finally operations off Japan. Fellow pilot accidentally shot up a US destroyer when the camera button also triggered the guns. Fellow pilot on Victorious watched a Kanaka smack down in front of him - the wreckage was shoved off and he took off through a shallow divot - thanks to the armored flight deck. Various flights over Japan - Mt. Fuji at dawn rising out of the clouds. On Aug. 5th his engine stopped and he ditched at sea to be finally rescued by a US seaplane operating from USS Topeka, and the war was over before he could return. After which the Implacable put in at Sydney for refitting in the dry dock and on liberty the 'Battle of Sydney'.

Tim Saxe

38.
Feb. 15, 2014

I'm trying to find about my grandad John Barker, RN who I've only just found out served on this ship, love to find out more.

Bryan Stott

37.
Nov. 10, 2013

My Father Stanley May Payne served on the HMS Implacable during WW II. How would I find information regarding my Father? My Dad passed away in 1976 and I seek all the information that I can get please. I am 51 born in 1962. Please let me know if you could help me. My Day was born in Newfoundland.

Best regards,
Philip Payne
Canada

36.
Apr. 27, 2013

My father, (Ted) Clarence Edward Cleverdon, served on HMS Implacable as a mechanic, probably aircraft mechanic, during WWII.  Not sure when he joined the ship, but I do know he served during the ship's deployment to take on the Japanese near the end of the war.  The ship was dry docked in Sydney, Australia I believe in 1945.  He may have been sent to Melbourne by train and billeted with my mother's family.  This is the extended period in which I believe he met my mother. The ship was repaired and refitted to take allied POWs from Japan to Vancouver, Canada after Japan's surrender.

The ship visited Melbourne twice in 1946.  In January with carriers HMS Glory and HMS Indefatigable and destroyers HMS Armada and Tuscan. In March with carrier HMS Venerable. 

Ted Cleverdon arrived in Melbourne aboard the passenger ship Asturias in August 1948.  He reacquainted himself with my mother and they married.  Unfortunately he died in 1963 at age 37 when I was a baby; I do not remember him.  I remember when I was a boy I would browse through a photo collection he had of his time on HMS Implacable.  Naively I thought he must have taken all those exciting images of planes tangled in wires on the deck and wrecks being plucked from the sea.  Maybe he did take some photos, he did own a camera, but I have since seen some of the same images on the internet.  There were many more photos than I have found on the internet.  There must have been a ship's photographer and prints must have been made available to crew.  My mother remarried and unfortunately those precious photos I remember as a boy are lost.  

I have his service medals in the box they were posted to him in.  On the side of the box, I believe, is his service number.  It is ?x then six numerals.  I am not sure what the first character (?) is.  It could be a T, F or J.  It could also be the European way of writing the numeral 7, with the dash across; I can't type it that way.  I am not that good at reading "Old School" handwriting.

Any information, photos, links or personal accounts would be greatly appreciated. He was the only member of his family to migrate to Australia. I have recently applied to the RN for copies of his service records.  They have not arrived as yet.

Thank you,
Kenneth Cleverdon

35.
Aug. 22, 2012

I am looking information regarding H.M.S. Implacable. My husband's father served aboard this ship in the Pacific his name was Victor R. Buckingham and he died in Feb 1968 when my husband was 9 years old. On the website Arthur Leedham (Message #20) was looking information on Victor R. Buckingham D/J.X.649852. Any information or photos greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mr. & Mrs. Buckingham

34.
July 23, 2012

I was wondering if you can help me with any information on Captain Michael Everard who served on the aircraft carrier Implacable. My very good friend has just lost her husband to cancer last December 2011 (Sam Everard), he was also in the navy a Lieutenant, but his father was Captain Michael Everard. He was trying to search for the period he served on the Implacable, the tours of duty he covered during World War 2, the the battles he was involved in... Also any photos of him with him alone or with his crew. Really any information possible of his carrier from when he joined the navy, threw to the end of his carrier when he retired. I appreciate any information or directions to find this information or if your can email me anything on the wonderful man and any photos I know I am asking a lot of you and I am sorry for that. looking forward to your reply.

Take care,
Steven Wilks
Queensland Australia

33.
Dec. 31, 2011

I would be interested to know if anyone new my father William Ronald Barber (known as Ron Barber) who served as a CPO on HMS Implacable from 1940. Unfortunately he died in 1964 when I was only 6, I therefore have little information about his time on this ship although for many years we had a photo album with many pictures taken by him. I can clearly remember one of the photos was of Nagasaki, after "the bomb".

Many thanks,
Liam Barber

32.
Oct. 27, 2011

I just came across your website and on looking at the 'photo gallery' saw the last photo on the page "Implacable' leaving Devonport, October 1953". I'd just joined the Navy in September of that year, 17 years old and having done 2 weeks basic training in Victory barracks had joined the Implacable at Portland with the 2nd Training Squadron as an ordinary signalman. Fortunately we were soon on our way to the West Indies with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, taking them to British Guyana, then visiting Barbados and Jamaica. Not a bad trip for a new recruit. Many thanks for the website. 

Dave Watkins,
now 76 and living up a mountain in Spain