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The US Invasion of
Okinawa - British Pacific Fleet and Operation Iceberg
(Australian, British and New Zealand
Navies in the Pacific - Campaign Summary)
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April
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1st
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Damaged
in KAMIKAZE attack during operations off Sakashima Gunto group. 14 men were killed and 16 wounded. Extensive
damage to
Island structure and some fires were started. Flight deck was cleared
and fires extinguished with an hour.
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9th
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Flying
operations transferred to targets in
Formosa (Operation ICEBERG
OOLONG).
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11th
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With
HMS INDEFATIGABLE carried attacks on Schinchiku and
Matsugama.
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16th
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Transferred
with TF57 to renew attacks on airfields in Ishigaki
and Miyako in Sakishimas.
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20th
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Returned
to
Leyte.
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May
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1st
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Sailed
from
Leyte to resume attacks on
Sakishima Gunto group.
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4th
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After
replenishing with ships of TG57 launched first of a series of air attacks
with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS
FORMIDABLE on airfields at Hiara,
Nobara, Miyako and Ishigaki.
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Hit
by KAMIKAZE aircraft but remained operational.
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9th
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Damaged
in another KAMIKAZE attack but continued flying operations with gaps for
replenishment until 23rd May.
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20th
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In
collision with HM Destroyer
QUILLIAM
which was seriously damaged.
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25th
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Sailed
for Manus on completion of operation requirement for TF57.
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Possibly April/May 1945 -
bombs on deck
Results of airfield and runway attacks, possibly on Ishigaki Island,
Sakishima Gunto, southernmost of the three island groups making up the
Okinawa archipelago |
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Avenger returns from Sakishima Gunto with u/c (undercarriage) shot up,
approaching for emergency landing - "steady" |
..... "catches" safe on deck - "one more night of work" |
Hellcat back from combat but only just |
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Pilot badly injured, undercarriage damaged |
Twin 4.5's in action during Kamikaze attack on Indomitable.
Japanese suicide aircraft dived, hit deck and "bounced" off
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"HMS Indefatigable under attack" - and following
(Identity is uncertain and the following photographs are all believed
to be of HMS Formidable) |
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Corsair fighter |
Corsair |
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possibly Corsair |
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Another Corsair |
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Photograph taken on Okinawa by one of the crew of an Avenger from
Indomitable while the fighting for Okinawa was still in progress -
possibly June 1945
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June
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Relieved
by HM Aircraft Carrier
IMPLACABLE and refitted in
Sydney.
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July
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On completion remained at
Sydney.
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August
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15th
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Transferred
to RN control after
Japan surrendered.
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Took
passage to
Subic Bay,
Philippines with HM Aircraft Carrier
VENERABLE, HM Cruisers
EURYALUS and
SWIFTSURE screened by three Fleet
Destroyers
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27th
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Sailed
with HMS
VENERABLE, HMS
SWIFTSURE, HMS
BLACK PRINCE,
HMS
EURYALUS screened by HM Destroyers
KEMPENFELT,
URSA,
QUADRANT and
WHIRLWIND as Task Group 111.2 to re-occupy
Hong Kong.
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29th
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Met
HM Battleship ANSON and HM Aircraft Carrier
VENGEANCE prior to entry into the
Colony of Hong Kong after minesweeping completed.
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30th
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Carried
out air attacks with HMS
VENERABLE on Japanese explosive boats in
Lamma
Bay. Entered
Hong Kong on completion.
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HMS
INDOMITABLE was deployed with the BPF in the
Far East until
12th November 1945 and returned to the
United Kingdom on 12th December. The ship
was reduced to Reserve in 1946.
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US Skymasters on Okinawa - possibly June 1945 |
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Michael Stupid, Indomitable - elated! |
around June/July 1945 - Newspaper clipping |
dejected |
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Card, front |
"signed" rear of card - "Yours with love, Navy "Indomitable", Michael
Stupid
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Sydney,
Hong Kong and Home |
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Entering Captain Cook Dock, Woolloomaloo |
Sydney Harbour, Garden Island Naval Base including Captain Cook Dry Dock
in foreground, Indomitable or one of her sisters in centre
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Sydney Harbour from Kirribilli with Garden Island on the right |
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10.00 hours, Monday 22 October 1945 - homeward-bound with Sydney Bridge
astern |
HMS Anson in Hong Kong |
Possibly
Indefatigable in Hong Kong |
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Sunset in Hong Kong |
Aerial view of Hong Kong city and harbour, China in background |
Close-up of Pagoda |
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The Peak, Hong Kong |
Looking inland from shoreline, the "Tiger Palace" pagoda |
Hong Kong from harbour |
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Possibly HMS Indomitable at Cape Town, homeward-bound |
Possibly HMS Indomitable at Cape Town, homeward-bound |
Carrying gifts |
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Maurice Whiteing, June 2007 |
HMS
Indomitable pennant |
A fascinating paper knife fashioned from
bits and pieces of aircraft and Kamikaze's in the carrier's workshops |
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his wife
Kit Whiteing, also June 2007,
who served in the Women's Land Army in the war |
Her lapel badge |
Her recently-received Certificate of
Appreciation from the Government |
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