The Early Cold War
Naval Aviation

Between 1946 and 1970, Canada's navy operated three aircraft carriers to help fulfil its anti-submarine mission and to help protect ships against enemy aircraft. These carriers required specialized equipment, procedures, and training for their crews.

Supermarine Seafire

Entering Canadian service in 1946, the British Supermarine Seafire was the Royal Canadian Navy's first fighter aircraft.

A naval version of the famous land-based Supermarine Spitfire fighter, the Seafire had been developed for operations from aircraft carriers. As with most carrier-based aircraft, the Seafire's wings folded, as seen here, to reduce the space it occupied on board aircraft carriers. Not always an easy aircraft to fly, it was soon replaced in front-line service by the Hawker Sea Fury. The last Seafires had left Canadian naval service by the early 1950s.

Aircraft, Supermarine Seafire
Naval Museum of Alberta