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NavSource Online: Escort Carrier Photo Archive

VERMILLION (CVE-52)  /
HMS SMITER  (D55/R321)


Images from the album of Terry Oxley

Terry served on HMS Smiter from 1944 to 1946.
These are all official photos.


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756K

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1944: Anchored Firth of Clyde - Off Helensburgh (?)

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1944: Transporting planes across Atlantic

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1944-1945: Deck landing trials using Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers - Off Scotland

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1944-1945: Deck landing trials using Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers - Off Scotland

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1944-1945: Chance Vought F4U Corsair fighter taking off

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1944-1945: Another Corsair takes off

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1944-1945: Fairey Firefly fighter landing

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1944-1945: Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bomber landing
 
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1945: Supermarine Spitfires of No. 132 Squadron were ferried aboard HMS Smiter - Hong Kong - Japan surrender
 

Special thanks to Sam Howard, who identified his grandfather, Don Howard, on some of these photos.

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1944: Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, Canada - Ship's Company - Centre: Governor of Canada, Earl of Athlone - Ship's Captain, Captain Richardson

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1944: Esquimalt - Guard of Honour for visit of Governor of Canada

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1944: Esquimalt - visit of Governor of Canada

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1944: Esquimalt - visit of Governor of Canada. Left, Ship's Captain. Right, Ship's Doctor

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1945: Surrender of Hong Kong. Centre of table, Admiral Harcourt. Foreground, Admiral Fraser. Captain Richardson attended

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1945: After disembarkation of Spitfires HMS Smiter transported ex-internees. This is a dance for their benefit

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1945-1946: Ship's Company - Far East

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1945-1946: Church parade on flight-deck during transport of army personnel from Java. Pianist is Don Howard (PO/RM637443).

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1945-1946: Entertainment on flight deck. Pianist is Don Howard (PO/RM637443).

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1945-1946: Crossing the line. Captain Richardson attending

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1945-1946: Crossing the line
 

Terry is afraid his memory of all names below is not too good...
Special thanks to Sam Howard, who identified his grandfather, Don Howard, on some of these photos.

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Electrical Team - Atlantic, 1944
Standing (l to r): Gilbert Husk, Jack Wilson, Fred Foster
Sitting (l to r): Bill Barford, Buck Hibben, Terry Oxley

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Ootacumand, India, 1945
Standing (l to r): Johnny, Geoff
Sitting (l to r): Barny, Chippie, Terry

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Electrical Team - South China Sea, 1945
Standing (l to r): Lieut Preston, Bill Barford, Gilbert Husk, Fred Foster, Don Howard, Sub-Lieut Howatt
Sitting (l to r): Terry Oxley, Harry White, ?, Eddy Neal

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South China Sea, 1945
(l to r): Fred Perry, Terry Oxley, Frank Jackson

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Petty Officer's Sports Team, Far East, 1946. Terry is 3rd from left, middle row. Don Howard is sitting on the far right.
 

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This page was created and is maintained by Fabio Peña
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Last update: 15 January 2006