Canada's Forgotten Aircraft Carriers 

My uncle was officer on the Bonaventure. I got to visit her when I was a kid.

Thanks for sharing this!

Even if it’s a bit corny I would like to say thank you for your service

My stepfather, A. Keeler, was an avionics systems tech for the Banshee's on the Bonnie (c. late '50s until she was retired)-he joined the RCN around 1949-50.

My father Leigh Getson (1942-1981) was serving on the HMCS Bonaventure in the early 60s, and was on her during its 1962 trip to Great Britain, the return to Halifax, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was in my mother's womb at the time, being born months later in mid February '63. I didn't learn anything about it until well after his death.

The people of Canada are the problem. Anything military related doesn't get votes. Until then the government both liberal and conservative will always put military spending and procurement on the back burner.

It started with diefenbaker actually, after the embarrassment to America called the Arrow the first part of the Norad agreement with the U.S.was diefenbaker signing an agreement that Canada would never embark on any major defense programs without the approval of the American government which was the norad marriage in a nutshell

But why do we need an extensive armed forces when all we ever use them for anyways is peacekeeping and when we're neighbors with the most powerful nation on earth? Personally I'd rather have a small force of extremely well trained personnel than a big one that isn't as well trained because we just wouldn't have any use for that. Sorry if I come off as aggressive here but I'm actually genuinely confused as to why we need a bigger military.

​@@topphatt1312 To help amerikan cause of global destruction by becoming part of NATO😅

@@topphatt1312 It's not aggressive if it's the truth. We're a small country that doesn't pull our weight in NATO and can't possibly defend the north never mind our own coastlines. My niece's husband is a Leopard tank instructor and gets bent out of shape when I ask why we need main battle tanks and not Bradleys or Javelins. I think he's been watching too much Red Dawn. Wolverines!

That was true, for a bunch of boys most of which never saw the ocean before they did pretty good. The first Canadian built corvettes were sent to the UK without it's main guns, in their place they had wooden posts to hopefully fool the Uboats. Along the way the green timber developed a noticeable bow and soon became the joke of many a sailor. Once they arrived everyone breathed a sigh of relief and the admiralty replaced the fire wood with actual guns.

@@user-rv1ji3hp4u because few people know it was Canada that was responsible for all west bound convoys in the north Atlantic until they were handed off to the Royal Navy at the mid Atlantic point. The bulk of ships traveling to Europe from the Americas were under Canadian protection with the exception of those who could sail fast enough to travel alone or use the fast mid Atlantic convoy run which fell under US control. Those werr the very large ocean linners transformed to troop transpoorts and such who could maintain speeds high enough that the Uboats could not catch them. Well over 3/4 of shipping had to travel in the slow convoy which was under RCN control. For that reason Canada eventualy had the thrid largest navy in the world. We also had the fourth largest air force as well but that was another story for another day. But there is no reason to maintIn those numbers during peace time. Better to spend our money on Canadians.

@@user-rv1ji3hp4u what a lot of people also underestimate is Canadian production and reverse lend lease. Canada produced ships for the US, aircraft, trucks, tanks, rolling stock for rail roads and an abundance of ammunition of every size and type. When the war was over the US ended up owing Canada a neat and tidy sum, not near as much as the British but still substancial. We produced almost half a million military trucks built on the same design as the dodge 4x4 military truck which was mass produced. The USSR recieved hundreds of thousands of these trucks and Stalin himself said they were the most useful thing they recieved from the west. When you factor in Canada was just 10% of the population of the US it out produced it in troops and munitions during WW2 per person. By the late 50s though that mentality was gone and the seeds of destruction were being sowed.

My Dad was onboard the Bonnie at the same time and I too as a teen had the pleasure of attending BBQ onboard… 🇨🇦

@@roberts1922 Make that three.....a great thrill for any kid.

HMCS Bonaventure was the same class as HMA Ships Melbourne and Sydney. Sydney was converted to a troop ship in the early 1960's and was primarily used to ferry troops to Vietnam. The Melbourne remianed in service until mid 1982.

My uncle also served on the Bonaventure

I also had the opportunity to board the bonnie as well. She was jettied at shearwater. Dad was in the utility squadron. She was preparing for deployment.

Glad you enjoyed it!

There is a lot of history you would be impressed by, hole this wet your apatite.

i hope we will reacquire this capability in the near future@@jimdavison4077

@@Historically Your video was crap and incredibly ill-informed. Start with all of this "England" crap. The nation is called "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". OR! Just: "The United Kingdom". Especially since Scapa Flow is in the north of Scotland, you lD 10 T, and it is "Londonderry" in Northern Ireland. I guess you shall tell us all about the country of Holland, or New York. You M0 - ron, you.

We had 3 carriers, and we crashed one into a rock. The most Canadian thing I have seen in a while.

@@josephvisnovsky1462 yup 👍

No surprise. Ignorence is always holding canada back

@@ignorthepain "ignorence" only holds back those who cannot spell it.

@@josephvisnovsky1462 actually if it weren't for the trudeau liberals under the first TurdDoh we'd still have a decent navy and airforce but they chose to focus on their own priorities like enriching Pierre TurdDoh's bank accounts and giving QueerBek more control over Canada.

Budget cuts? My parents were WWII refugees so I honestly have zero problems with Syrian and Afghan refugees but having them stay in Toronto hotels is the ultimate in stupidity. I'm pretty sure most of them would rather be working on a farm in Saskatchewan than being bored to death in a hotel room. Why are we buying F35's and used submarines when coastal defense, icebreakers and anti-terror should be our focus. We sold LAV6's to Saudi Arabia as long as they "promised" not to use them against their own people. Meanwhile Ukraine gets some old howitzers, used Gustaf anti-tank weapons and pillows and blankets. More Roméo Dallaire, less stupidity please.

@@dicksonfranssen you forgot the leopard 2 that we sent we could have sent them all the leopard 1s.

@@framergod69 In 5 years we'll need them as paper weights. Just so disappointing. Maybe we have some old Lee Enfield rifles we could put scopes on and send that.

It's all Diefenbaker's fault.

No we can't, our youth are apathetic about serving in the Military, we have a recruitment problem trying to man the ships we have, let alone trying to man an Aircraft carrier.

Its funny as a large portion of both recruitment, and retention issues are due to low budget. hell we could make war ships if procurement wasn't so slow and we were willing to spend money lol

@@atomant451 as a youth, im not apathetic. Im fucking terrified of canada's future if we rely too heavily on 'murica. Thank god the government atleast has sense to increase the defense budget, albeit slowly. As for thinking the whole generation is spoiled, i think your a bit too much on the internet. There are plenty of us that think with our brains, and not emotion. And many of us who have a high sense of national pride.

Politics and procurement are bad partners. I remember the Augusta scandal under Mulroney when it was time to replace our Sea Kings. We may as well get them built in Korea, we will get them on time and within costs.

@@atomant451 youth isn't apathetic, the government hasn't treated vets well since the end of WW2 and unlike a lot of Americans we have options that keep us out of the military, respect the people, arm the people, and feed the people and they will fight as long as it's a just cause but not just 'cause

People from Toranto give not a damn about what CFB Halifax looks like, or whether the Navy or CF has boats made of newspaper. They see it as a far away municipal Halifax problem. It is enough to make you physically ill how vapid and brainwashed they are with their damn ugly isolationist views.

hey dont be pessimistic, its mainly budget problems. we procure some of the most skilled soldiers, and it still holds true to this day. For a country our size though, we need to up that spending. Airforce should atleast have numbers rivaling russia. We should have plenty of anti-ship missiles and anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the inevitable clash over the arctic. And we should atleast have the capability to contribute a bit more power with our allies

@@GamerGod-fp1tj there would be nothing left of our guys very quickly if Canada had to commit all our combat units to physically defend Canada in a high intensity war. All this talk of having Americans manning the trenches - pure⁴ fantasy. Axworthy plagarized most of his ideas about 'soft power.' Axworthy thinks you can play the soft power game and not require the means to back it up. He is smoking crack. This is the characteristic way Canadian academic - elitist politicians think in terms of defence.

What is a carrier going to do against missile targeting population centers? Carriers are not a defensive unit they are for offence. What we need is air defense

@@426shelby426 in a war for the arctic , an aircraft carrier will be more useful than an air defense system 2000 kilometres away from the combat

Thank you!

Yes and in true Canadian fashion they spent millions in 1970 refurbishing the Bonnie only to scrap it 2 years later.....😢

​​@BradFalck-mn3pc hope our few subs don't get that treatment

@@scottbuckley6578 The used subs the Navy begged the government NOT to buy? The British must be laughing all the way to the bank. "For sale, slightly used 1970 MG. The top leaks, lots of rust, burns oil if the engine even starts, needs a new interior." One almost sank off the Irish coast and killed a sailor.

​@BradFalck-mn3pc I hear from old vets she was a rust bucket on the inside despite the refit. Just better to send her to scrappers

Woah! Thanks for the correction, and that’s very cool!

Thank you for your service!

I know we have 4 submarines & one works

Because politicians are experts at making stupid decisions. Aka Avro Arrow

@@brucemaguire3238 Yes

Isn’t it…

​@@user-rv1ji3hp4ubringing your hurt feelings over an objective truth is sad for someone trying to defend the armed forces. You don't sound like you've done anything with the armed forces with a take like that, if you have, again sad

So the Chinese copyed canadian aircraft carrier catapults? COPY CATS

WOW. Sometimes, espionage can take a very quiet backseat. The Chinese are extremely cunning in their endeavors. I remember when they were caught stealing our nuclear secrets from Los Alamos during the Reagan Administration. Damnit he was pissed off.

I sailed on the Bonny at that time for the refit. My dad was the electrical Officer and he was allowed to bring two children on board for the two day trip. We stayed at Crystal Beach for a month before going home to Nova Scotia. Totally enjoyed the voyage.

The RCN was never anything but a 2nd world navy and it's a shadow of that now. There Army is a entirely different animal and have always been able to punch way above their numbers and apparent abilities.

@@user-zx7dp3qp6u - That is a stunning display of ignorance. "The RCN ended the war with the third-largest naval fleet in the world, and an operational reach extending into the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. The List of Royal Canadian Navy ships of the Second World War lists over 1,140 surface warships, submarines, and auxiliary vessels in service during the war." The RCN punched above Canada's weight in all areas, including the RCN that bore the load of 35% of convoy traffic to England and was involved in 75% of the convoys to Murmansk beginning in 1943. They were there at the very beginning with few ships in 1939, from the beginning of the Battle of the Atlantic until its end with German capitulation in 1945 (the longest campaign during WWII) at which time the RCN had become the third largest Navy on Earth. This force played a decisive part in defeating the German submarines (U-boats) from deep in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Arctic Circle and the Mediterranean Sea. They fought against the Japanese in the Pacific and took part in other kinds of military operations in the waters off Europe, like patrolling and mine sweeping in the English Channel and supporting Allied landings in Normandy, Sicily, mainland Italy, and southern France. The total population of Canada was 11 million and 1.1 million, or 10 percent of the total population donned a uniform at some point in the war. Roughly 750,000 served in the Canadian Army, 250,000 in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and 100,000 in the Royal Canadian Navy. The RCN specialized in ASW operations but also had cruisers serving in the British Pacific Fleet and escort (as in convoys) carriers in the Atlantic. This is not anything but a first world war effort. If we use your calculus, nothing but the USA had a first-world Navy at the end of WWII. Consequently, it can be deduced that you are an uneducated idiot with a twisted view of historical facts. Bro' you done f*cked up.

The ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY doesn't need the Aircraft carrier as it was . Today a more versatile platform is more advantageous . The RCN does just fine as a Patrol and Anti Submarine service . The Russians are deathly afraid of Canadas capabilities in the Stormy Northern Sea , I know , I've worked with them before and those boys and girls are seriously deadly .

well, we sure can't afford anything military these days under Liberal leadership. Besides, we gave our all to the Ukraine including food rations and scrap metal in the form of armour. In reality/ we can never defend this country of ours. Too big. ( maybe we will sell some of it off ?) or be taken over. I seldom even mention that I served in the Canadian Armed Forces during the 'destruction years' 68-72. I just got out and made my way into airline service till retirement. Total waste of good productive years.

@@luckyguy600 MCGAE Make Canada Great Again Eh ?

Shameful fate for such a great ship.

My Grand father was on it too.

Served my RCN ERA apprenticeship there in '62' onward. Many fine memories of Nelles Block, Equimalt and Victoria

Very cool! Glad you enjoyed it, that’s quite the connection!

Glad you enjoyed it!

@@user-rv1ji3hp4u I was going to but I forgot 😅 I’m working on other things.

We had 3 after ww2 until about the 70's

That's kinda sad as Canadians know more about US politicians they can't vote for first and foremost.

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you liked it!

Thanks for the kind words!

Me too❤🇨🇦

Glad you liked it!

Glad you enjoyed it!!

Thanks for the kind words, and those are some awesome experiences, sounds like you have some good memories with the Bonnie

Thank you David!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you enjoyed it! And that’s super neat, I’m sure he had a lot of cool stories from his service

Very cool! And thank you!

Thanks!

Thanks for the correction!

His ???

@@qbi4614 At the time Bonaventure was in service the prefix would have been “Her”.

Glad you liked it!

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you for the kind words!

Not at all surprising when one remembers it was only secondarily provided to Canada. Yu must also do some reading about the Flower class Corvettes of which the RCN escorted all those convoys into the N. Atlantic and beyond during WWII. They were not a "dry" ship. Those guys got soaked while on watch, stayed soaked while off watch in cold messes and went back on watch still soaked for endless days of the same at sea.

That’s pretty cool!

My grandfather was on it as well, William Carson Leahy

As did my father.

Glad you enjoyed!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you!

Glad you enjoyed it! To answer your last question, Canada had attempted to purchase French Mistral-class heli carriers in 2015 (as mentioned in the video) but it fell through due to cost.

They even managed to launch a couple aircraft from the listing deck to help keep the UBoat at bay.

You're father likely isn't your biological father. Do you have the mailman's eyes?

@@seanwebb605 You're implying my mother was a whore. You're despicable. Go away.

Thank you! Appreciate it!

Thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Navy.

Drones are the new 'bad boy' on the street. Tanks are done for. Good thing too. ( we do not have many) and we gave away 4 to the Ukraine.

Thank you!

Thanks!

For what ...an over priced out dated made in the usa slab of scrap ...we can build our own ..designed an built in canada by canadians ...but our government wont allow it ..we had the Avro Arrow an look at what we did to it

@@ColdBloodedAddictions Yes! Amen, brother.....but.....it will never happen. We are building new frigates, Icebreakers, Offshore vessels, polar vessels, and look how long it took to get those contracts awarded. Actually getting the Americans to build a new one FOR us, and get technology offsets, would be cheaper....and the Yanks wouldn't PERMIT any cancellation 60% through construction when the government in Canada invariably changes to Liberal or NDP. Same with some new subs (nuclear, of course) to offset the Chinese and Russian subs in our Arctic.

@@ColdBloodedAddictionstypical garbage comment….

waste of money in a 21st century war, only good for harassing smaller nations during peace time.

@@ColdBloodedAddictions typical Canadian penis envy, I suppose you want to bring back the Ross rifle too?

I’d say it depends who you are, but for the vast majority of people they are forgotten… I didn’t make this video primarily for historians, I made it to teach people who might not be too well versed in military history

@@Historically yeah I know I'm just being a doucher.. the average person has no idea of our former military prestige. The only reason that most Canadians know of our deeds and strength during the first and second world wars is because of our school system and Remembrance Day. They don't go into too much detail on the Cold War period. Which is mostly when these carriers were active for Canada. Aside from a small little section of grade ten history.. but yeah I really enjoyed this video. What do you think about the other part of the comment do you think trying to regain some of our past ability to manufacture military goods at home, is it a good idea?

@@canadianbacon9819 in an ideal world yeah it would be awesome, but undertaking the restarting of Canadian industry to that level would take a lot of time and money.. time and money that the current government is not willing to spend.

@@Historically I agree 100%, it would be a massive operation. The liberals never have being a government for spending on National defense, they have always made cuts and allowed our military and defense industry to stagnant. The only time I've ever seen them put decent effort into it is literally during World Wars when they have no other choice but to spend the money. The world is changing now though perhaps even they will be forced to increase spending with the current geopolitical situation. I wouldn't hold my breath though here's to hope that we can finally right the wrong and get that tool out of office and the conservatives back in for a long time.