[b]HMS INDOMITABLE Photographed 12 August 1942 as part of the covering force for Malta Convoy PEDESTAL[/b]
[u]IWM CAPTION to this picture A15964[/u]
12 August: The bombing of HMS INDOMITABLE: HMS INDOMITABLE on fire after being bombed. A Dido class cruiser, HMS CHARYBDIS, is screening the carrier.
[u]Background to picture[/u]
August 1942: HMS INDOMITABLE joined HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS, FURIOUS, EAGLE and ARGUS in Atlantic for exercises in multi-carrier operations and fighter direction. (Exercise BERSERK - See RADAR AT SEA).
10 August 1942: Part of Force Z covering passage of military convoy (WS21S :PEDESTAL) to Malta.
12 August 1942: Under heavy air attack and hit by three AP bombs. Aircraft already airborne were diverted to land on HMS VICTORIOUS. Fires brought under control with difficulty and ship returned to Gibraltar. (For details of this renowned convoy see PEDESTAL by Peter C. Smith, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and Naval Staff History).
September 1942: Passage to USA for repair and refit. The aircraft carrier had been hit by armour piercing bombs fore and aft which penetrated the flight deck. A near miss had blown a 30 ft hole in the hull under water. The repairs in the USA took the remainder of 1942
[u]Details attached to back of Press Photo (Issued November 1944)[/u]
The aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable sailing through a hail of bombs (as seen from HMS Victorious) during the great sea-air battle which covered the passage of a vital Malta convoy in August 1942.
The Indomitable was damaged by near misses. When she approached Gibraltar after the battle was over and the convoy safely through, the Royal Marines played the ship into harbour, using as their bandstand the top of the buckled forward lift.
[u]Picture shows:[/u] The Indomitable almost hidden by near misses during the bombing attack
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