HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) - Aircraft

Aircraft

Bonaventure carried five squadrons. Initially, she had up to 34 planes and helicopters embarked at any time. The number of aircraft gradually reduced until the refit in 1967, when the air group peaked at 21 aircraft. Initially, two types of fixed-wing aircraft were operated from Bonaventure. The McDonnell F2H-3 Banshee were flown by VF 870 and VF 871 Squadron, while Grumman CS2F Tracker anti-submarine warfare (ASW) were operated by VS 880 and VS 881 Squadron. The Bonaventure also carried HO4S helicopter and were operated by HS 50 Squadron.

Even with the refit, landing a Banshee on the Bonaventure's relatively short flight deck was pushing the envelope; some American Pilots refused to land on the short flight deck. The wide-winged CS2F Trackers were also a tight fit. Despite this, and because of the hard work and dedication of her crew, the Bonaventure was able by 1958 to conduct around-the-clock sustained operations, keeping four Trackers and two HO4Ss in the air at all times, saturating an area of 200 square nautical miles (690 km2) with anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The F2H-3 were retired in 1962. In 1964 new CHSS-2 Sea King helicopters were added to Bonaventure's complement.