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| Royal Navy Colossus-class Aircraft Carrier 13,190 Long Tons 695' x 630' x 80' 6 x 4 QF 2 pounder guns 32 × 20 mm cannon 48 Aircraft   Royal Navy Sept 6, 1945 |
Ship History Built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Ireland. Laid down August 27, 1942 as a Colossus-class aircraft carrier. Launched November 27, 1943 as HMS Glory (R62) by Lady Cynthia Brookes, wife of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Commissioned April 2, 1945 in the Royal Navy under the command of Anthony Wass Buzzard. Wartime History Departed for the Pacific with an Air Wing including 837 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Fairey Barracuda II and 1831 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Corsair IV (FG Corsairs). At Sydney Harbor, Glory was assigned to the 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet. On September 6, 1945 with two Australian sloops astern entered Blanche Bay embarked the Japanese surrender delegation from Rabaul as the carrier's Corsair fighter aircraft circled overhead. The Japanese surrender delegation was led by Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) General Hitoshi Imamura, Commander 8th Army Area with Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, Commander South East Area Fleet plus their interpreters. Before signing, Imamura removed his sword and placed it on the table then signed three copies of the instrument of surrender. Afterwards, he requested that Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka also sign on behalf of the Navy. The Allied representatives were led by Lt. General Sturdee, Commanding Officer of the First Australian Army and New Zealand represented by Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Air Commodore G. N. Robert, Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the Air Task Force and Wing Commander P. A. Matheson. This ceremony officially surrendered all remaining Japanese forces in New Britain, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Postwar Afterwards, Glory participated in the occupation of Hong Kong and was then used to repatriate Commonwealth personnel from across the Pacific to Australia and Canada. During October 1945 equipped with Fairey Firefly F.1 fighter aircraft. On December 2, 1945 at Tarakan members of RAAF No. 30 Squadron including one officer and four airmen embarked aboard Glory and ten days later reached Sydney Harbor. During February 1946 at Melbourne. In 1947, returned to the United Kingdom and was placed in reserve. In November 1949 the ship was taken out of reserve and prepared for service. Korean War In December 1950 returned to service for the Korean War. Between 1951–1953, Glory deployed to Korea three times during the Korean War operating Fairey Firefly FR.IV of 804 Squadron and Sea Fury fighters to provide "heavy attack" elements to support United Nations (UN) forces. The first deployment was between April to September 1951. The second deployment between January 1952 to May 1952. The third deployment was between November 1952 to May 1953. During 1954, converted to a ferry vessel, troop carrier and helicopter ship. In 1956 placed into reserve status at Rosyth. Finally in 1961 sold to to Thos W. Ward. On August 23, 1961 began being broken up for scrap at Inverkeithing, Scotland. While in reserve, four guns were removed and placed aboard HMS Caledonia for use as a saluting battery. The four guns were Ordnance, quick firing, Hotchkiss, 3 pdr, Mark 1 manufactured 1888, 1898, 1904 and 1915. These four guns were used to salute ships or for special occasions until 1985. References RAAF, 30 Squadron ORB December 2-12, 1945 Evening Post "Japs Give In" September 7, 1945 YouTube British Pathé HMS Glory In Action Aka HMS Glory And Korean Battle Front (1953) Too Young To Die: The Story of a New Zealand fighter pilot in the Pacific War (1987) pages 179-180 Contribute
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