A Martlet fighter launches off the HMS Illustrious, this aircraft still has the British Roundel marking on the wings, the British Pacific fleet had to paint out the British Markings and replace them with American markings otherwise the American Gunners would mistake  the British aircraft for Japanese and try to shoot them down.

Launching off HMS Illustrious

Avenger fighter-bombers on their way to raid the Palembang oil fields ... many of these pilots were Canadian.  These air-craft have just flown off from HMS Illustrious.

Avengers from Illustrious bomb Palembang

In this photo the crew of HMS Illustrious say good bye to the USS Saratoga.  The two ships had been part of the same task force in the Pacific fighting the Japanese.  The Saratoga is now heading home and the Illustrious will be heading home a few weeks later.  The Japanese have finally been beaten and now all of those young men that have survived the conflict will get on with their lives.  My father would eventually return to Canada and it would only be at the end of his life that he would once again have contact with his old Royal Marine buddies.