HAIDA was the third Canadian ship commissioned as a Tribal Class destroyer after HMCS IROQUOIS and ATHABASKAN. Commander Harry DeWolf (center, third row back) was HAIDA'S first commanding officer. The wartime censor has blocked out HAIDA'S superstructure above the forward gun.

Although she joined half way through the war, HAIDA went on to become Canada's most famous wartime ship having sunk 11 enemy vessels including four destoyers and a U-boat. As part of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla, she was a member of the fleet that would eventually support the Normandy invasion. On April 29 1944, while patrolling off the coast of France with her sister ship ATHABASKAN, she surprised two German destroyers T-24 and T-27 off the Isle of Ushant. A fiery battle ensued during which ATHABASKAN was sunk. Haida's seaboats were ordered lowered but were to be left unmanned. Crew members Able Seaman Jack Hannam, Stoker William Cummings and Leading Seamen William McClure defied these orders and jumped in the motor cutter and managed to pickup six members of ATHABASKAN's crew. After a long night on the water, with the engine cutting in and out and German aircraft flying overhead, they arrived around midnight the next day in Penzance after being picked up by a British Air/Sea rescue launch. In 1992, HAIDA'S motor cutter was restored and is now displayed next to the ship.

Sept 26/01