In terms of single-use aircraft, the CAM ships built as a stopgap until enough escort carriers could be built deserve a mention. They carried a fighter on a rocket-propelled catapult, which would launch to defend the convoy against German long-range patrol aircraft (the Fw 200 Condor was a particular problem). The pilot and ground crew were RAF (*not* FAA) personnel, but also signed ship's articles and were subject to civilian Merchant navy discipline.

There were 40 ships and 50 Sea Hurricane Mk Ia aircraft (with catapult fittings but no arrester gear) converted or built. There were 9 combat launches, 8 ditchings, and one pilot killed on ditching. The one combat launch that did not result in a ditching was close enough to land that the pilot could fly to an airfield in Russia- interestingly, this was the second launch from SS *Empire Morn* which was the only ship to launch its fighter twice. The first launch from the *Empire Morn* was the one where the pilot was killed- I wonder if this made the pilot in the second launch more likely to head for land.