Fulmar
The first Fulmar (AMC-46) was launched 25 February 1941 by Greenport Basin and Construction Co., Greenport, L.I., N.Y.; sponsored by Mrs. A. V. Walters; and commissioned 25 June 1941, Lieutenant (junior grade) A. Russell, USNR, in command.
Fulmar carried out minesweeping operations out of Newport, R.I., and from September 1941, out of Portland, Maine, until arriving at Miami, Fla., 21 September 1944. There she acted as target for motor torpedo boats undergoing training for the next year. Arriving at Charleston, S.C., 1 October 1945, Fulmar was decommissioned 4 January 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 16 September 1946.
Despite the general period of inactivity ashore at this time which gave rise to the expression “Phoney War”, HMS Daedalus housed the Office of the Admiral (Air) and was the main depot for Naval Air Ratings and training continued for the Walrus and ship’s flight pilots at Lee. It also became home for 781 Communications Squadron (which was to be continuously stationed at Lee for the next 4 decades) and it provided reserve aircraft storage for a time. 781 squadron was equipped with various types of aircraft including the FULMAR, Hornet Moth, Swordfish, and Walrus in the first instance. Later types to be introduced included the Beaufighter, Dominie, Hudson, Oxford, Proctor, Tiger Moth and Vega Gull.