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List of Fleet Air Arm groups

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This is a list of Fleet Air Arm groups of the Royal Navy, that were either formed or planned. There were two types of groups: there were Carrier Air Groups that administered squadrons which operated on aircraft carriers, and there were Training Air Groups which administered squadrons that operated from airbases.

Carrier air groups

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HMS Implacable of the British Pacific Fleet. The carrier's aircraft (twenty two Supermarine Seafires) line the deck whilst the ships company are stretching along it. Forward is the Ship's Scottish pipe band, the only one of its kind in the Royal Navy.

The squadrons and aircraft wings of the Fleet Air Arm, stationed on Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were organized into Air Groups in accordance with United States Navy policy following the conclusion of World War II in Europe. This reorganisation aimed to facilitate operations in the Pacific Theater against Japan in 1945. The structure included complete spare groups for Fleet carriers and half spare groups for Light Fleet carriers.[1]

The carrier air groups were organised according to the classification of aircraft carriers and a standardised strength model that considered the squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm and the types of aircraft. By 30 June 1945, nine out of the planned twenty-two groups had been established based on the squadrons that were available. Additionally, one group was created as a reserve in August 1945, while several others were either formed after World War II or reactivated at a subsequent time.[2]

Carrier Air Groups one to six were designated for the three carriers of the Illustrious-class, with each group comprising two squadrons of Vought Corsair and one squadron of Grumman Avenger, with each squadron containing fifteen aircraft. The two ships belonging to the Implacable-class were assigned Carrier Air Groups seven to ten, with each ship featuring two squadrons of twenty-four Supermarine Seafire, one squadron of fifteen Grumman Avenger, and one squadron of fifteen Fairey Firefly. HMS Indomitable, the sole representative of her class, was allocated Carrier Air Groups eleven and twelve, each consisting of two squadrons of twenty-four Grumman Hellcat, one squadron of fifteen Grumman Avenger, and one squadron of twelve Fairey Firefly.[1]

The first four carriers of the Colossus-class were planned to have Carrier Air Groups numbered thirteen to eighteen, with each group including a Vought Corsair squadron of twenty-one aircraft and a squadron of twelve Fairey Barracuda. The subsequent ships in the Colossus-class were assigned Carrier Air Groups nineteen to twenty-two, with number nineteen to be crewed by the Royal Canadian Navy; each of these groups would comprise one squadron of twenty-one Supermarine Seafire and one squadron of twelve Fairey Barracuda.[1]

Allocation of Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy.
The proposed alignment of Fleet Air Arm squadrons aboard aircraft carriers for the British Pacific Fleet
Carrier Air Group Aircraft carrier type Carrier Group strength
1st Carrier Air Group Illustrious-class fleet carrier HMS Victorious 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
2nd Carrier Air Group HMS Formidable 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
3rd Carrier Air Group reserve group 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
4th Carrier Air Group HMS Illustrious 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
5th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
6th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
7th Carrier Air Group Implacable-class fleet carrier HMS Indefatigable 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Fairey Firefly of 15 aircraft
8th Carrier Air Group HMS Implacable 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft
9th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft
10th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft
11th Carrier Air Group modified Illustrious-class aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable 2 x Grumman Hellcat squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 12 aircraft
12th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Grumman Hellcat squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 12 aircraft
13th Carrier Air Group Colossus-class light fleet carrier HMS Vengeance 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
14th Carrier Air Group HMS Colossus 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
15th Carrier Air Group HMS Venerable 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
16th Carrier Air Group HMS Glory 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
17th Carrier Air Group spare 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
18th Carrier Air Group spare 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
19th Carrier Air Group not allocated
(Royal Canadian Navy)
1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
20th Carrier Air Group not allocated 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
21st Carrier Air Group not allocated 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
22nd Carrier Air Group not allocated 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft

World War II - 1945

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The table below shows the nine carrier air groups created and allocated to an aircraft carrier during the latter part of World War II and the subsequent reserve carrier air group:

World War II Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy.
Nine out of the twenty-two planned groups were established during World War II.
An additional reserve group was created in August 1945.
Carrier Air Group Summary Notes
1st Carrier Air Group 1st CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious for service in the British Pacific Fleet and comprised 849 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers, 1834 Naval Air Squadron and 1836 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. It was disbanded on 8 September 1945 when HMS Victorious returned to the United Kingdom. [2]
2nd Carrier Air Group 2nd CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 848 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, 1841 Naval Air Squadron and 1842 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded on 31 October 1945 when HMS Formidable returned to the United Kingdom. [3]
3rd Carrier Air Group 3rd CAG Formed on 2 August 1945. It was a reserve air group for the British Pacific Fleet based at HMS Nabbington. It was formed too late for service in the war, and it contained 854 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger with 1843 Naval Air Squadron and 1845 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded on 20 October 1945, and its personnel returned to the United Kingdom onboard a merchant ship. [3]
7th Carrier Air Group 7th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 820 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, 887 Naval Air Squadron and 894 Naval Air Squadron flying Supermarine Seafire and 1770 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Firefly. It was disbanded in March 1946. [3]
8th Carrier Air Group 8th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 828 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, along with 801 Naval Air Squadron and 880 Naval Air Squadron flying Supermarine Seafire and 1771 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Firefly. It was disbanded in April 1946, but some of its squadrons disbanded earlier. [3]
11th Carrier Air Group 11th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 857 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, 1839 Naval Air Squadron and 1844 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Hellcat. It was disbanded on 30 November 1945. [3]
13th Carrier Air Group 13th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Vengeance for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 812 Naval Air Squadron flying the Fairey Barracuda and 1850 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded in August 1946. [3]
14th Carrier Air Group 14th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Colossus for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 827 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Barracuda and 1846 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded on 23 July 1946. [4]
15th Carrier Air Group 15th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Venerable for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 814 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Barracuda and 1851 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded in 1947. [3]
16th Carrier Air Group 16th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMS Glory for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 837 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Barracuda and 1831 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded in 1947. [3]

During World War II the creation of a 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 12th and 22nd Carrier Air Group also was planned. The surrender of Japan rendered these new carrier air groups unnecessary, and they were never formed.[2] However, the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st were formed post-war, with 18 and 19 allocated to the Royal Canadian Navy, and 21 a Royal Australian Navy Air Group[5]

Post World War II

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Royal Canadian Navy

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  • 19th Carrier Air Group - was initially allocated to the Royal Canadian Navy and was formed at Dartmouth in May 1947. It was made up of 803 Naval Air Squadron, operating Seafires, and 825 Naval Air Squadron which was equipped with Fireflys.[6]

Royal Australian Navy

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  • 20th Carrier Air Group - Initially a Royal Navy group, it reformed on the 28 August 1948 at RNAS Eglinton, with 805 Naval Air Squadron (Seafires) and 816 Naval Air Squadron (Fireflys), as a RAN air group, for HMAS Sydney. In June 1951, the group disbanded at Nowra.[6]

Not formed

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Training air groups

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See also

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Lists of Royal Navy aircraft groupings

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Lists of Royal Navy fixed wing aircraft capable ships

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Lists of Royal Navy aircraft capable shore establishments

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Ballance 2016, p. 305.
  2. ^ a b c Wragg 2019, p. 202.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Wragg 2019, p. 203.
  4. ^ "14th CAG". Archived from the original on 7 April 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  5. ^ Ballance 2016, p. 307-308.
  6. ^ a b c d e Ballance 2016, p. 307.
  7. ^ a b Ballance 2016, p. 308.
  8. ^ a b c Ballance 2016, p. 306.
  9. ^ a b c d e Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 439.

Bibliography

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