List of Fleet Air Arm groups

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This is a list of all the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm groups that were either formed or planned. There were Carrier Air Groups which administered squadrons which operated on carriers and Training Air Groups which administered squadrons that operated from land bases.

Contents

Carrier air groups

The Fleet Air Arm squadrons, embarked on the Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were placed into Air Groups to align with US Navy policy, once World War II in Europe had ended, to support operations in the Pacific War against the Japanese, in 1945. They were designed with 100% spare groups for Fleet carriers, and 50% spare groups for Light Fleet carriers. [1]

The carrier air groups were divided up based on the aircraft carrier class and using a standardised strength approach of Fleet Air Arm squadrons and aircraft type. Nine of the twenty two groups planned formed up on the 30 June 1945 based on available squadrons, however, one formed as a spare in August 1945, and a number did form post-World War II, or were reactivated at a later date. [2]

Carrier air groupAircraft carrier typeGroup strengthDate of formation
1st Carrier Air Group Illustrious-class fleet carrier2 x Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
June 1945
2nd Carrier Air Group 2 x Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
June 1945
3rd Carrier Air Group 2 x Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
August 1945
4th Carrier Air Group2 x Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
not formed
5th Carrier Air Group2 x Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
not formed
6th Carrier Air Group2 x Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
not formed
7th Carrier Air Group Implacable-class fleet carrier2 x Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Firefly of 15 aircraft
June 1945
8th Carrier Air Group 2 x Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft
June 1945
9th Carrier Air Group2 x Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft
not formed
10th Carrier Air Group2 x Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft
not formed
11th Carrier Air Group HMS Indomitable 2 x Hellcat squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Firefly squadron of 12 aircraft
June 1945
12th Carrier Air GroupHMS Indomitable2 x Hellcat squadrons of 24 aircraft each
1 x Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft
1 x Firefly squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed
13th Carrier Air Group Colossus-class light fleet carrier1 x Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
June 1945
14th Carrier Air Group 1 x Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
June 1945
15th Carrier Air Group 1 x Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
June 1945
16th Carrier Air Group 1 x Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
June 1945
17th Carrier Air Group1 x Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed
18th Carrier Air Group1 x Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed
19th Carrier Air Group1 x Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed
20th Carrier Air Group1 x Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed
21st Carrier Air Group1 x Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed
22nd Carrier Air Group1 x Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft
1 x Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft
not formed

World War II - 1945

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

Royal Canadian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

Not formed

Other Air Groups

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Carrier Air Group</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Carrier Air Group

The 7th Carrier Air Group was an aircraft carrier air group of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed in June 1945, at HMS Nabthorpe, a Royal Navy Mobile Naval Operating Air Base (MONAB) at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Station Schofields at Schofields, New South Wales, in Australia. The group was initially embarked on HMS Indefatigable (R10).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Carrier Air Group</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Carrier Air Group

The 8th Carrier Air Group was an aircraft carrier air group of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was formed in June 1945, for service in the British Pacific Fleet, until disbanding the following year, in April 1946. The group was embarked on HMS Implacable (R86).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14th Carrier Air Group</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Carrier Air Group

The 14th Carrier Air Group was an aircraft carrier air group of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed in June 1945, for service in the British Pacific Fleet, until disbanding in July 1946. The group was embarked on HMS Colossus (R15).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Carrier Air Group</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Carrier Air Group

The 15th Carrier Air Group was an aircraft carrier air group of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed in June 1945, for service in the British Pacific Fleet, until disbanding in March 1947. The group was embarked on HMS Venerable (R63).

HMS Nabbington, was a Royal Navy, Mobile Naval Operating Air Base (MONAB), that was established at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra at Nowra, New South Wales, in Australia during the final stages of the Second World War. HMS Nabbington was also known as MONAB I and Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Nowra.

HMS Nabthorpe was a Royal Navy Mobile Naval Operating Air Base (MONAB) at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Station Schofields at Schofields, New South Wales. HMS Nabthorpe was also known as MONAB III and Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Schofields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">825 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

825 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Naval Air Squadron which was re-commissioned on 10 October 2014 and currently flies the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2.

812 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active between 1933 and 1956, and saw service in both World War II and the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">737 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

737 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active during 1943 as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron. Reactivated in 1944 it operated as an ASV Training Unit until 1945. It was active again between 1949 and 1957. From 1959 it was the Anti-Submarine Warfare school at RNAS Portland. It operated Westland Wessex HAS.3 rescue helicopters from their land base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">706 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

706 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Established as a fighter and torpedo-bomber training unit in Australia at the end of World War Two, it was briefly reformed as a helicopter squadron in the early 1950s, before becoming a helicopter training unit in 1962, and operating until 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">885 Naval Air Squadron</span> British naval unit

885 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. First formed on 1 March 1941, the squadron served as a fighter squadron during the Second World War. It operated in the Mediterranean in 1942–43, where it took part in Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa, the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Allied invasion of Italy. In 1944 it took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, spotting for Allied artillery bombardments and in 1945, was deployed as part of the British Pacific Fleet. It was abolished for the last time on 27 September 1945.

719 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It initially formed in 1944 as a Fighter Air Firing Training Squadron, at RNAS St Merryn, within the School of Air Combat. At the start of 1945 the squadron disbanded into 794 NAS. The squadron reformed in 1946 at RNAS Fearn as a Strike Training Squadron, before moving to RNAS Eglinton, where it became an Anti-submarine Training Squadron, disbanding there in 1949.

731 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was active between 1943 and 1945 and its sole role throughout its formation was a Deck Landing Control Officer training squadron. It was based out of RNAS East Haven in Scotland, as part of the Deck Landing Training School based there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">744 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

744 Naval Air Squadron is a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active in 1943, based in Nova Scotia. A second 744 NAS was formed, in early 1944, in Northern Ireland, for Merchant Aircraft Carrier training, meaning the first iteration was re-designated 754 NAS. The squadron's primary focus turned to Anti-submarine warfare training, which then further developed into trialing new submarine detection technology, ending in 1956. In 2018 it reformed as the Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">748 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

748 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed, at RNAS St Merryn, as a Fighter Pool Squadron, before becoming No. 10 Naval Operational Training Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Henstridge in February 1944 and then onto RNAS Yeovilton in the March. In September 1944, 748 NAS moved to RNAS Dale, in Wales, remaining for just under twelve months, before moving back to RNAS St Merryn in August 1945, where it disbanded in February 1946. During its existence, the squadron was equipped with numerous aircraft and various marks, operated by the Fleet Air Arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">757 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

757 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was first formed as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron in 1939, operating out of RNAS Worthy Down, but after three months it went into abeyance, only to reform again in the same role, at the same location, in 1941 and operating until 1942. It then reformed as a Fighter Pool Squadron & Operational Training Unit at RNAS Puttalam, in Sri Lanka, in 1943. After a brief spell at RNAMY Tambaram, in India, the squadron finally disbanded at RNAS Katukurunda, in Sri Lanka, at the beginning of 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">759 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

759 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was created on November 1st, 1939 and was disbanded on December 24, 1969. It was initially intended as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron but became a Fighter School and Pool Squadron in 1939, at RNAS Eastleigh. It operated out of RNAS Yeovilton from 1940 to 1946, as part of the Naval Air Fighter School. In 1943 a detachment operated out of RNAS Angle, working with 794 NAS and known as the Naval Air Firing Unit. It was again the Naval Air Fighter School upon reformation in 1951 and disbandment in 1954, firstly at RNAS Culdrose and then moving to RNAS Lossiemouth, in 1953. The squadron reformed again, this time at RNAS Brawdy in 1963, as the Naval Advanced Flying Training School, before finally disbanding in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">764 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

764 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It initially formed in April 1940, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as an Advance Seaplane training Squadron. The Squadron moved to RAF Pembroke Dock in July 1940, and later to RNAS Lawrenny Ferry, in October 1941 and remaining there until the Squadron disbanded in November 1943. It reformed at RNAS Gosport, in February 1944, as the User Trials Unit, however, the Squadron was decommissioned for the second time in September 1945. 764 NAS reformed again, at RNAS Lossiemouth, in May 1953, where it became an Advanced Training Unit. It moved to RNAS Yeovilton in September 1953, where it received its first jet aircraft. In November 1954 the Squadron disbanded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">767 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

767 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed as a Deck Landing Squadron in 1939, when 811 Naval Air Squadron was renumbered 767 NAS, at RNAS Donibristle. A detachment went to Hyeres de la Palyvestre in the south of France, enabling training in fairer conditions. While here, the squadron took on an operational mission, with a bombing attack on the Italian port of Genoa. With the fall of France the squadron evacuated to Algeria, where it split. Part went to Malta, forming 830 Naval Air Squadron, the other part to HMS Ark Royal, with personnel returning to the UK via Gibraltar. The squadron regrouped at RNAS Arbroath and moved to the Deck Landing School at RNAS East Haven in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">791 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

791 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It formed as an Air Target Towing Unit, at RNAS Arbroath, in Scotland, in October 1940. It operated various types of aircraft for target towing duties, used to support air gunnery training and practice. The squadron disbanded in December 1944, at Arbroath. It reformed at RNAS Trincomalee, in Sri Lanka, in November 1945, as a Fleet Requirements Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Sembawang, in Singapore, in December 1945, ferried via HMS Smiter. It also operated a Communications Flight and an Air-Sea Rescue Flight, as well as undertaking anti Mosquito spraying duties. 791 NAS disbanded at Sembawang in June 1947.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ballance 2016, p. 305.
  2. 1 2 3 Wragg 2019, p. 202.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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. 1 2 3 4 5 Ballance 2016, p. 307.
  7. 1 2 Ballance 2016, p. 308.
  8. 1 2 3 Ballance 2016, p. 306.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 439.

Bibliography