This is a list of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy. A Wing designation consisted a number to differentiate each one and a simple label for the role of the wing. Each wing was formed of a small number of Naval Air Squadrons and were mostly either a fighter wing or a torpedo, bomber and reconnaissance wing, and there included a proposed MAC ship (Merchant Aircraft Carrier) wing. [1]
The Fleet Air Arm squadrons, embarked on the Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were grouped into explicit Wings from June 1943. Due to the existing Royal Air Force Wings having the same number designation, each Fleet Air Arm Wing contained the word Naval in its title. The Wings were each allocated a unique number and the name of each wing also contained the designated wings role. There were two significant roles with each wing being either a Fighter wing or a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance wing, with the latter known as a TBR wing. [2]
Beginning on 25 October 1943, the establishment of certain Royal Navy air wings commenced. However, not all of the air wings that the Fleet Air Arm intended to create were ultimately realised. [2] The air wings that were part of the British Pacific Fleet were reorganized into new Carrier Air Groups, resulting in their disbandment. This restructuring was implemented to conform to United States Navy policy following the conclusion of the Second World War in Europe, with the aim of bolstering Allied operations in the Pacific War against Japan in 1945. [3]
The remaining Wings were gradually disbanded in the months that followed, typically coinciding with the return of the aircraft carrier to its home port. [2]
The table below covers all the wings that were formed or proposed during World War II.
Aircraft wings of the Royal Navy. Wings were either formed as Fighter wings or Torpedo, Bomber & Reconnaissance (TBR) wings (including the 18th Naval MAC-Ship Wing and the proposed 31st TBR Wing) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Wing | Summary [4] [5] | Notes | ||
2nd Naval TBR Wing | 2 Wing | Formed on 29 January 1944 with 828 and 841 Naval Air Squadrons for HMS Implacable. Disbanded in November. Reformed as No. 2 Strike Wing on 10 December 1944, disbanded January 1945. | [6] | |
3rd Naval Fighter Wing | 3 Wing | Formed on 25 October 1944 at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) with 808, 886 and 897 Naval Air Squadrons for HMS Hunter, HMS Attacker and HMS Stalker respectively. It later incorporated 885 Naval Air Squadron. Further additions and mergers left the wing with 800, 808, 885 and 1840 Naval Air Squadrons for HMS Emperor, HMS Khedive, HMS Ruler and HMS Speaker respectively. Disbanded on 9 December 1945. | [6] | |
4th Naval Fighter Wing | 4 Wing | Formed at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) on 25 October 1943 with 807, 809 and 879 Naval Air Squadrons. Disbanded at RNAS Nutts Corner (HMS Pintail) on 25 January 1946 | [6] | |
5th Naval Fighter Wing | 5 Wing | Formed with 1839 and 1844 Naval Air Squadrons at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) in December 1943 for HMS Begum, later transferring to HMS Indomitable. Amalgamted into 11th Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945 | [6] | |
6th Naval Fighter Wing | 6 Wing | Formed at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) in February 1944 with 1837 Naval Air Squadron. Initially with HMS Atheling, transferred to HMS Illustrious, then to HMS Victorious and absorbded into 47 Wing. Reformed with 1841 and 1842 Naval Air Squadrons for HMS Formidable. Absorbed into 2nd Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945 | [6] | |
7th Naval Fighter Wing | 7 Wing | Formed at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) on 30 October 1943. 808 and 804 Naval Air Squadroins for HMS Emperor, 881 and 896 Naval Air Squadrons for HMS Pursuer and 882 and 898 Naval Air Squadrons for HMS Searcher. Disbanded 16 December 1944 | [7] | |
8th Naval TBR Wing | 8 Wing | Formed on 25 October 1943 for HMS Furious. 827 and 830 Naval Air Squadrons. Disbanded on 3 October 1944 | [7] | |
9th Naval TBR Wing | 9 Wing | Formed for HMS Indefatigable with 820 and 826 Naval Air Squadrons on 11 February 1944. Disdnabed on 23 October 1944 | [7] | |
10th Naval Fighter Wing | 10 Wing | Formed with 1843 and 1845 Naval Air Squadrons at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) on 14 October 1944. HMS Arbiter then HMS Formidable. Disbanded into 3rd Carrier Air Group 30 June 1945 | [7] | |
11th Naval TBR Wing | 11 Wing | Formed at RAF Ulunderpet, India on 21 April 1944 with 822 and 823 Naval Air Squadrons by renumbering 45 Wing. Disbanded 6 July 1944 | [7] | |
12th Naval TBR Wing | 12 Wing | Formed on 24 January 1944 with 815 and 817 Naval Air Squadrons. HMS Begum then HMS Indomitable. Disbanded on 28 December 1944 | [7] | |
15th Naval Fighter Wing | 15 Wing | Formed at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap) on 8 November 1943 with 1830, 1831 and 1833 Naval Air Squadrons. Joined HMS Illustrious. Disbanded UK on 28 July 1945 | [7] | |
18th Naval MAC-ship Wing | 18 Wing | Proposed wing for MAC-ship squadrons (see 836 Naval Air Squadron) | [8] | |
21st Naval TBR Wing | 21 Eing | Formed with 810 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) on 25 October 1943. Joined HMS Illustrious. Disbanded on 30 June 1944 | [7] | |
24th Naval Fighter Wing | 24 Wing | Formed at RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper) on 25 October 1943 with 887 and 894 Naval Air Squadrons. Joined HMS Indefatigable. Absorbed into 7th Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945 | [7] | |
30th Naval Fighter Wing | 30 Wing | Formed at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) on 10 October 1944 for HMS Implacable with 801 and 880 Naval Air Squadrons. Absorbed into the 8th Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945 | [7] | |
31st Naval TBR Wing | 31 Wing | Proposed for HMS Victorious at RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) in October 1943 but not formed | [8] | |
45th Naval TBR Wing | 45 Wing | Formed on 25 October 1943 with 822 and 823 Naval Air Squadrons. HMS Atheling. Renumbered 11th TBR Naval Wing on 21 April 1944 | [9] | |
47th Naval Fighter Wing | 47 Wing | Formed at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap) on 17 January 1944 for HMS Victorious with 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons. Added 1837 Naval Air Squadron. Absorbed into 1st Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945 | [9] | |
52nd Naval TBR Wing | 52 Wing | Formed on 26 November 1943 with 815 and 817 Naval Air Squadrons and allocated to HMS Victorious. Became 12 Wing with HMS Begum. Received 829 and 831 Naval Air Squadrons. Later added 827 Naval Air Squadron. Disbanded 9 July 1944 | [9] |
List of Wing Codes of the Fleet Air Arms Naval Air Wings, applied between 1943 and 1945. [19]
Letter | Wing | Active dates |
---|---|---|
A | 15th Naval Fighter Wing | November 1943 - July 1945 |
B | 26 | (not formed) |
C | 29 | (not formed) |
D | 4th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1943 - November 1945 |
E | 16 | (not formed) |
F | 35 | (not formed) |
G | 28 | (not formed) |
H | 24th Naval Fighter Wing | November 1943 - June 1945 |
I | 11th Naval TBR Wing | April 1944 - July 1944 |
J | 44 | (not formed) |
K | 3rd Naval Fighter Wing | November 1943 - October 1945 |
L | 6th Naval Fighter Wing | February 1944 - June 1945 |
M | 18th Naval MAC-Ship Wing | May 1943 - July 1945 |
N | 40 | (not formed) |
O | 10th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1944 - February 1945 |
P | 30th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1944 - June 1945 |
Q | 43 | (not formed) |
R | 5th Naval Fighter Wing | February 1943 - June 1945 |
S | 49 | (not formed) |
T | 47th Naval Fighter Wing | January 1944 - June 1945 |
U | 22 | (not formed) |
V | 42 | (not formed) |
W | 7th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1943 - February 1944 |
X | 33 | (not formed) |
Y | 37 | (not formed) |
Z | 13 | (not formed) |