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 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. HMSIndomitable, 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]
More information 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 ...
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
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
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Royal Navy
World War II - 1945
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:
More information 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 ...
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.
Formed on 2 August 1945. It was a reserve air group for the British Pacific Fleet based at HMSNabbington. 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.
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.
Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier HMSVenerable 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.
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
The table below shows the two carrier air groups initially intended fo a Colossus-class aircraft carrier during World War II but instead subsequently formed post-war for the Royal Navy:
More information Post-World War II Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II., Carrier Air Group ...
Post-World War II Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II.
Was intended to be formed for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier, with 816 Naval Air Squadron operating Fairey Barracuda aircraft and 805 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Supermarine Seafire aircraft. However, it eventually formed at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), in March 1946, for HMS Ocean. At this point 816 Naval Air Squadron had swapped its Fairey Barracuda for Fairey Firefly aircraft. After operating in the Mediterranean, the group disbanded upon returning to RNAS Lee-on Solent, in July 1948. It reformed the same year as a Royal Australian Navy Air Group for HMASSydney.
The table below shows the two carrier air groups initially intended for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier during World War II but instead subsequently formed post-war for the Royal Canadian Navy and were later re-numbered:
More information Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Canadian Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II. The two groups and their assigned squadrons were re-numbered in 1951., Carrier Air Group ...
Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Canadian Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II. The two groups and their assigned squadrons were re-numbered in 1951.
Carrier Air Group
Summary
Notes
18th Carrier Air Group
18th CAG
Was intended to be formed for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier, with 822 Naval Air Squadron operating Fairey Barracuda aircraft and 1852 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Vought Corsair aircraft. This never happened due to the end of the war with Japan. It was reallocated to the Royal Canadian Navy, and formed at RCN Dartmouth on the 15 May 1947.
Was initially allocated to the Royal Canadian Navy and was formed at RCN Dartmouth in May 1947. It was made up of 803 Naval Air Squadron, operating Supermarine Seafire, and 825 Naval Air Squadron which was equipped with Fairey Firefly.
The 30th Carrier Air Group was established within the Royal Canadian Navy on 1 May 1951, through the renumbering of the 18th Carrier Air Group. This group included the re-designated 871 Naval Air Squadron, which had previously been known as 883 and was equipped with Hawker Sea Fury aircraft, as well as the 881 Naval Air Squadron, formerly designated as 826, which operated Grumman Avengers. Both squadrons were intended for deployment on the Majestic-classlight aircraft carrier, HMCSMagnificent. However, the organisational structure was disbanded in May 1954, leading to the dissolution of the 30th Carrier Air Group.
The 31st Support Air Group was established within the Royal Canadian Navy on 1 May 1951, through the renumbering of the 19th Carrier Air Group. The squadrons were similarly renumbered, resulting in the formation of 870 Naval Air Squadron (formerly 803), which was equipped with Hawker Sea Fury aircraft, and 880 Naval Air Squadron (previously 825), which operated Grumman Avengers, both serving aboard HMCS Magnificent. The group was disbanded in May 1954 following the Royal Canadian Navy's decision to eliminate its Air Group system. || [7]
More information Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Australian Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II. An additional group was created in 1957 for HMAS Melbourne., Carrier Air Group ...
Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Australian Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II. An additional group was created in 1957 for HMAS Melbourne.
Initially a Royal Navy group for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier, it reformed on the 28 August 1948 at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, with 805 Squadron (Supermarine Seafire) and 816 Squadron (Fairey Firefly), as a Royal Australian Navy Carrier Air Group, the Majestic-classlight aircraft carrier, HMASSydney. In June 1951, the group disbanded at HMAS Albatross, Nowra.
Was intended to be formed for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier, with 817 Naval Air Squadron operating Fairey Barracuda aircraft and 806 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Supermarine Seafire, in 1946. It eventually formed at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture), Cornwall, as a Royal Australian Navy Carrier Air Group in March 1950, made up of 808 Squadron equipped with Hawker Sea Fury aircraft and 817 Squadron, operating with Fairey Firefly aircraft, for HMAS Sydney. It disbanded in 1952.
Established at HMAS Albatross in Nowra in August 1957, the formation included 808, 816, and 817 Squadrons. However, 808 Squadron was disbanded in December 1958 and subsequently replaced by 805 Squadron. The Commanding Officer of the senior squadron served as the Air Group Commander until October 1966, and then resumed this role in January 1979. The Air Group was disbanded in November 1981, coinciding with the scheduled decommissioning of the Majestic-class light aircraft carrier, HMASMelbourne.
The table below shows the seven carrier air groups initially intended for the Royal Navy during the latter part of World War II but never formed due to the Japanese surrender:
More information Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy. With the end of the Pacific War there was no requirement for 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 & 22 CAGs, Carrier Air Group ...
Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy. With the end of the Pacific War there was no requirement for 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 & 22 CAGs
Was planned to be formed as a spare group for an Illustrious-class aircraft carrier. It was to be made up of 852 Naval Air Squadron operating Grumman Avenger, 1832 Naval Air Squadron and 1838 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Vought Corsair. The plan to form was cancelled following V-J Day.
Was planned to be formed as a spare group for an Illustrious-class aircraft carrier. It was to consist of 853 Naval Air Squadron operating Grumman Avenger, 882 Naval Air Squadron and 1830 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Vought Corsair. Planned to depart the United Kingdom in January 1946, when 882 Naval Air Squadron re-equipped from Grumman Wildcat aircraft. The plan to form was cancelled following V-J Day.
Was planned to be formed as a spare group for an Implacable-class aircraft carrier. It was to consist of 802 Naval Air Squadron and 899 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Supermarine Seafire, 851 Naval Air Squadron with Grumman Avenger and a planned 1773 Naval Air Squadron with Fairey Firefly. The formation was cancelled following V-J Day.
Was planned to be formed as a spare group for an Implacable-class aircraft carrier. It was to be made up of 883 Naval Air Squadron and 1833 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Supermarine Seafire, 856 Naval Air Squadron with Grumman Avenger and a planned 1775 Naval Air Squadron with Fairey Firefly. The plan was cancelled following V-J Day.
Was planned to be formed as a spare group for the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable. It was to contain 845 Naval Air Squadron with Grumman Avenger aircraft, 881 Naval Air Squadron and 885 Naval Air Squadron with Grumman Hellcat aircraft and a planned 1774 Naval Air Squadron with Fairey Firefly aircraft. This was cancelled following V-J Day.
Was planned to be formed in service for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier. It was to be formed of 818 Naval Air Squadron operating Fairey Barracuda aircraft and 884 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Supermarine Seafire aircraft. The formation never happened following V-J Day.
Between 1947 and 1954, several training air groups were established to oversee some of the second line Fleet Air Arm squadrons in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy.
Royal Navy (1948-1952)
The table below shows the Fleet Air Arm training and miscellaneous air groups created after World War II for the Royal Navy:
More information Training Air Groups of the Royal Navy., Training Air Group ...
Training Air Groups of the Royal Navy.
Training Air Group
Summary
Notes
50th Training Air Group
50th TrAG
Formed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), Somerset, on 13 May 1948, to oversee second-line units stationed locally. Initially, this included 700 Naval Air Squadron, which was already present, and 799 Naval Air Squadron, which arrived at that time. 700 Naval Air Squadron was disbanded in August 1949, and 767 Naval Air Squadron took its place in September. In December 1951, 799 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute in Scotland, and 767 Naval Air Squadron followed suit, moving to RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper), Somerset, in January 1952, leading to the dissolution of the group.
The 52nd Training Air Group was established at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) on 1 August 1946, to oversee the operations of 718 and 719 Naval Air Squadrons, within the framework of the Naval Air Fighter School. On 13 November, the Group assumed control of 794 and 795 Naval Air Squadrons, which were transferred from the disbanding 51st TrAG. Following several months of deployment aboard HMS Implacable, both the squadrons and the Group were disbanded in March 1947. The 52nd TrAG was re-established at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, on 1 February 1950, as part of the Naval Air Fighter School, incorporating 759 and 736 Naval Air Squadrons. Subsequently, in May 1950, 736 Naval Air Squadron was divided to create 738 Naval Air Squadron. The designation of 52nd TrAG was discontinued in August 1951.
The 53rd TrAG was established at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) on 14 June 1950, administering 719 and 737 Naval Air Squadrons as a component of the Naval Air Anti-Submarine School. Nevertheless, its existence was brief, as it was disbanded on 31 January 1952.
The table below shows the Fleet Air Arm training air groups created after World War II for the Royal Canadian Navy:
More information Training Air Groups of the Royal Canadian Navy., Training Air Group ...
Training Air Groups of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Training Air Group
Summary
Notes
1st Training Air Group
1 TrAG
Established by the Royal Canadian Navy at Royal Canadian Naval Air Station Shearwater (RCNAS Shearwater) on 1 May 1947, the unit included 743 Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) and an unnumbered Operational Training Unit (OTU). Functioning as a squadron headquarters, it operated with 743 and the OTU organised as Flights. In addition to the FRU, the primary mission of the Training Air Group (TrAG) was to train aircrew for the 18th and 19th Carrier Air Groups (CAGs). In November 1952, 743 was re-designated as VU 32, while the OTU was renamed VT 40. 1 TrAG was disbanded on 2 May 1954, following the RCN's decision to discontinue the Air Group system.
