Royal Navy Carrier Air Groups, 1945

Carrier Air Groups were first created in June 1945 to align with U.S. Navy policy in the Pacific following the end of the war in Europe, involving frontline squadrons reorganized into carrier Air Groups (CAGs). The CAG organization continued into the postwar period, being reorganized in September 1946 so that each Air group had one Firefly squadron and one of Seafires.

1^st Carrier Air Group

• Formed June 30, 1945, for HMS Victorious, disbanded September 1945
• Avenger and Corsairs: 848, 1841, 1842

^2nd Carrier Air Group

• Formed June 30, 1945, for HMS Formidable, disbanded October 1945
• Avenger and Corsairs: 848, 1841, 1842

^3rd Carrier Air Group

• Formed at Nowra on August 2, 1945, disbanded on October 20, 1945
• Corsairs: 1843, 1845

4^th Carrier Air Group

• Planned to form for HMS Illustrious, but not realized by VJ-Day
• Corsairs: 1837, 1853

5^th Carrier Air Group

• Planned to form for Illustrious-class carrier, but not realized by VJ-Day
• Corsairs: 1832, 1838

6^th Carrier Air Group

• Planned to form for Illustrious-class carrier, but not realized by VJ-Day
• Avengers, Corsairs, Wildcats: 853, 882, 1830

7^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Indefatigable at Scholfields on June 30, 1945
• Seafires, Avengers, Firefly: 820, 887, 894, 1770, 1722

8^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Implacable on June 30, 1945
• Seafires, Avengers, Firefly: 801, 828, 880, 1771

9^th Carrier Air Group

• Planned to form for Implacable-class carrier, but not realized by VJ-Day
• Seafires, Avengers, Firefly: 802, 851, 899, 1773

10^th Carrier Air Group

• Planned to form for Implacable-class carrier, but not realized by VJ-Day
• Seafires, Avengers, Firefly: 856, 883, 1833, and planned 1775

11^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Indomitable
• Hellcats, Avengers, Firefly: 857, 1839, 1844, and planned but not realized 1772

12^th Carrier Air Group

• Planned to form for HMS Indomitable, but not realized by VJ-Day
• Hellcats, Avengers, Firefly: 845, 881, 885, and planned but not realized 1774

13^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Vengeance on June 30, 1945
• Barracudas and Corsairs: 812, 1850

14^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Colossus on June 30, 1945
• Barracudas and Corsairs: 827, 1849

15^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Venerable June 30, 1945
• Barracudas and Corsairs: 814, 1851

16^th Carrier Air Group

• Formed for HMS Glory June 30, 1945
• Avenger and Corsairs: 849, 1834, 1836 Squadrons

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