The 1st Carrier Air Group (1st CAG) was a Royal Navy aircraft carrier air group of the Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed in June 1945, for service in the British Pacific Fleet, until disbanding later that year, in the September. The group was embarked on the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38). The Group reformed in October 1947, for embarkation on the lead ship of her class HMS Implacable (R86). In late 1950 the group was transferred onto the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (92). The 1st Carrier Air Group disbanded for the second time in May 1951.

Naval air squadrons

The 1st Carrier Air Group consisted of a number of squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm.

History

The squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, embarked in the Royal Navy’s Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were organized into Air Groups in alignment 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 Japanese forces in 1945.

1945

The 1st Carrier Air Group was formed on the 30 June 1945, for the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious (R38), as part of the British Pacific Fleet. During July and August 1945, the latter part of the Second World War, it saw active service over Japan. The 1st Carrier Air Group contained 849 Naval Air Squadron, which operated the Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber aircraft, 1834 Naval Air Squadron and 1836 Naval Air Squadron, which were both equipped with Vought Corsair, an American carrier-based fighter-bomber aircraft, the latter two squadrons previously made up the Fleet Air Arm's 47th Naval Fighter Wing which was absorbed into the 1st Carrier Air Group on its formation. The group embarked on Victorious in July 1945 for strikes against the Japanese mainland, near Tokyo, up until VJ-Day. Notably, an 849 NAS Grumman Avenger from Victorious, located and scored the first bomb hit on the Japanese escort carrier Kaiyo, at Beppu Bay, in Kyūshū, on 24 July 1945, which resulted in severe damage that kept the ship out of the remainder of the war. The 1st Carrier Air Group was disbanded on Victorious’ and the group's return to the United Kingdom, on the 8 September 1945.

1947–1951

The 1st Carrier Air Group reformed in October 1947, for the name ship of her class, HMS Implacable (R86). The 1st CAG was made up of 801 Naval Air Squadron, which operated the de Havilland Sea Hornet, twin engine, fighter aircraft, and 813 Naval Air Squadron, which was equipped with Blackburn Firebrand, a British single-engine strike fighter aircraft. On the 12 September 1950, the 1st CAG transferred to the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Indomitable (92). The 1st Carrier Air Group disbanded on the 31 May 1951.

Aircraft used

Aircraft used by the naval air squadrons that formed the 1st Carrier Air Group in 1945 and between 1947-51:

Air Group Commanders

List of commanding officers of the 1st Carrier Air Group, with date of appointment:

1945

1947–1951

Citations