This is a list of Fleet Air Arm groups of the Royal Navy (RN), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), that were either formed or planned. There were two types of groups: there were Carrier Air Groups that administered squadrons which operated on aircraft carriers, and there were Training Air Groups which administered squadrons that operated from airbases.

Carrier air groups

The squadrons and aircraft wings of the Fleet Air Arm, stationed on Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were organized into Air Groups in accordance 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 Japan in 1945. The structure included complete spare groups for Fleet carriers and half spare groups for Light Fleet carriers.

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.

Carrier Air Groups one to six were designated for the three carriers of the , 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 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. , 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.

The first four carriers of the 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.

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 Aircraft carrier type Carrier Group strength 1st Carrier Air Group fleet carrier 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft 2nd Carrier Air Group 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft 3rd Carrier Air Group reserve group 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft 4th Carrier Air Group 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft 5th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft 6th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Vought Corsair squadrons of 15 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft 7th Carrier Air Group fleet carrier 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft1 x Fairey Firefly of 15 aircraft 8th Carrier Air Group 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft 9th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft 10th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Supermarine Seafire squadrons of 24 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 15 aircraft 11th Carrier Air Group modified Illustrious-class aircraft carrier 2 x Grumman Hellcat squadrons of 24 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 12 aircraft 12th Carrier Air Group spare 2 x Grumman Hellcat squadrons of 24 aircraft each1 x Grumman Avenger squadron of 15 aircraft1 x Fairey Firefly squadron of 12 aircraft 13th Carrier Air Group light fleet carrier 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 14th Carrier Air Group 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 15th Carrier Air Group 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 16th Carrier Air Group 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 17th Carrier Air Group spare 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 18th Carrier Air Group spare 1 x Vought Corsair squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 19th Carrier Air Group not allocated(Royal Canadian Navy) 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 20th Carrier Air Group not allocated 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 21st Carrier Air Group not allocated 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft 22nd Carrier Air Group not allocated 1 x Supermarine Seafire squadron of 21 aircraft1 x Fairey Barracuda squadron of 12 aircraft

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:

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 Summary Notes1st Carrier Air Group 1st CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and comprised 849 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers, 1834 Naval Air Squadron and 1836 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. It was disbanded on 8 September 1945 when HMS Victorious returned to the United Kingdom. 2nd Carrier Air Group 2nd CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 848 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, 1841 Naval Air Squadron and 1842 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded on 31 October 1945 when HMS Formidable returned to the United Kingdom. 3rd Carrier Air Group 3rd CAG Formed on 2 August 1945. It was a reserve air group for the British Pacific Fleet based at . 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. 7th Carrier Air Group 7th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 820 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, 887 Naval Air Squadron and 894 Naval Air Squadron flying Supermarine Seafire and 1770 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Firefly. It was disbanded in March 1946. 8th Carrier Air Group 8th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 828 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, along with 801 Naval Air Squadron and 880 Naval Air Squadron flying Supermarine Seafire and 1771 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Firefly. It was disbanded in April 1946, but some of its squadrons disbanded earlier. 11th Carrier Air Group 11th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 857 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Avenger, 1839 Naval Air Squadron and 1844 Naval Air Squadron flying Grumman Hellcat. It was disbanded on 30 November 1945. 13th Carrier Air Group 13th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 812 Naval Air Squadron flying the Fairey Barracuda and 1850 Naval Air Squadron flying Vought Corsair. It was disbanded in August 1946. 14th Carrier Air Group 14th CAG 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. 15th Carrier Air Group 15th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier 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. 16th Carrier Air Group 16th CAG Formed on 30 June 1945. It was for the aircraft carrier for service in the British Pacific Fleet and contained 837 Naval Air Squadron flying Fairey Barracuda and 1831 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. 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

Post World War II

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 Navy:

Post-World War II Carrier Air Groups of the Royal Navy. Two planned groups were established after World War II. Carrier Air Group Summary Notes17th Carrier Air Group 17th CAG Was intended to be formed for a Colossus-class aircraft carrier, with 824 Naval Air Squadron operating Fairey Barracuda aircraft and 1835 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Vought Corsair aircraft. The formation never happened following V-J Day. Instead it was active three times, 1947 to 1949, 1949 to 1950 and in 1952. Initially at the shore base RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) for , then solely Theseus, formed of Hawker Sea Fury aircraft with 807 Naval Air Squadron and Fairey Firefly aircraft with 810 Naval Air Squadron. Third time at RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon) for , formed of Hawker Sea Fury aircraft with 802 Naval Air Squadron and Fairey Firefly aircraft with 825 Naval Air Squadron. 20th Carrier Air Group 20th CAG 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 .

Royal Canadian Navy

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: