15th Carrier Air Group

Naval Air Squadrons

15th Carrier Air Group consisted of a number of squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm.

History

The squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, stationed aboard the Royal Navy's Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers for the British Pacific Fleet, were restructured into Air Groups in accordance with the policies of the United States Navy after the end of World War II in Europe. This reorganisation was intended to enhance operational effectiveness in the Pacific Theater against Japanese forces in 1945. The first four s were intended to accommodate Carrier Air Groups numbered from thirteen to eighteen. Each group was to consist of a squadron of twenty-one Vought Corsair aircraft and a squadron of twelve Fairey Barracuda planes.

1945 - 1947

The 15th Carrier Air Group was formed on 30 June 1945 and was based on the light aircraft carrier, , a Colossus-class aircraft carrier. The group initially consisted 814 Naval Air Squadron, flying Fairey Barracuda, a carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber aircraft, and 1851 Naval Air Squadron, flying Vought Corsair, an American carrier-borne fighter aircraft. 814 Squadron replaced its Fairey Barracuda with Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, in December 1945. Then, in June 1946 1851 NAS transferred to sister ship, and 802 Naval Air Squadron replaced it in the Air Group, bringing its Supermarine Seafire aircraft, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. The 15th CAG was disbanded in 1947.

1947 - 1952

The 15th Carrier Air Group was reestablished on 16 May 1947 at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. This reformation was intended for the Colossus-class aircraft carrier, HMS Vengeance, and included 802 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons. At this location, 802 Squadron transitioned from its Supermarine Seafire aircraft to Hawker Sea Fury, a British fighter aircraft. In April 1950, 802 Squadron departed from the group and was succeeded by 809 Naval Air Squadron, which introduced the de Havilland Sea Hornet, a twin-engined fighter aircraft. However, in the subsequent September, 802 Squadron rejoined the group while 809 Squadron exited.

In November 1950, the group was reduced to only 802 Squadron following the departure of 814 Squadron. It was not until June 1951 that the group regained its original strength with the arrival of 825 Naval Air Squadron, which operated Fairey Firefly aircraft. Nevertheless, 825 Squadron remained for approximately three months before departing in September 1951. Subsequently, 814 Squadron returned to the Air Group and the group embarked on another Colossus-class aircraft carrier, . The 15th Carrier Air Group was disbanded on 15 January 1952 at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) in Cornwall, England.

Air Group Commanders

List of the commanding officers of the 15th Carrier Air Group, with date of appointment:

1945 - 1947

• Lieutenant Commander P.D. Gick, , RN, from 30 June 1945
• Lieutenant Commander T.G.V. Percy, DSC, RN, from 14 January 1946
• disbanded - 30 March 1947

1947 - 1952

• Lieutenant Commander W.R.J. MacWhirter, DSC, RN, from 16 May 1947
• Lieutenant Commander J.G. Baldwin, DSC, RN, from 15 March 1948
• Lieutenant Commander J.N. Ball, DSC, RN, from 16 May 1949
• Lieutenant Commander J.O. Armour, RN, from 19 April 1950
• none, from 22 November 1950
• disbanded - 15 January 1952

References

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