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This is aList of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons. The primary organisational structure for aerial operations within theFleet Air Arm (FAA) is represented bysquadrons. These include frontline combat squadrons which were designated with the numerical ranges of 800-899, 1700-1799, and 1800-1899. In contrast, the numerical range of 700-799 was allocated for training and support squadrons.
Established on 1 April 1924, the Fleet Air Arm included allRoyal Air Force aircraft that were deployed fromaircraft carriers and other naval vessels. On 24 May 1939, the administrative management of the Fleet Air Arm, which serves as the naval aviation branch of theRoyal Navy, was transferred from the Royal Air Force to theAdmiralty as a result of the "Inskip Award". At the beginning of theSecond World War, the Fleet Air Arm comprised merely twenty squadrons.[1]
Squadrons presented inbold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy'snaval aviation component, the Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons inunderline subsequently commissioned into theRoyal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons initalics subsequently commissioned into theNetherlands Naval Aviation Service. Squadrons subsequently transferred to or formed within theRoyal Canadian Navy are denoted with the suffix RCN in their title.
With the formation of the Fleet Air Arm in 1924, as a part of the Royal Air Force, blocks of squadron numbers were used. Numbers 401-439 were Fleet Fighter / Spotter Flights, assigned to Royal Navybattleships andcruisers.[2] Numbers 440-459 were Fleet Reconnaissance Flights, many later becoming Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance Flights, and Number 460 onwards, as Fleet Torpedo Flights, later becoming Torpedo Bomber Flights.[3]
The 700 and 800 series numbers were designated for squadrons within the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force, following the consolidation of the Fleet Air Arm flights into squadrons beginning in 1933. Upon the transfer of the Fleet Air Arm management to the Admiralty, this series of squadron numbers was subsequently adopted, resulting in no further allocation of numbers from this block to Royal Air Force squadrons.[4]
The 700 and 800 series numbers were retained when the Admiralty regained full control of the Fleet Air Arm in 1939.
Numbers 700-749 were for catapult flights and squadrons, but eventually these all merged into700 Naval Air Squadron, leaving Numbers 701-710 for amphibian and floatplane squadrons from 1943 onwards. Numbers 750-799, were assigned for training and ancillary squadrons (in contrast to the RAF practice at the time of not assigning squadron numbers to training units).[2]
Front line combat squadrons were Numbers 800-899 and broken down into categories:[3] Numbers 800-809 were allocated forfighter squadrons, numbers 810-819 were fortorpedo bomber squadrons, then later torpedospotterreconnaissance (TSR) squadrons and torpedo bomber reconnaissance (TBR) squadrons, Numbers. 820-859 were initially spotter reconnaissance squadrons, then later becoming TSR squadrons and finally, TBR squadrons. Originally, TBR squadrons included numbers 860-869, but these were assigned to Dutch-crewed and thenRoyal Netherlands Navy squadrons. Numbers 870-899 were initially for single-seat fighter squadrons, but numbers 870-879 were later assigned to theRoyal Canadian Navy squadrons. As these numbers ran out, new series prefixed by '1' were allocated. Leaving aside unused blocks, Numbers 1700-1749 became torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadrons and two-seat fighter squadrons were numbers 1770-1799.Dive bomber squadrons were numbers 1810-1829 and numbers 1830-1899 were for single-seat fighter squadrons.[1]
Squadrons presented inbold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Those indicated with anunderline have beensubsequently commissioned into theRoyal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. Squadronsitalicized have been later commissioned into theNetherlands Naval Aviation Service. Additionally, squadrons that have been transferred to or established within theRoyal Canadian Navy are identified by the suffix RCN in their designation.
Single-seat fighter squadrons for aircraft carriers.
Torpedo Bomber squadrons for aircraft carriers, then later Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance and Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons.
Spotter Reconnaissance Squadrons, later Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance and Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons.
Note: 839, 843, 844, 858 and 859 Naval Air Squadrons did not form.[14]
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons; Later reserved forDutch-crewed and thenRoyal Netherlands Navy squadrons.
Note: 862-869 Naval Air Squadrons did not form.[16]
Single-seat fighter squadrons. Nos. 870-879 were reserved for use by theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1951.[16]
Note: Nos. 872-876 Naval Air Squadrons did not form.[17]
Single-seat fighter squadrons for aircraft carriers. Nos. 880, 881 and 883 were subsequently used by theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN).[18]
Squadrons presented inbold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons, reallocated to Amphibian Bomber Reconnaissance squadrons.
Single-seat fighter squadrons (not adopted).
Two-seat fighter squadrons.
Note: Nos. 1773-1789 and 1793-1799 were never formed. Nos. 1773 to 1775 Squadrons were planned to form in 1945 for theBritish Pacific Fleet, but this never transpired.[27]
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance units (not adopted).
Dive-bomber squadrons.
Note: Nos. 1810-1819 and 1821-1829 were never formed.
Single-seat fighter squadrons.
Note: Nos. 1854-1899 were never formed. TheReserve Squadrons later used Nos. 1830-1836 and 1840-1844 forRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch squadrons and Nos. 1831 and 1832 wereRoyal Naval Reserve Air Branch squadrons.
Squadrons presented inbold typeface are presently operational within the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons inunderlinesubsequently commissioned intoRoyal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm. Squadrons that have been transferred to or established within theRoyal Canadian Navy are identified by the suffix RCN in their designation.
Initially designated for Catapult flights, the area later evolved into catapult squadrons. Following the dissolution of these squadrons, the range was repurposed for training and support squadrons. Numbers 700 to 710 were designated for the utilisation of amphibian and floatplane squadrons in 1943; however, this designation was subsequently discontinued. When these ceased to exist the range became available for training and ancillary squadrons.
Numbers 750 to 799 were allocated for training and support squadrons.
Nos. 1830 to 1836 and 1840 to 1844 were designated for the squadrons of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch during the period from 1947 to 1957 and subsequently formed into five divisions from 1952.[51]
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Air Branch squadrons
Nos. 1831 and 1832 were repurposed for the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch squadrons between 1980 and 1982.
Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch squadrons
Aircraft collection and delivery
Fleet Air Arm
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Air Force
Others
