1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron
White Ensign
Active1943 – 1947
Country United Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
Branch Royal Navy
TypeSquadron
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Louis Vian, GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars

The 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron was a formation of Royal Navy aircraft carriers assigned to the British Pacific Fleet in November 1943. They were: HMS Formidable, HMS Indomitable, HMS Victorious, HMS Illustrious and HMS Indefatigable. It was disbanded in 1947.

Second World War and aftermath

The squadron was formed in November 1943 under the command of Rear-Admiral, Clement Moody, Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers (British Pacific Fleet), who also held the title of Rear-Admiral, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, at the same time.[1] While serving in the Pacific within the U.S. Fifth Fleet, the squadron was designated "Task Group 57.2". During Operation Iceberg off Okinawa, the squadron received heavy Kamikaze attacks. Their armoured flight decks were adequate protection for the hangar decks, but the stress caused deformation of the ships' structures.[citation needed].

Theseus served as squadron flagship for the squadron in 1947.[2]

Korean War

After the war, the "1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, Far East Fleet" consisting of the carriers Triumph and Unicorn, with the cruiser Belfast as flagship, was en route to Hong Kong from Japan when the Korean War broke out and was sent back to Japan.[3]

Flag Officer commanding

Included:[4][5]

Rank Flag Name Term Notes
Rear-Admiral, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron
1 Rear-Admiral Clement Moody November 1943 – November 1944
2 Rear-Admiral Sir Philip L. Vian November 1944 – 1945

References

  1. ^ Hobbs, David (2012). The British Pacific Fleet: The Royal Navy's Most Powerful Strike Force. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-84832-048-2.
  2. ^ Naval-history.net, HMS Theseus, accessed October 2011
  3. ^ ""The Forgotten Cruise" HMS Triumph and the 13th Carrier Air Group in Korea". royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. ^ Watson, Dr. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  5. ^ Hobbs, David (2012). The British Pacific Fleet: The Royal Navy's Most Powerful Strike Force. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-84832-048-2.
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