1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron (Royal Navy)

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

1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron
Active1943–1947
CountryUK
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Rear-Admiral Philip Vian

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..

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]

RankFlagNameTermNotes
Rear-Admiral, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron
1Rear-AdmiralClement MoodyNovember 1943 – November 1944
2Rear-AdmiralSir Philip L. VianNovember 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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