List of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy explained
This is a list of Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Naval Air Wings. A Wing designation consisted a number to differentiate each one and a simple label for the role of the wing. Each wing was formed of a small number of Naval Air Squadrons and were mostly either a fighter wing or a torpedo, bomber and reconnaissance wing, and there included a proposed MAC ship (Merchant Aircraft Carrier) wing.
Naval Air Wings
The Fleet Air Arm squadrons, embarked on the Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were grouped into explicit Wings from June 1943. Due to the existing Royal Air Force Wings having the same number designation, each Fleet Air Arm Wing contained the word Naval in its title. The Wings were each allocated a unique number and the name of each wing also contained the designated wings role. There were two significant roles with each wing being either a Fighter wing or a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance wing, with the latter known as a TBR wing.
From 25 October 1943 some of the Naval Air Wings started to form. Of the Naval Air Wings which the Fleet Air Arm planned to form up, these were never all realised. Those Naval Air Wings which were serving within the British Pacific Fleet were placed into new Carrier Air Groups, effectively disbanding them, to align with US Navy policy, this once the Second World War in Europe had ended, to support Allied operations in the Pacific War against the Japanese in 1945.
The remaining Wings were disbanded over the months following, this usually occurred when the aircraft carrier they were embarked on returned to a home port.
List of initial wings
The table below covers the initial eighteen wings that were formed from 1943 onwards. It doesn't include the 18th Naval MAC-Ship wing nor the proposed 31st TBR Wing.
| Wing | Formed at | Formed on | Disbanded at | Disbanded on | Notes |
|---|
| 2nd Naval TBR Wing | Unknown | 24 January 1944 | Unknown | Unknown | Renamed No. 2 Strike Wing on 10 December 1944 |
| 3rd Naval Fighter Wing | | 25 October 1944 | Unknown | 9 December 1945 | |
| 4th Naval Fighter Wing | RNAS Burscough | 25 October 1943 | | 25 January 1946 | |
| 5th Naval Fighter Wing | | December 1943 | Unknown | 30 November 1945 | |
| 6th Naval Fighter Wing | RNAS Burscough | February 1944 | Unknown | 30 June 1945 | |
| 7th Naval Fighter Wing | RNAS Eglinton | 30 October 1943 | Unknown | 16 December 1944 | |
| 8th Naval TBR Wing | Unknown | 25 October 1943 | Unknown | 3 October 1944 | |
| 9th Naval TBR Wing | Unknown | 11 February 1944 | Unknown | 23 October 1944 | |
| 10th Naval Fighter Wing | RNAS Eglinton | 14 October 1944 | Unknown | 30 June 1945 | |
| 11th Naval TBR Wing | Ulunderpet/Ulundurpet?, India | 21 April 1944 | Unknown | 6 July 1944 | |
| 12th Naval TBR Wing | Unknown | 24 January 1944 | Unknown | 28 December 1944 | |
| 15th Naval Fighter Wing | | 8 November 1943 | UK | 28 July 1945 | |
| 21st Naval TBR Wing | | 25 October 1943 | Unknown | 30 June 1944 | |
| 24th Naval Fighter Wing | | 25 October 1943 | Unknown | 30 June 1945 | |
| 30th Naval Fighter Wing | RNAS Machrihanish | 10 October 1944 | Unknown | 30 June 1945 | |
| 45th Naval TBR Wing | Unknown | 25 October 1943 | India | 21 April 1944 | |
| 47th Naval Fighter Wing | RNAS Stretton | 17 January 1944 | Unknown | 30 June 1945 | |
| 52nd Naval TBR Wing | Unknown | 26 November 1943 | Unknown | 9 July 1944 | | |
Wing histories
- 2nd Naval TBR Wing - formed on 24 January 1944. Allocated to the name ship of her class, (R86), on 11 March, it comprised 828 and 841 Naval Air Squadrons. The wing's aircraft, Fairey Barracuda, a carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber, embarked onto the aircraft carrier during August 1944, although some aircraft had a short detachment to the, . When 828 NAS absorbed 841 NAS on 28 November, the Wing disbanded. The Wing reformed on 10 December 1944 at RNAS Katukurunda (HMS Ukussa), in Ceylon. Designated as No. 2 Strike Wing it consisted Grumman TBF Avenger American Torpedo Bomber equipped, 820 and 849 Naval Air Squadrons, however, during January 1945 the squadrons embarked on different aircraft carriers, which effectively disbanded the wing.
- 3rd Naval Fighter Wing - formed on 25 October 1943 consisting three Supermarine Seafire L.IIc, a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire, Fleet Air Arm Squadrons: Nos 808, 886 and 897 Naval Air Squadrons. Initially at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), in Lancashire, the squadrons embarked in the s: (D80), (D02) and (D91) respectively. The wing moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), in Hampshire, on 25 February 1944 and added 885 Naval Air Squadron to its formation. Its role altered to that of an air spotting pool supporting the RAF Second Tactical Air Force for the Normandy landings. 808 NAS absorbed 886 NAS and 885 NAS absorbed 897 NAS and the wing relocated to RNAS Ballyhalbert (HMS Corncrake), in County Down, Northern Ireland, on 4 August. Later the squadrons re-equipped with Grumman F6F Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, and the wing increased in size bringing onboard Nos 800 and 1840 Naval Air Squadrons. In October 1944, 881 and 882 Naval Air Squadrons, equipped with Grumman F4F Wildcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, briefly joined No. 3 Wing for three weeks. It departed early in 1945, on the s: (D98) (800 NAS), (D62) (808 NAS), (D72) (885 NAS) and (D90) (1840 NAS), seeing active service, before disbanding on 9 December 1945.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander(A) S.J. Hall, RNVR, 25 October 1943
- Lieutenant Commander(A) R. MCD Hill, RNVR, 13 March 1944
- Lieutenant Commander N.G. Hallett, DSC, RN, 22 May 1944
- Lieutenant Commander R.H.P. Carver, DSC, RN, 30 September 1944
- Lieutenant Commander(A) B. H.C. Nation, RN, 16 November 1944
- Major P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM, 11 February 1945
- Lieutenant Commander R.H.P. Carver, DSC, RN, 8 April 1945
- 4th Naval Fighter Wing - formed on 25 October 1943 at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail), consisting three Supermarine Seafire units, 807, 809 and 879 Naval Air Squadrons. It departed on the s (D80) (807 NAS), (D91) (809 NAS) and (D02) (879 NAS), seeing active operations in mid-1944 in Italy, and during August 1944 the landings in the South of France. The wing then saw time in the Aegean, followed by Egypt, and early-1945 it re-embarked for Ceylon. After operating with the East Indies Fleet, the wing returned to the UK and then disbanded post war at RNAS Nutts Corner (HMS Pintail), on 25 January 1946.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander(A) A.C. Wallace, RNVR, 25 October 1943
- Lieutenant Commander(A) G.C. Baldwin, DSC, RN, 3 June 1944 - 16 November 1945
- 5th Naval Fighter Wing - formed at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, during December 1943. It was made up of 1839 and 1844 Naval Air Squadrons, both units equipped with the American Grumman Hellcat fighter aircraft. The wing embarked in the (D38), during February 1944, to join the East Indies Fleet and later transferred to the modified (92) in July. It was active with the British Pacific Fleet, forming the 11th Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945, along with 857 Naval Air Squadron. It remained with Indomitable until disbanding on 30 November 1945.
- Wing Leaders
- Commander H.P. Sears, RN, 28 February 1944
- Commander T.G.C. Jameson (Senior Officer Air), RN, 7 April 1944
- Lieutenant Commander(A) T.W. Harrington, RN, 9 September 1944
- unidentified, April 1945
- 6th Naval Fighter Wing - initially consisted solely 1837 Naval Air Squadron and formed at RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail) on 28 February 1944. It embarked in the Ruler-class escort carrier,, and journeyed to British Ceylon, transferring to the lead ship of her class of aircraft carrier, (87) during June 1944. It disbanded, aboard Illustrious's sister ship,, into the 47th Naval Fighter Wing. The wing reformed in Britain with the American fighter aircraft, Vought F4U Corsair equipped units, 1841 and 1842 Naval Air Squadrons, embarking in, another Illustrious-class aircraft carrier. It participated in attacks against the German battleship Tirpitz and then moved to the Pacific War seeing action with the British Pacific Fleet. It disbanded a second time into the newly formed 2nd Carrier Air Group for Formidable, on 30 June 1945.
- Wing Leaders
- Commander H.P. Sears, RN, 28 February 1944
- Major R.C. Hay, DSO and Bar, DSC, RM, 24 May 1944
- Lieutenant Commander(A) R.L. Bigg-Wither, RN, 14 August 1944
- 7th Naval Fighter Wing - formed at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannett) on 30 October 1943. It consisted six squadrons: four of them 881, 882, 896 and 898 Naval Air Squadrons, operated with Grumman Wildcat fighter aircraft, and two: 800 and 804 Naval Air Squadrons, were equipped with Grumman Hellcat, a Wildcat replacement fighter aircraft. 800 and 804 Naval Air Squadrons embarked in the Ruler-class carrier, HMS Emperor (D98), 881 and 896 Naval Air Squadrons embarked in the Attacker-class carrier, (D73), and 882 and 898 Naval Air Squadrons, embarked in (D40), also an Attacker-class carrier. Due to operational limits on the carriers, in June 1944, 804, 896 and 898 NAS disbanded into their sister squadrons. The Wing participated in Operation Dragoon in Provence, southern occupied France, in 1944, and later on, operations in the Aegean Region. When the wing returned to the UK the squadrons moved on and it disbanded on 16 December 1944.
- Wing Leader
- Lieutenant Commander(A) M.F. Fell, DSO, RN 30 October 1943
- disbanded 16 December 1944
- 8th Naval TBR Wing - formed for the modified on 25 October 1943, with 827 and 830 Naval Air Squadrons, both operated with Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bomber aircraft. The wing participated in attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, focusing its operational area around Norway. It disbanded on 3 October 1944 with 830 NAS merging into 827 NAS.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander R.S. Baker-Faulkner, DSC, RN, 25 October 1943 - (KiA 14 July 1944)
- Lieutenant Commander R.D. Kingdon, DSC, RNVR, 15 July 1944
- disbanded, 3 October 1944
- 9th Naval TBR Wing - consisted Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber equipped 820 and 826 Naval Air Squadrons, formed on 11 February 1944. It embarked in the, and operated off Norway, including attacks against the Kriegsmarine battleship Tirpitz. 820 NAS absorbed 826 NAS on 23 October 1944, disbanding the wing.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander(A) A.J.I. Temple-West, RN, 11 February 1944
- Lieutenant Commander(A) W.R.Nowell, RN, 1 August 1944
- 10th Naval Fighter Wing - formed at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) on 14 October 1944, for the British Pacific Fleet. It was made up of 1843 and 1845 Naval Air Squadrons, both equipped with the American Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. In December 1944 1845 NAS embarked in the Ruler-class escort carrier (D26) and 1843 NAS embarked in (D31), another Ruler-class escort carrier, and the squadrons never operated as a wing. On 5 April 1945, 1845 NAS disbanded and its aircraft were merged into the existing squadrons on the . 1845 NAS reformed and on 30 June 1945, both squadrons were absorbed into the 3rd Carrier Air Group.
- Wing Leader
- Major P.P. Nelson-Gracie, RM 14 October 1944
- 11th Naval TBR Wing - formed with 822 and 823 Naval Air Squadrons on 21 April 1944, at Ulunderpet, in India, by renumbering 45th Naval TBR Wing. Both units were equipped with Fairey Barracuda, torpedo and dive bomber aircraft. It disbanded when 822 NAS absorbed 823 NAS on 6 July 1944.
- Wing Leader
- unidentified, 21 April 1944
- 12th Naval TBR Wing - consisted 815 and 817 Naval Air Squadrons and formed 24 January 1944, for the British Pacific Fleet, with an intended embarkation in the modified Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Indomitable (92). The wing joined the Ruler-class escort carrier HMS Begum (D38) the following month, with Indomitable still under repair, and went to the far east, later on embarking in the initially intended HMS Indomitable (92) during July 1944. The wing saw operational service before disbanding on 28 December 1944.
- Wing Leader
- Lieutenant Commander E.M. Britton, RN
- 15th Naval Fighter Wing - consisted 1830, 1831 and 1833 Naval Air Squadrons, equipped with Vought Corsair, American fighter aircraft and formed on 8 November 1943, at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap). 1831 NAS disbanded into the other two squadrons before the wing embarked in the lead ship of her class of aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious (87). The aircraft carrier was initially with the Eastern Fleet and then moved to the British Pacific Fleet and the wing saw numerous operational activities with both. It disbanded on 28 July 1945, when the wing returned to the United Kingdom.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander J.W. Sleigh, DSC, RN, 8 November 1943
- Lieutenant Commander(A) R.J. Cork, DSO, DSC, RN, 2 December 1943 - (KiA 14 April 1944)
- Lieutenant Commander(A) A.M. Tritton, DSC & 2 Bars, RNVR, 15 April 1944
- disbanded, 28 July 1945
- 18th Naval MAC-Ship Wing - This was a proposed Wing. The intention was to form this wing in order to control the squadrons whose aircraft were embarked on the Merchant Aircraft Carriers, or MAC-Ships. 836 Naval Air Squadron became an operational pool of Fairey Swordfish, a British biplane torpedo bomber, operating from the MAC-Ships, absorbing other squadrons and detachments, and was given primary responsibility for all MAC-Ship flights. There is doubt if the MAC-Ship Wing, as it was more generally known, was ever known by its number.
- 21st Naval TBR Wing - formed at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) on 25 October 1943. It consisted 810 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons, both operating with Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber aircraft. The wing joined HMS Illustrious (87) during November 1943, then sailed to join the Eastern Fleet. It disbanded after 810 NAS absorbed 847 NAS on 30 June 1944.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander N.R. Corbet-Milward, RN, 25 October 1943
- Lieutenant Commander B.E. Boulding, DSC, RN, 18 November 1943
- Lieutenant Commander(A) A.J.B. Forde, RN, 27 February 1944
- disbanded, 30 June 1944
- 24th Naval Fighter Wing - formed of 887 and 894 Naval Air Squadrons on 25 October 1943, at RNAS Henstridge (HMS Dipper). Both squadrons were equipped with Supermarine Seafire. The wing joined HMS Indefatigable during May 1944, for operations off Norway. HMS Indefatigable joined the Eastern Fleet during November 1944, and then joined British Pacific Fleet. The wing was involved in operations against Japanese forces, before being absorbed into 7th Carrier Air Group, on 30 June 1945.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander N.G. Hallett, DSC, RN, 31 December 1943
- Lieutenant Commander B.F. Wiggington, DSC, RNVR, 22 May 1944
- Lieutenant Commander(A) A.J. Thomson, DSC, RNVR, 1 November 1944
- Lieutenant Commander N.G. Hallett, DSC, RN, 12 March 1945
- disbanded into 7th Carrier Air Group, 30 June 1945
- 30th Naval Fighter Wing - formed at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) on 10 October 1944 and consisting Supermarine Seafire equipped 810 and 880 Naval Air Squadrons. The wing embarked in HMS Implacable during November 1944, sailing, to join up with the British Pacific Fleet, on 15 March 1945. However, the wing disbanded into the 8th Carrier Air Group, on 30 June 1945, before seeing any operations.
- Wing Leader
- Lieutenant Commander C.P. Campbell-Horsfall, RN, 10 October 1944
- 31st Naval TBR Wing - it was proposed to form during October 1943 at RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk). It was to consist 832 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons, both equipped with Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bombers aircraft. However, intended for the Illustrious-class HMS Victorious (R38), the aircraft carrier was not available and therefore, in November, the formation of the wing was cancelled. The squadrons were reallocated to HMS Engadine, for passage to the Far East.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander WH Crawford, RN, 20 October 1943
- disbanded, 26 November 1943
- 45th Naval TBR Wing - formed for service in HMS Indefatigable, with the Fairey Barracuda equipped 822 and 823 Naval Air Squadrons, on 25 October 1943, however, until the squadrons were ready to depart in HMS Atheling, to join the Eastern Fleet during February 1944, they did not combine. The wing was renumbered as 11th Naval TBR Wing, on 21 April 1944.
- Wing Leaders
- Lieutenant Commander B.E. Boulding, DSC, RN, 25 October 1943
- Lieutenant Commander G. Douglas, DFC, RN, 1 December 1943
- unidentified, 31 January 1944
- renumbered 11th Naval TBR Wing, 21 April 1944
- 47th Naval Fighter Wing - consisted 1834 and 1836 Naval Air Squadrons and formed on 17 January 1944 at RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap). Both units were equipped with Vought Corsair fighter aircraft. The wing joined up with the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious (R38), during March 1944 to cover with air strikes against the German battleship Tirpitz. During June, the carrier and wing travelled to Ceylon, and the wing was augmented with 1837 Naval Air Squadron in August 1944, also equipped with Vought Corsair, however, this squadron disbanded into the other two. The wing saw action against Japanese forces, before being absorbed into the 1st Carrier Air Group on 30 June 1945.
- Wing Leader
- Lieutenant Commander(A) F.R.A. Turnbull, DSC, RN, 17 January 1944
- Major R.C. Hay, DSC, RM, 14 August 1944 (Lieutenant Colonel 12 December 1944)
- disbanded into 1st Carrier Air Group, 30 June 1945
- 52nd Naval TBR Wing - Initially planned for the name ship of her class HMS Implacable (R86), with 815 and 829 Naval Air Squadrons, in October 1943, the wing actually formed on 26 November and was reallocated to the Illustrious-class aircraft carrier, HMS Victorious (R38). However, with the aircraft carrier unavailable, the squadrons joined the Ruler-class escort carrier, HMS Begum (D38) and operated with the 12th Naval Wing. The wing formed again on 5 January 1944, for HMS Victorious (R38). It was made up of 829 and 831 Naval Air Squadrons, both operated with Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bomber aircraft and was later augmented by 827 Naval Air Squadron for air strikes on the German battleship Tirpitz. The wing disbanded on 9 July 1944, when 831 NAS absorbed 829 NAS.
- Wing Leader
- Lieutenant Commander J.C.N. Shrubsole, RN, 26 November 1943
- Lieutenant Commander E.M. Britton, RN, 5 January 1944
- Lieutenant Commander(A) F.H. Fox, RN, 24 January 1944
- Lieutenant Commander V. Rance, OBE, RN, 15 February 1944
- disbanded, 9 July 1944
Wing Codes 1943-45
List of Wing Codes of the Fleet Air Arms Naval Air Wings, applied between 1943 and 1945.
| Letter | Wing name | Active |
|---|
| A | 15th Naval Fighter Wing | November 1943 - July 1945 |
| B | 26 | (not formed) |
| C | 29 | (not formed) |
| D | 4th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1943 - November 1945 |
| E | 16 | (not formed) |
| F | 35 | (not formed) |
| G | 28 | (not formed) |
| H | 24th Naval Fighter Wing | November 1943 - June 1945 |
| I | 11th Naval TBR Wing | April 1944 - July 1944 |
| J | 44 | (not formed) |
| K | 3rd Naval Fighter Wing | November 1943 - October 1945 |
| L | 6th Naval Fighter Wing | February 1944 - June 1945 |
| M | 18th Naval MAC-Ship Wing | May 1943 - July 1945 |
| N | 40 | (not formed) |
| O | 10th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1944 - February 1945 |
| P | 30th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1944 - June 1945 |
| Q | 43 | (not formed) |
| R | 5th Naval Fighter Wing | February 1943 - June 1945 |
| S | 49 | (not formed) |
| T | 47th Naval Fighter Wing | January 1944 - June 1945 |
| U | 22 | (not formed) |
| V | 42 | (not formed) |
| W | 7th Naval Fighter Wing | October 1943 - February 1944 |
| X | 33 | (not formed) |
| Y | 37 | (not formed) |
| Z | 13 | (not formed) | |
Carrier Air Groups
See main article: List of Fleet Air Arm groups.
List of active Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Carrier Air Groups between 1945 and 1954:
See also
References
Bibliography
- Book: Sturtivant . R . Ballance . T . The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm . 1994 . Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. Tonbridge, Kent, UK . 0-85130-223-8 .
- Book: Ballance . Theo . Howard . Lee . Sturtivant . Ray . The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm . 2016 . Air Britain Historians Limited . 978-0-85130-489-2 . en.
- Book: Wragg, David . The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945 . 2019 . The History Press . Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK . 978-0-7509-9303-6 . en.
