The 11th Carrier Air Group (11th CAG) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) carrier air group of the Royal Navy (RN). It was formed in June 1945, at , a Royal Navy, Mobile Naval Operating Air Base (MONAB), established at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Nowra at Nowra, New South Wales, in Australia, for service in the British Pacific Fleet, until disbanding in November of the same year. The group was for the modified Illustrious-class aircraft carrier .

11th Carrier Air Group consisted of a number of squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm.

{|class="wikitable"

! style="text-align:center|Squadron

! style="text-align:center|Aircraft

! style="text-align:center|From

! style="text-align:center|To

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| 857 Naval Air Squadron || Grumman Avenger Mk.II || June 1945 || November 1945

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| 1839 Naval Air Squadron || Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I, II || June 1945 || November 1945

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| 1844 Naval Air Squadron || Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. II || June 1945 || November 1945

|-

|}

History

Following the conclusion of World War II in Europe, the squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, which were based on the Royal Navy's Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers for the British Pacific Fleet, underwent a significant reorganisation into Air Groups. This restructuring aligned with the operational strategies of the United States Navy and aimed to improve combat effectiveness against Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater during 1945. HMS Indomitable, the only ship of her class, was assigned Carrier Air Groups eleven and twelve. Each group comprised two squadrons of twenty-four Grumman Hellcats, one squadron of fifteen Grumman Avengers, and one squadron of twelve Fairey Fireflies.

1945

thumb|[[Fairey Barracudas and Grumman Hellcats being ranged on the flight deck of in 1945]]

On 30 June, the 5th Naval Fighter Wing was officially disbanded, leading to the integration of its Grumman Hellcat fighter squadrons, specifically 1839 and 1844 Squadrons, into the newly formed 11th Carrier Air Group (11 CAG). This group also included 857 Squadron, which was equipped with Grumman Avengers, with the group commanded by Commander N.S. Luard of the Royal Navy.

The 11 CAG was stationed at the Royal Naval Air Station at Nowra, , New South Wales, while HMS Indomitable underwent a refit, which was completed in late July. Following a shakedown period after the refit, HMS Indomitable took on her Air Group on 3 August to engage in flying training in preparation for her return to active combat. Designated as the flagship of the new 11th Aircraft Carrier Squadron, HMS Indomitable was ready for operations.

HMS Indomitable departed for Australia on 27 September and disembarked her Air Group to HMS Nabbington on 10 October. Upon arrival at RNAS Nowra, the squadron aircraft were withdrawn, and personnel from 1839 and 1844 Squadrons were re-embarked on 20 October as the ship set sail for the United Kingdom. 857 Squadron resumed its operational status upon the carrier's departure at sea on the 22.