The 7th Carrier Air Group (7th CAG) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) carrier air group of the Royal Navy (RN). It was last active between 1950 and 1951 as the 7th Night Air Group embarked in the light aircraft carrier,
It was initially formed in June 1945, at , a Royal Navy Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base RAAF Station Schofields situated at Schofields, New South Wales, in Australia. The unit was allocated to the Implacable-class aircraft carrier as part of the British Pacific Fleet.
Naval Air Squadrons
7th 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
|-
| 820 Naval Air Squadron || Grumman Avenger Mk.II || June 1945 || March 1946
|-
| 887 Naval Air Squadron || Supermarine Seafire F Mk.III, L Mk.III || June 1945 || March 1946
|-
| 894 Naval Air Squadron || Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III || June 1945 || March 1946
|-
| 1700 Naval Air Squadron || Fairey Firefly I || June 1945 || July 1945
|-
| 1772 Naval Air Squadron || Fairey Firefly I || July 1945 || March 1946
|-
| 809 Naval Air Squadron || de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 || December 1950 || June 1951
|-
| 814 Naval Air Squadron || Fairey Firefly FR.I, AS.Mk 6 || December 1950 || June 1951
|}
History
The squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, embarked in the Royal Navy’s Fleet and Light Fleet aircraft carriers, were organized into Air Groups in alignment with United States Navy policy following the conclusion of World War II in Europe. This reorganisation aimed to facilitate operations in the Pacific Theater against Japanese forces in 1945. The two vessels of the were designated to Carrier Air Groups seven through ten. Each ship was equipped with two squadrons of twenty-four Supermarine Seafire aircraft, alongside one squadron of fifteen Grumman Avengers and another squadron of fifteen Fairey Fireflys.
1945-1946
thumb|, underway at sea
thumb|[[Fairey Firefly of 1770 Squadron, about to take off from HMS Indefatigable, an example of the type also used by 1772 Squadron]]
The 7th Carrier Air Group was formed on 30 June 1945, , a Royal Navy MONAB located at RAAF Station Schofields, in Australia. The 7th CAG was assigned to the Implacable-class aircraft carrier, , for service in the British Pacific Fleet. It was made up of 820 Naval Air Squadron, which operated Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber aircraft, 1770 Naval Air Squadron which flew Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft and the squadrons from the 24th Naval Fighter Wing: 887 Naval Air Squadron and 894 Naval Air Squadron, both of which were equipped with Supermarine Seafire, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft.
As a result of the pressures associated with extended operations, it was decided to relieve 1770 Naval Air Squadron from frontline responsibilities, with the newly arrived 1772 Naval Air Squadron , which had been undergoing training in Australia since late March, taking their position.
Mainland Japan strikes
The air groups squadrons embarked in HMS Indefatigable on the 7 July and the carrier sailed for Manus. On 20 July, the carrier joined the British Pacific Fleet after their first series of attacks on Japan, during the initial full replenishment period. A replenishment and refuelling period, initially scheduled from 20 to 23 July, was moved forward to 19 July because of adverse weather conditions. The weather continued to be unfavourable for the resumption of flying operations until 24 July. At this time, large external fuel tanks were now being used by the CAG's Supermarine Seafire aircraft, therefore, were now no longer limited to combat air patrol (CAP) due to restricted range.
The second series of airstrikes on Mainland Japan occurred from 24 to 25 July.
On 24 July, airstrike '2D' constituted a Ramrod mission involving twelve Supermarine Seafires that were deployed from HMS Indefatigable to engage targets located at Takamatsu and Kanonji. Airstrike '3' represented a subsequent combined strike, which included eight Supermarine Seafires serving as escorts from the air group. Airstrike '4' marked a third combined strike, featuring sixteen Supermarine Seafires alongside eight Fairey Fireflies launched from the carrier. On this date, HMS Indefatigables Supermarine Seafires participated in ground attack operations for the first time, with twelve Seafires undertaking a Ramrod mission aimed at targets in Takamatsu and Kanonji. In this capacity, they were equipped with 2 x bombs, with a single bomb mounted under each wing.
thumb|left|A [[Supermarine Seafire belly landing, whose undercarriage was damaged during on operation against the Japanese, on board HMS Indefatigable]]
On 25 July, airstrike '2D', which comprised twelve Supermarine Seafires from the air group, was aborted due to adverse weather conditions upon making landfall. A significant deck crash transpired on HMS Indefatigable when Sub-Lieutenant Gall of 894 Squadron breached the barrier and collided with the island, resulting in the tail swinging and the barrier cables sliding up the aircraft, striking the pilot on the head. He succumbed to his injuries the following day. An additional replenishment period occurred from 26 to 27 July.
Series two airstrikes continued between 28 and 30 July.
On 28 July, airstrike '2D' comprised eight Supermarine Seafires from HMS Indefatigable targeting the Sato and Minato airfields. On 29 July, no air operations were planned; however, the subsequent day saw airstrike '2D' organised with eight Supermarine Seafires from the air group designated for anti-shipping operations in Nagoya Bay.
From the remaining Supermarine Seafires of 894 Squadron, Sub Lieutenant D.N. Duncan, RNVR, engaged two enemy aircraft; one descended in flames at a near-vertical angle, while another was likely destroyed. Sub Lieutenant R.C. Kay, RNVR, successfully severed the tail of one Mitsubishi A6M Zero and inflicted damage on another. However, Sub Lieutenant R.A. Gorvin, RNVR, sustained damage during the engagement with the Mitsubishi A6M Zeros over Odaki Bay but was able to land safely.
This marked the final British aerial engagement of the conflict; A directive was issued to halt all air assault operations, and shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that Japan had accepted the terms of surrender set forth by the Allies. HMS Indefatigables air group continued to fly combat air patrols and also flew reconnaissance missions looking for Allied prisoners of war (POWs), dropping supplies to them as they were located.
The flying operations continued until the group entered Sagami Bay on 5 September. They departed three days later for Australia, where the aircraft carrier had a refit. Upon arriving at the coast of New South Wales, her squadrons departed prior to entering the harbor; 887, 894, and 1772 Naval Air Squadrons proceeded to RNAS Schofield (HMS Nabthorpe), while 820 Squadron was directed to RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington).
The aircraft carrier and its air group returned to the United Kingdom, via New Zealand, Australia again and also South Africa. The aircraft carrier and its air group arrived at HMNB Portsmouth on the 16 March 1946 and the 7th Carrier Air Group disbanded on 23 March.
1950-1951
thumb|left|[[de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21; an example of the type used by 809 Squadron]]
On the 7 December 1950, the group reformed, but was known as the 7th Night Air Group. It was assigned to the light aircraft carrier, and was made up of 809 Naval Air Squadron, which operated de Havilland Hornet, a twin-engine fighter aircraft, and 814 Naval Air Squadron, which was equipped with Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft.
814 Naval Air Squadron was awarded the Boyd Trophy for its high standard of operational efficiency, night flying with the Fairey Firefly aircraft whilst deployed onboard HMS Vengeance, in 1951.
The night air group approach was deemed unsuccessful, only lasting for six months. The group disbanded on the 1 June 1951.
Aircraft carriers
Aircraft carriers which the 7th Carrier Air Group was assigned to:
- (June 1945 - March 1946)
- (December 1950 - June 1951)
Aircraft used
Aircraft used by the naval air squadrons that formed the 7th Carrier Air Group from 1945 to 1946 and between 1950 and 1951:
- Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber
- Supermarine Seafire, a navalised version of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft for service on British aircraft carriers
- de Havilland Sea Hornet, a navalised version of the de Havilland Hornet fighter aircraft for service on British aircraft carriers
- Fairey Firefly, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft
Air Group Commanders
List of commanding officers of the 7th Carrier Air Group, with date of appointment:
1945 - 1946
- Lieutenant Commander N.G. Hallet, , RN, from 30 June 1945
- disbanded - 23 March 1946
1950 - 1951
- Lieutenant Commander J.O. Armour, RN, from 7 December 1950
- none, from 17 April 1951
- disbanded - 1 June 1951
See also
- List of Fleet Air Arm groups
- List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
- List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
- List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft in World War II