"Fleet Air Arm (British Pacific Fleet) " Topic

Hi, looking for the answer to a couple of quick questions, hopefully not too difficult.
I have a comprehensive list of the fighter aircraft flown (looking at 1944-45), but not supporting craft, such as bombers, seaplanes etc.
So onto the questions, what if any supporting aircraft were used by the FAA or is the reason I cannot find the answer, that someone else flew these, such as RAN or RNZN.
that might actually be one question.
If I need to clarify then feel free to ask.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated
jon

I may have a book in my collection which may hold the answer to your question(s).

However I am just off to bed and I will have a look for it in the morning if no other kind soul on TMP gets there before me.

Whereabouts in Bonnie Scotland are you?

Sunny Chapelhall, by the sea. (For those not in the know, it is about 40 miles, east or west to any coast) it is junction 6 on the M8.
Look forward to hearing from you, in the morning.

Jon

The four light fleet carriers each had a squadron of 18 Barracudas for their attack force, while the big fleet carriers had 15-21 Avengers instead. (The larger carriers had double the fighter complement of the light fleet carriers, but didn't have a bigger bomber component.)

As well as the "pure" fighter squadrons, Implacable and Indefatigable each had a smaller 12-plane Firefly fighter / recce / any other job they could think of squadron,

Finally there were a few Walruses scattered around the fleet, but usually operated off of cruisers and battleships – for some reason Victorious had a brace of them (dubbed Darby and Joan, ex-RAAF) for air sea rescue work, but none of the other fleet carriers seem to have carried them.

Breakdowns of most of the carrier air groups can be found between these two sites:

link

link

(Pioneer and Unicorn were used as maintenance carriers, so the striking force was 10 air groups: Colossus, Formidable, Glory, Illustrious, Implacable, Indefatigable, Indomitable, Venerable, Vengeance and Victorious.)

PS – A nice read about the ASR Walrus detachment:

link

@Jon

I found the book I was looking for.

It does not have such a comprehensive list as the links supplied by Dom above but it does tell details of some of the missions including how many aircraft of each type and what they did.

If you can come and speak to me at Carronade I can give you the book to read.

I reviewed the book on my blog some time ago.

link

Thanks, that would be great. See you at Carronade.

Jon

thanks for the links..