Flying Squadron (Royal Navy)
The colourfully-named Flying Squadron was a precocious naval aviation formation created in March, 1918 to operate directly in support of the Grand Fleet.
History
Although aviation ships had operated in singles and pairs with the Grand Fleet and also formed the core of strike missions against coastal targets earlier in the war, they had not been available in sufficient numbers nor offered the speed and capability to merit a formation until the last year of the war. Even then, the dissimilar nature of ships in the Squadron would betray the prematurity of the initiative, especially when numbers of aircraft or platforms were considered. Conversely, the fact that such a formation was created and employed is a measure of the Royal Navy's considerable vision of the tactical role aviation would assume soon enough.
Rear-Admirals Commanding
Dates of appointment given:
- Rear-Admiral Richard F. Phillimore, 15 March, 1918[1] – 15 June, 1919[2]
- Captain Wilmot S. Nicholson, 15 June, 1919[3] – 29 November, 1919[4] (as Captain (A))
- Rear-Admiral Reginald G. H. Henderson, 21 September, 1931 – 15 September, 1933[5]
- Rear-Admiral The Hon. Alexander R. M. Ramsay, 15 September, 1933[6] – 29 August, 1935[7]
- Vice-Admiral Noel F. Laurence, c. 29 September, 1935[8] – 27 July, 1937[9]
- Rear-Admiral Guy C. C. Royle, 27 July, 1937[10] – 26 July, 1939[11]
- Rear-Admiral Lionel V. Wells, 26 July, 1939[12] – 20 August, 1940[13]
In July, 1919, the post of Admiral Commanding Aircraft was reduced to service by a Captain (A), working from the former flagship, Furious.[14]
Composition
March, 1918
This roster would last until July, 1918.[16][17][18]
July, 1918
Nairana has been detached, but remains an administrative unit within the Squadron.[19]
This roster would last just one month.
August, 1918
Nairana remains away, but the balloon ship Canning has joined.[20]
This roster would somewhere between one and three months.[21]
November, 1918
Nairana has rejoined, as have Argus and Vindictive. Campania has been detached.[22]
This roster would last just one month.
December, 1918
Canning has been detached.[23]
This roster would last until April, 1919.[24][25][26]
April, 1919
Pegasus has been detached to join with forces in the White Sea.[27]
This roster would last until May, 1919.
May, 1919
Pegasus is marked as being only temporarily detached, and Vindex has joined, possibly from the Aegean.[28][29]
- Furious
- Argus
- Nairana (temporarily detached)
- Pegasus (temporarily detached)
- Vindex (paid off)
- Vindictive
This roster would last just one month.
June, 1919
- Furious
- Argus
- Nairana (temporarily detached)
- Pegasus (temporarily detached)
- Vindictive
This roster would last just one month.
July, 1919
Furious loses her flag, as she is now home to a mere Captain (A).[32]
- Furious, Captain (A)
- Argus
- Nairana (temporarily detached)
- Pegasus (temporarily detached)
- Vindictive
Footnotes
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 6.
- ↑ Phillimore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 29a
- ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
- ↑ Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 239.
- ↑ Superseded by Ramsay that date. Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 210.
- ↑ Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 210.
- ↑ Ramsay Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 210.
- ↑ Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
- ↑ Laurence Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/175. f. 579.
- ↑ Royle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. 170.
- ↑ Wells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/181., f. 97.
- ↑ Wells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/181., f. 97.
- ↑ Wells Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/181., f. 97.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ No Supplements were located for September or October, 1918.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (November, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (April, 1919). pp. 10, 24.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 23.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). p. 10.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 23.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (July, 1919). p. 10.
Bibliography
