prOOne Sorry BHR, but the Fleet Air Arm is just a nickname, it does NOT exist. It started out as the Royal Naval Air Service, it was then merged with the RFC to form the RAF, who deigned to call the tiny rump of embarked airpower they retained the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force.” This is where the nickname originates.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
prOOne - if this is a bite then you've well and truly hooked me. If this is what you really believe, then aside from being just really sad, you're plain wrong and miles off target with today's current thinking and serving personnel.
Anyway, some dates for your Light Blue diary:
7 May 1909 - Admiralty signed tender for first aircraft
25 Apr 1911 - First 4 RN pilots completed flying training at Eastchurch
10 Jan 1912 - First aircraft launch from a British warship
13 Apr 1912 - RFC, comprising Naval and Military Wings constituted by Royal Warrant
1 Apr 1914 - All Army airships transferred to Naval Wing of RFC
1 Jul 1914 - Royal Naval Air Service formed out of the Naval Wing of the RFC
7 Jun 1915 - Sub Lt Warneford awarded VC (first RNAS VC)
16 Feb 1916 - Army took over air defence of the UK from the RNAS
2 Aug 1917 - First deck landing, Sqn Cdr Dunning HMS FURIOUS
1 Apr 1918 - RNAS and RFC amalgamated to create RAF
1 Apr 1924 - Ship borne element of RAF given the name Fleet Air Arm
2 Apr 1931 - Rear Admiral Henderson appointed as first Aviation Flag Officer
30 Jul 1937 - Cabinet approved Inskip Award, return of FAA to the Admiralty
24 May 1939 - Full control of FAA restored to Admiralty from Air Ministry
15 Apr 1941 - RAF Coastal Command placed under Admiralty command
15 Aug 1945 - Aircraft from HMS INDEFATIGABLE flew the last operational mission of WW2 and shot down the last enemy aircraft
Perhaps, having reviewed the FACTS above, you'd like to apologise to the families and friends and members of the FAA, past, present and future, for denying the existence of a service they have been proud to serve in and in some cases paid the ultimate sacrifice?