Ha, it will do.:O

I know it's long after the event, but I've been trying to understand modern RN air ops and still have some questions that I hope those in the know might be able to answer...

Like many other viewers, one of the first things I noticed was the presence of a 'CAG', rather than Commander (Air) as previously.

- Is the name a very deliberate copy of the USN term, for ease of interoperability/common language? It's long been a misnomer there since Air Groups became Air Wings - do the RN also refer to Air Wings?
- As I understand it, in the USN the CAG used to be a Commander (O-5) reporting to the CO of the carrier up until the 1960s, when the role became a Captain (O-6) reporting to the CO of the Battle Group. Has the RN made an identical change, albeit one that that it wasn't deemed necessary to make onInvincible-class ships due to their size (or size of their battle group)?

Later on in the series we do encounter Commander (Air) though. Where does he fit in? Is the role now equivalent to the USN's Air Boss? Or, in very approximate RAF-speak, OC Ops Wing?

Commander (Air) responsible for aviation assets on the carrier, CAG responsible for aviation assets of the entire carrier Strike Group plus visitors.

The CAG (officially Carrier Air Wing Commander) is a Captain (O-6), the current generation of NAS COs are Commanders (in the case of 617 could be a Wg Cdr or Cdr) not as in the past usually Lt Cdrs, then Cdr Hugh Drake RN of 892 was an exception. One reason I heard was that it was also necessary to outrank the COs of embarked USMC F-35B squadrons such as VMA-211 who are Lt Cols (O-5). The CAG on CSG21 Capt James Blackmore RN was prior to appointment and simultaneous promotion Wings on QNLZ as a Cdr. Pr00ne is correct in saying CAG is in charge all the air assets in the CSG.

Hugh Drake
 

Hugh still going, albeit somewhat frail nowadays.

A man of many stories and about to be the victim of circumstances re accommodation in the twilight of his years.

If you know Hugh, PM me and I can update.

TN.