replacement air groups squadrons

[[email protected]]

I have a question about replacement air groups and squadrons. Is a
RAG a floater squadron that fills in when the regular fleet squadrons
are standing down for training, etc? Does the RAG designation rotate
from squadron to squadron, or are there only dedicated RAG squadrons?

[Mike Kanze]

Each RAG squadron (acronym once stood for "Replacement Air Group," way back during antediluvian times) is permanently dedicated to training aircrew and maintenance folks in a specific aircraft type. RAG squadrons are permanently shore-based and RAG responsibilities do not rotate among fleet squadrons of the same aircraft type.

--
Mike Kanze

"I'd rather hunt with Dick Cheney than take a drive with Ted Kennedy."

- Recent Bumper Sticker


> wrote in message oups.com...
I have a question about replacement air groups and squadrons. Is a
RAG a floater squadron that fills in when the regular fleet squadrons
are standing down for training, etc? Does the RAG designation rotate
from squadron to squadron, or are there only dedicated RAG squadrons?

[[email protected]]

No Spam wrote:
> Perhaps the OP's confusion comes from the fact that RAG outfits *do*
> very often deploy aboard carriers in order to conduct training?
>

That's exactly where my confusion comes from. I thought that the RAG
designation rotates from squadron to squadron, because I've heard of
RAG squadrons being assigned to carriers. Thank you for clearing it up
guys!

[[email protected]]

On 17 Feb 2006 06:03:50 -0800, wrote:

>
>No Spam wrote:
>> Perhaps the OP's confusion comes from the fact that RAG outfits *do*
>> very often deploy aboard carriers in order to conduct training?
>>
>
>That's exactly where my confusion comes from. I thought that the RAG
>designation rotates from squadron to squadron, because I've heard of
>RAG squadrons being assigned to carriers. Thank you for clearing it up
>guys!

RAG squadrons do not generally deploy; detachments from RAG squadron
often deploy. And not just to ships, but sometimes to specific
training environments (firing and bombing ranges; instrumented ranges;
etc.).

Unless things have changed, the RAG squadrons also have a primary role
in NATOPS development. They also train more senior personnel (officer
and enlisted) in the various aircraft utilizations and systems.

They are a resevoir of specialized knowledge.

Bill Kambic
Bill Kambic
Haras Lucero, Kingston, TN
Mangalarga Marchador: Uma Raça, Uma Paixão