| Unit Name: | Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet |
| Dates: | 1861-1958 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance: | British Empire |
| Branch: | Royal Navy |
| Command Structure: | |
| Notable Commanders: | Vice-Admiral Ralph A. B. Edwards |
The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was a senior command appointment of the British Royal Navy from January 1947 to 1958 who also administered the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron from 1947 to 1951. The appointment was a continuation of the Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station first established in 1861 that underwent a series of name changes due to an expansion of additional duties given to the post holder.
The office holder was originally established as Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station in December 1861 then later Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet. On 18 July 1941 as part of an expansion of duties the post holder was renamed Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet until April 1942. The appointment of the Flag Officer, Air, and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet was created in January 1947 who was additionally responsible for administering the 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron [1] of the Mediterranean Fleet until February 1951 when it was disbanded. The Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet, then became responsible for commanding shore based aviation based at Malta until 1958.[2] HMS Ocean, Theasus and Glory continued to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet until October 1954.[2]
Included:[3]
Note:The office holder was sometimes styled as "Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station"
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet/Station | ||||||
| 1 | Rear-Admiral | December 1861-April 1863 | ||||
| 2 | Rear-Admiral | April 1863-April 1865 | ||||
| 3 | Rear-Admiral | May 1870-August 1872 | ||||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | 2 August 1872-December 1876 | ||||
| 5 | Rear-Admiral | May 1876-July 1877 | ||||
| 6 | Rear-Admiral | July 1877-1878 | ||||
| 7 | Rear-Admiral | Lord Walter Kerr | April 1890-April 1892 | |||
| 8 | Rear-Admiral | April 1892-April 1894 | ||||
| 9 | Rear-Admiral | April 1894-May 1896 | ||||
| 10 | Rear-Admiral | May 1896-February 1898 | ||||
| 11 | Rear-Admiral | Sir Gerard H. U. Noel | 1 February 1898-February 1900 | |||
| 12 | Rear-Admiral | February 1900-January 1902 | ||||
| 13 | Rear-Admiral | January-September 1902 | ||||
| 14 | Rear-Admiral | November 1902-November 1904 | ||||
| 15 | Vice-Admiral | November 1904-February 1906 | ||||
| 16 | Rear-Admiral | March 1906-February 1907 | ||||
| 17 | Vice-Admiral | February 1907-November 1908 | ||||
| 18 | Rear-Admiral | November 1908-October 1910 | ||||
| 19 | Rear-Admiral | October 1910-May 1912 | ||||
| 20 | Vice-Admiral | June-October 1913 | ||||
| 21 | Vice-Admiral | January 1919-September 1920 | ||||
| 22 | Rear-Admiral | September 1920-September 1922 | ||||
| 23 | Rear-Admiral | John D.Kelly | September 1922-August 1923 | |||
| 24 | Rear-Admiral | Hugh D. R. Watson | August 1923-April 1925 | |||
| 25 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Michael H. Hodges | April 1925-May 1927 | |||
| 26 | Vice-Admiral | May 1927-April 1929 | ||||
| 27 | Vice-Admiral | April 1929-October 1930 | ||||
| 28 | Vice-Admiral | October 1930-April 1932 | ||||
| 29 | Vice-Admiral | April 1932-May 1934 | ||||
| 30 | Vice-Admiral | May 1934-August 1936 | ||||
| 31 | Vice-Admiral | August 1936-July 1937 | ||||
| 32 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Andrew B. Cunningham | July 1937-August 1938 | |||
| 33 | Vice-Admiral | August 1938-November 1939 | ||||
Included:[4]
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-Admiral Commanding, Light Forces and Second-in-Command Mediterranean Fleet | |||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | 18 July, 1940 – 23 October, 1940 | |||
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | 24 October, 1940 – 1 April, 1942 | as acting V Adm. | ||
| Rank | Flag | Name | Term | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Officer, Air and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Fleet and Vice-Admiral, Commanding 2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron | |||||
| 1 | Vice-Admiral | January 1947 to January 1948 | also VADMCOMM, 2ACSQ | ||
| 2 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Thomas H. Troubridge: | January to December 1948 | ditto | |
| 3 | Vice-Admiral | December 1948 to April 1950 | ditto | ||
| 4 | Vice-Admiral | Guy Grantham | April 1950 to November 1951 | ditto | |
| 5 | Vice-Admiral | Ralph A. B. Edwards | November 1951 to December 1951 | ditto | |
| 6 | Vice-Admiral | December 1951 to December 1952 | 2nd AC Squadron is disbanded | ||
| 7 | Vice-Admiral | William W. Davis | December 1952 to February 1954 | ||
| 8 | Vice-Admiral | J. Peter L. Reid | February 1954 to August 1955 | ||
| 9 | Vice-Admiral | Maxwell Richmond | August 1955 to October 1956 | [6] | |
| 10 | Vice-Admiral | Sir Robin L.F. Durnford-Slater | October 1956 to 1958 | ||
Included:[2]
2nd Aircraft Carrier Squadron; Mediterranean Fleet 1947 to 1951
| Ship | Dates | Notes/Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1947 to December 1950 | |||
| February 1947 to August 1948 | |||
| June 1947 to August 1948 | |||
| December 1949 to December 1950 |