Indomitable's January and April 1942 complements provide the best guide to December 1941 instead of the later August organization. A plausible group would consist of twelve Fulmars, nine Sea Hurricanes, and twenty-four Albacores, potentially reinforced by eight Fulmars from 807 Squadron at Gibraltar. Folding-wing Fulmars and Albacores could use the hangars while non-folding Sea Hurricanes relied heavily on deck parking. The resulting force of about fifty-three aircraft fits both the carrier's physical capacity and the wartime pattern of operating below a theoretical maximum because of maintenance and attrition.
Chapter · 43:46-48:06
Reconstructing Indomitable's likely December 1941 air group
Contemporary squadron evidence suggests a mixed fighter and strike group of about 53 aircraft rather than a later 1942 fit.