List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons

There are hundreds of Inactive US Navy aircraft squadrons dating back to before World War I. These are sometimes erroneously referred to as "decommissioned" squadrons, but proper usage is that squadrons are "established", "disestablished", or "redesignated", while ships are "commissioned" or "decommissioned". Many squadrons have been re-designated or re-established, etc. making their "lineage" somewhat difficult to chart. Squadrons that have not been disestablished, including those that have been redesignated, are in the List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons. The US Navy's official position is that — as with ships — once a squadron is disestablished, its lineage is not passed on, though its name, insignia and traditions may be adopted by a new unit. If a squadron is re-designated with a new name while still considered "active" its history and lineage carry on under the new name.