Why where there no aircraft on HMS Hermes to provide air cover when she was sunk in 1942.?

Question

What were the numbers of the last operational Fleet Air Arm squadrons on the Hermes before she was sunk? Where were they when the Hermes was sunk. Before her refit was the Hermes being used to ferry aircraft for the RAF or any other forces.

Answer 1

The Hermes had no serviceable aircraft embarked when she was attacked.  She had just come out of refit, and joined the fleet to search for the Japanese fleet.  

It would have made no difference if the British had been able to get an airwing to her.  Nothing the RN has in 1942 was a match for the Zero.

Quite similar to the IJN Shinnano in regards to being at sea without an airwing embarked.

Answer 2

HMS Hermes was in a port in Ceylon, undergoing repairs, when a Japanese air raid was sounded. She moved out to sea along with other vessels to avoid being hit inside the port. When the raid was over, HMS Hermes was returning back to port to complete her repairs when she was heavily attacked by the Japanese carrier fleet aircraft. She sank with a loss of over 300 men. During repairs, she did not have any of her aircraft on board and, consequently, when attacked, was totally defenceless. In any case, her fleet of aircraft was hardly a match for the Japanese and coupled with her many design flaws, would not have been able to defend herself with her own aircraft.