No. 1456 Flight RAF explained

Unit Name:No. 1456 Flight RAF
Dates:24 Nov 1941 ā€“ 2 Sep 1942
Branch: Royal Air Force
Role:Night Fighter (Turbinlite)
Command Structure:No. 9 Group RAF, Fighter Command[1]
Identification Symbol:No known badge
Identification Symbol Label:Squadron Badge heraldry
Identification Symbol 2:No known identification code for the flight is known to have been carried
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Squadron Codes

No. 1456 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Honiley, Warwickshire on 24 November 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 257 Squadron.[3] The flight was replaced with 535 Squadron on 2 September 1942[4] [5] but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.[4]

535 Sqn, which had taken over men and machines, carried on flying the Turbinlite Bostons and Havocs till the system was abandoned on 25 January 1943,[6] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[7]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 1457 Flight RAF, data from! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Mk.I (Turbinlite)
24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Mk.I
24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II (Turbinlite)
24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Mk.II (Turbinlite)
24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.III (Turbinlite)

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1456 Flight RAF, data from! From !! To !! Base
24 November 1941 June 1942
June 1942 2 September 1942 RAF High Ercall, Shropshire

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 1456 Flight RAF, data from! From !! To !! Name
24 November 1941 August 1942 S/Ldr. I.E. Chalmers-Watson, AFC
August 1942 2 September 1942 S/Ldr. B.H. Moloney

References

Notes
  • Bibliography
  • External links

    Notes and References

    1. Delve 1994, p. 57.
    2. Lake 1999, p. 90.
    3. Rawlings 1978, p. 465.
    4. Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
    5. Jefford 2001, p. 97.
    6. Halley 1988, p. 403.
    7. Rawlings 1978, p. 463.