| Unit Name: | No. 1459 Flight RAF |
| Dates: | 20 Sep 1941 – 2 Sep 1942 |
| Branch: | Royal Air Force |
| Role: | Night Fighter (Turbinlite) |
| Command Structure: | No. 12 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. 1459 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on 20 September 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] By 21 September 1941 the flight moved to RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire.[3] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 253 Squadron.[4]
1459 Flight was perhaps the most successful unit of its kind: after becoming operational in March 1942 they made their first target illumination was on 28 April 1942, but that night the satellite aircraft were not in position.[4] Two days later Flt/Lt. C.V. Winn illuminated a He 111 which fell victim to S/Ldr. Yapp of 253 sqn.[4] [5] Three more contacts were made in May 1942, but all proved friendly.[4] In July by now S/Ldr. C.V. Winn scored a probable Do 217 and P/O J.A. Gunn another Do 217 damaged.[4] A further aircraft was claimed as damaged in August,[4] giving a total of one destroyed, one probable and two damaged.
The flight was replaced with 538 Squadron on 2 September 1942[3] [6] but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.[3] 538 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,[7] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[8]
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Mk.I | ||
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Mk.I (Turbinlite) | ||
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II | |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II (Turbinlite) | |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.II (Turbinlite) | |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III | |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
| 20 September 1941 | 21 September 1941 | ||
| 21 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire |
| 20 September 1941 | March 1942 | S/Ldr. J.B. Nicholson, VC | |
| March 1942 | May 1942 | S/Ldr. V.R. Oats | |
| May 1942 | 2 September 1942 | S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC |