No. 537 Squadron RAF explained

Unit Name:No. 537 Squadron RAF
Dates:8 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943
Country: United Kingdom
Branch: Royal Air Force
Role:Turbinlite nightfighter squadron
Command Structure:No. 10 Group RAF, Fighter Command[1]
Identification Symbol Label:Squadron Badge heraldry
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Squadron Codes

No. 537 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

History

No. 537 Squadron was formed at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire on 8 September 1942, from No. 1458 (Turbinlite) Flight, as part of No. 10 Group RAF in Fighter Command. Instead of operating only Turbinlite and -rudimentary- Airborne Intercept (AI) radar equipped aircraft (Havocs and Bostons) and working together with a normal nightfighter unit, such as in their case No. 245 Squadron RAF while still 1458 Flight, the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Middle Wallop on 25 January 1943, when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 Mk.I (Nightfigter)
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite)
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 Douglas Havoc Mk.II (Nightfigter)
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 Mk.III (Turbinlite)
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 Mk.IIb
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from! From !! To !! Base
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from! From !! To !! Name
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 S/Ldr. P.L. Burke, AFC

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rafcommands.com/Fighter/537F.html www.rafcommands.com