No. 537 Squadron RAF explained
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 !! Version8 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 !! Base8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire | |
Commanding officers
Officers commanding No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from! From !! To !! Name8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | S/Ldr. P.L. Burke, AFC | |
References
Bibliography
- Book: Delve, Ken . The Source Book of the RAF . Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK . Airlife Publishing . 1994 . 1-85310-451-5.
- Book: Flintham . Vic . Andrew . Thomas . Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938 . Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK . Airlife Publishing Ltd. . 2003 . 1-84037-281-8.
- Book: Halley, James J. . The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988 . 1988 . Tonbridge, Kent, UK . Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.. 0-85130-164-9 .
- Book: Jefford, C.G. . RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 . 2001 . 2nd . Airlife Publishing Ltd. . Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK . 1-85310-053-6 .
- Book: Rawlings, John . Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft . London . Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. . 1978 . Revised . 1969 . 0-354-01028-X.
- Book: Sturtivant, Ray, ISO . John . Hamlin . RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK . Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. . 2007 . 0-85130-365-X.
External links
Notes and References
- http://www.rafcommands.com/Fighter/537F.html www.rafcommands.com