| No. 538 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Turbinlite nightfighter squadron |
| Part of | No. 9 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2] |
No. 538 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
History
[edit]No. 538 Squadron was formed at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire on 2[1] September 1942, from No. 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] as part of No. 9 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. 253 Squadron RAF while still 1458 Flight,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Hibaldstow on 25 January 1943,[1] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[5]
Aircraft operated
[edit]| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Nightfigter) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Turbinlite) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II (Turbinlite) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.I |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
Squadron bases
[edit]| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire |
Commanding officers
[edit]| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC |
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Jefford 2001, p. 97.
- ^ a b www.rafcommands.com
- ^ a b c d e Rawlings 1978, p. 466.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 403.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
- Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
- Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
[edit]- Squadron.cfm 538 Squadron history on MOD site
- No. 538 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history
- Squadron histories for nos. 521–540 squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
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