No. 1457 Flight RAF

No. 1457 Flight RAF

An A-20 Havoc of the USAAF, like the ones used by the flight
Active 15 Sep 1941 – 8 Sep 1942
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Role Night Fighter (Turbinlite)
Part of No. 10 Group RAF, Fighter Command[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldry No known badge
Squadron Codes No known identification code for the flight is known to have been carried

No. 1457 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Colerne on 15 September 1941, and was equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 247 Squadron. By 15 November 1941 the flight moved to RAF Predannack, Cornwall.[3] During its operational life the flight had three sightings of possible enemy aircraft. The first occasion was on 24 June 1942,[4] when the flight lit up a suspected Ju 88 and the satellite fighters of 247 sqn fired - on a RAF Short Stirling.[4] Others sightings occurred on 27 June and in August, but no enemy aircraft was shot down.[4] The flight was replaced with 536 Squadron on 8 September 1942[3] (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)[5] but officially disbanded as late as 31 December 1942.[3]

536 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[2][3][4]
From To Aircraft Version
15 September 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite)
15 September 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I
15 September 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II (Turbinlite)
15 September 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II
15 September 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.II (Turbinlite)
15 September 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.III (Turbinlite)

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1457 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][4]
From To Base
15 September 1941 15 November 1941 RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
15 November 1941 8 September 1942 RAF Predannack, Cornwall

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 1457 Flight RAF, data from[4]
From To Name
15 September 1941 May 1942 S/Ldr. J.R. Watson
May 1942 8 September 1942 S/Ldr. Motion

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Delve 1994, p. 57.
  2. 1 2 3 Lake 1999, p. 90.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rawlings 1978, p. 465.
  5. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  6. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 403.
  7. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 463.
Bibliography
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE, BA, RAF(Retd.). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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