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No. 538 Squadron RAF

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No. 538 Squadron RAF
Active2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleTurbinlite nightfighter squadron
Part ofNo. 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

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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

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Aircraft operated by No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]
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

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Bases and airfields used by No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from[1][2][3][5]
From To Base
2 September 1942 25 January 1943 RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire

Commanding officers

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Officers commanding No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from[3]
From To Name
8 September 1942 25 January 1943 S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  2. ^ a b www.rafcommands.com
  3. ^ a b c d e Rawlings 1978, p. 466.
  4. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  5. ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 403.

Bibliography

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  • 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)
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