No. 1458 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Middle Wallop on 6 December 1941,[2] from elements of No. 93 Squadron RAF, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[3] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 245 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 537 Squadron on 8 September 1942[2] (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)[4] but only officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.[2] 537 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,[5] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[6]
No. 1458 Flight RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 6 Dec 1941 – 8 Sep 1942 |
Country | 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 |
From | To | Aircraft | Version |
---|---|---|---|
6 December 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Turbinlite) |
6 December 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I |
6 December 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II |
6 December 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
From | To | Base |
---|---|---|
6 December 1941 | 8 September 1942 | RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire |
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
6 December 1941 | May 1942 | S/Ldr. C.R. Stewart |
May 1942 | 8 September 1942 | S/Ldr. P.L. Burke, AFC |