No. 537 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 537 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite
nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force
during the Second World War.
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 245 squadron
while still 1458 flight, the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricane
s. 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.
Turbinlite
The Helmore/GEC Turbinlite was a 2,700 million candela searchlight fitted in the nose of a number of British Douglas Havoc night fighters during the early part of the Second World War and around the time of The Blitz....
nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Second World War.
History
No. 537 Squadron was formed at RAF Middle Wallop, HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
on 8 September 1942, from No. 1458 (Turbinlite) Flight
No. 1458 Flight RAF
No. 1458 Flight was formed at RAF Middle Wallop on 6 December 1941, from elements of No. 93 Squadron RAF, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 245 Squadron...
, as part of No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932....
in Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
. 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 245 squadron
No. 245 Squadron RAF
No. 245 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew as an anti-submarine squadron during World War I and as a fighter squadron during World War II. After the war it was first a jet-fighter squadron and its last role was as a radar-calibration unit....
while still 1458 flight, the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s. 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
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | 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 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
Mk.IIb |
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force... |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... P.L. Burke, AFC Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"... |