No. 1452 Flight RAF
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
No. 1452 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF West Malling on 22 May 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] On operations they co-operated at first with the Boulton Paul Defiants of 264 Squadron and later with the Hawker Hurricanes of 32 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 531 Squadron on 8 September 1942[3] (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)[4] but officially disbanded as late as 22 January 1943.[3]
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force| No. 1452 Flight RAF | |
|---|---|
An A-20 Havoc of the USAAF, like the ones used by the flight | |
| Active | 7 Jul 1941 – 8 Sep 1942 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Role | Night Fighter (Turbinlite) |
| Part of | No. 11 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 |
531 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]
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Turbinlite) |
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I |
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II (Turbinlite) |
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II |
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.II (Turbinlite) |
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
Flight bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 7 July 1941 | 8 September 1942 | RAF West Malling, Kent |