| No. 538 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Turbinlite nightfighter squadron |
| Part of | No. 9 Group RAF, Fighter Command |
No. 538 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
History
No. 538 Squadron was formed at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire on 2 September 1942, from No. 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight, 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, the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Hibaldstow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC |
References
Notes
- ^ Jefford 2001, p. 97.
- ^ www.rafcommands.com
- ^ Rawlings 1978, p. 466.
- Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 403.
Bibliography
- 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) . 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.
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External links
- Squadron.cfm 538 Squadron history on MOD site
- No. 538 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history
- Squadron histories for nos. 521–540 squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
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