Summary
No. 531 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
| No. 531 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 8 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Turbinlite nightfighter squadron |
| Part of | No. 11 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2] |
History edit
No. 531 Squadron was formed at RAF West Malling, Kent on 8[1] September 1942, from No. 1452 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] as part of No. 11 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 with the Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron RAF or later the Hawker Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron RAF in the Flight,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. The squadron moved to RAF Debden, Essex on 2 October 1942, but returned to West Malling a week later.[2] It was disbanded at West Malling 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 edit
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Turbinlite) |
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Nightfighter) |
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III |
| 8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
Squadron bases edit
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1943 | 2 October 1942 | RAF West Malling, Kent |
| 2 October 1942 | 9 October 1942 | RAF Debden, Essex |
| 9 October 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF West Malling, Kent |
Commanding officers edit
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| September 1942 | October 1942 | S/Ldr. G.R. Turner |
| October 1942 | January 1943 | S/Ldr. N.M. Browning |
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d e Jefford 2001, p. 97.
- ^ a b www.rafcommands.com
- ^ a b c d e Rawlings 1978, p. 464.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
- ^ a b c Halley 1988, p. 402.
Bibliography edit
- 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)
External links edit
- Squadron.cfm 531 Squadron history on MOD site
- No. 531 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history
- Squadron histories for nos. 521–540 squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation