No. 538 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
No. 538 Squadron RAF | |
---|---|
Active | 2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Role | Turbinlite nightfighter squadron |
Part of | No. 9 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2] |
No. 538 Squadron was formed at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire on 2[1] September 1942, from No. 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] 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,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Hibaldstow 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]
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 |
From | To | Base |
---|---|---|
2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire |
From | To | Name |
---|---|---|
8 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC |
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