No. 1439 Flight RAF
A Westland Whirlwind helicopter, like the ones used in the flight
Active? - June 1942
8 May 1957 – 20 November 1957
RoleStrategic Reconnaissance
Transport
Garrison/HQWestern Desert (Egypt)
RAF Hemswell
RAF Christmas Island
EquipmentBristol Blenheim
Vickers Varsity
Avro Anson>
Westland Whirlwind

There is unconfirmed evidence that a No. 1439 (Strategic Reconnaissance) Flight RAF was formed during the Western Desert Campaign ca. June 1942, flying Bristol Blenheim aircraft.[1][2]

The flight was reformed as No. 1439 (Communication Support) Flight at RAF Hemswell on 8 May 1957 to support the Nuclear Weapons Task Force during the Operation Grapple nuclear weapon tests on or near Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in a remote Pacific region.[1] Flying continued for six months until the Flight was dis-banded on 20 November 1957.[1]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 1439 Flight RAF, data from[1][2]
FromToAircraftVersionExample
June 1942 ?Bristol Blenheim
1 May 195720 November 1957Vickers VarsityT.1WL676
1 May 195720 November 1957Avro AnsonMk.XIXTX196
1 May 195720 November 1957Westland WhirlwindHAR.2XD164

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1439 Flight RAF, data from[1][2]
FromToBase
June 1942 ?Western desert
1 May 195722 August 1957RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire
22 August 1957 ?LRWRE Woomera, Australia
 ?20 November 1957RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lake 1999, p. 89.
  2. 1 2 3 Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
Bibliography
  • Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.


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