No. 1457 Flight RAF
An A-20 Havoc of the USAAF, like the ones used by the flight
Active15 Sep 1941 – 8 Sep 1942
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleNight Fighter (Turbinlite)
Part ofNo. 10 Group RAF, Fighter Command[1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryNo known badge
Squadron CodesNo known identification code for the flight is known to have been carried

No. 1457 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Colerne on 15 September 1941, and was equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 247 Squadron. By 15 November 1941 the flight moved to RAF Predannack, Cornwall.[3] During its operational life the flight had three sightings of possible enemy aircraft. The first occasion was on 24 June 1942,[4] when the flight lit up a suspected Ju 88 and the satellite fighters of 247 sqn fired - on a RAF Short Stirling.[4] Others sightings occurred on 27 June and in August, but no enemy aircraft was shot down.[4] The flight was replaced with 536 Squadron on 8 September 1942[3] (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)[5] but officially disbanded as late as 31 December 1942.[3]

536 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,[6] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[7]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 1457 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][4]
FromToAircraftVersion
15 September 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I (Turbinlite)
15 September 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I
15 September 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.II (Turbinlite)
15 September 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.II
15 September 19418 September 1942Douglas BostonMk.II (Turbinlite)
15 September 19418 September 1942Douglas BostonMk.III (Turbinlite)

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1457 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][4]
FromToBase
15 September 194115 November 1941RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
15 November 19418 September 1942RAF Predannack, Cornwall

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 1457 Flight RAF, data from[4]
FromToName
15 September 1941May 1942S/Ldr. J.R. Watson
May 19428 September 1942S/Ldr. Motion


References

Notes
  1. ↑ Delve 1994, p. 57.
  2. 1 2 3 Lake 1999, p. 90.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rawlings 1978, p. 465.
  5. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  6. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 403.
  7. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 463.
Bibliography
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • 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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