No. 1458 Flight RAF
An A-20 Havoc of the USAAF, like the ones used by the flight
Active6 Dec 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. 1458 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Middle Wallop on 6 December 1941,[2] from elements of No. 93 Squadron RAF, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[3] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 245 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 537 Squadron on 8 September 1942[2] (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)[4] but only officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.[2] 537 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,[5] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[6]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 1458 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][7]
FromToAircraftVersion
6 December 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I (Turbinlite)
6 December 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I
6 December 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.II
6 December 19418 September 1942Douglas BostonMk.III (Turbinlite)

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1458 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][7]
FromToBase
6 December 19418 September 1942RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 1458 Flight RAF, data from[7]
FromToName
6 December 1941May 1942S/Ldr. C.R. Stewart
May 19428 September 1942S/Ldr. P.L. Burke, AFC

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Delve 1994, p. 57.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  3. 1 2 3 Lake 1999, p. 90.
  4. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  5. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 403.
  6. ↑ Rawlings 1978, P. 463.
  7. 1 2 3 Rawlings 1978, p. 466.
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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