No. 1456 Flight RAF
An A-20 Havoc of the USAAF, like the ones used by the flight
Active24 Nov 1941 – 2 Sep 1942
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleNight Fighter (Turbinlite)
Part ofNo. 9 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. 1456 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Honiley, Warwickshire on 24 November 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 257 Squadron.[3] The flight was replaced with 535 Squadron on 2 September 1942[4][5] but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.[4]

535 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
24 November 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I (Turbinlite)
24 November 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I
24 November 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.II (Turbinlite)
24 November 19418 September 1942Douglas BostonMk.II (Turbinlite)
24 November 19418 September 1942Douglas BostonMk.III (Turbinlite)

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1456 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][4]
FromToBase
24 November 1941June 1942RAF Honiley, Warwickshire
June 19422 September 1942RAF High Ercall, Shropshire

Commanding officers

Officers commanding no. 1456 Flight RAF, data from[3]
FromToName
24 November 1941August 1942S/Ldr. I.E. Chalmers-Watson, AFC
August 19422 September 1942S/Ldr. B.H. Moloney

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Delve 1994, p. 57.
  2. 1 2 3 Lake 1999, p. 90.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rawlings 1978, p. 465.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  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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