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No. 1454 Flight RAF

No. 1454 Flight RAF
An A-20 Havoc of the USAAF, like the ones used by the flight
Active27 Jun 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. 1454 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire on 27 June 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.[2] By 26 January 1942 the flight moved to RAF Charmy Down, Somerset.[3] On operations they co-operated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 87 Squadron,[4] which also flew from Charmy Down. The flight was replaced with 533 Squadron[3] on 8 September 1942 (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)[5] but officially disbanded as late as 31 January 1943.[3]

533 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

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Aircraft operated by no. 1454 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][4]
From To Aircraft Version
27 June 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite)
27 June 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I
27 June 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II (Turbinlite)
27 June 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.II (Turbinlite)
27 June 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.III (Turbinlite)

Flight bases

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Bases and airfields used by no. 1454 Flight RAF, data from[2][3][4]
From To Base
27 June 1941 26 January 1942 RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
26 January 1942 8 September 1942 RAF Charmy Down, Somerset

Commanding officers

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Officers commanding no. 1454 Flight RAF, data from[4]
From To Name
27 June 1941 September 1941 S/Ldr. C.L. Gomm, DFC
September 1941 October 1941 S/Ldr. B.H.M. Winslett
October 1941 March 1942 S/Ldr. W.G. Moseby
March 1942 8 September 1942 S/Ldr. D.P. McKeown, AFC

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Delve 1994, p. 57.
  2. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 90.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  4. ^ a b c d 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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