No. 1459 Flight RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 1459 Flight was formed at RAF Hunsdon
, Hertfordshire
on 20 September 1941, equipped with Turbinlite
Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. By 21 September 1941 the flight moved to RAF Hibaldstow
, Lincolnshire
. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricane
s of 253 Squadron
.
1459 Flight was perhaps the most successful unit of its kind: after becoming operational in March 1942 they made their first target illumination was on 28 April 1942, but that night the satellite aircraft were not in position. Two days later Flt/Lt. C.V. Winn illuminated a He 111
which fell victim to S/Ldr. Yapp of 253 sqn. Three more contacts were made in May 1942, but all proved friendly. In July by now S/Ldr. C.V. Winn scored a probable Do 217
and P/O J.A. Gunn another Do 217 damaged. A further aircraft was claimed as damaged in August, giving a total of one destroyed, one probable and two damaged.
The flight was replaced with 538 Squadron
on 2 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943. 538 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, when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.
Hunsdon Airfield
Hunsdon Airfield is a largely defunct airfield near Hunsdon, Hertfordshire , England. The airfield was operational between 1941 and 1945.- History :...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
on 20 September 1941, equipped with Turbinlite
Turbinlite
The Helmore/GEC Turbinlite was a 2,700 million candela searchlight fitted in the nose of a number of British Douglas Havoc night fighters during the early part of the Second World War and around the time of The Blitz....
Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. By 21 September 1941 the flight moved to RAF Hibaldstow
RAF Hibaldstow
RAF Hibaldstow, near Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, was built with greater things in mind, but it only became a satellite airfield for RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey in 1941. When the runways were constructed, some of the hardcore was made from material taken from demolished bungalows on the site.- History :The...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s of 253 Squadron
No. 253 Squadron RAF
RAF 253 Squadron was based at RAF Waterbeach in the two years 1955 to 1957. It flew Vampire and Venom fighter aircraft.253 squadron Nighthawks.Squadron commander wing commander FinlaysonOne Vampire T Mk 11...
.
1459 Flight was perhaps the most successful unit of its kind: after becoming operational in March 1942 they made their first target illumination was on 28 April 1942, but that night the satellite aircraft were not in position. Two days later Flt/Lt. C.V. Winn illuminated a He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
which fell victim to S/Ldr. Yapp of 253 sqn. Three more contacts were made in May 1942, but all proved friendly. In July by now S/Ldr. C.V. Winn scored a probable Do 217
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
and P/O J.A. Gunn another Do 217 damaged. A further aircraft was claimed as damaged in August, giving a total of one destroyed, one probable and two damaged.
The flight was replaced with 538 Squadron
No. 538 Squadron RAF
No. 538 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 538 Squadron was formed at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire on 2 September 1942, from No. 1459 Flight, as part of No. 9 Group RAF in Fighter Command...
on 2 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943. 538 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, when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Turbinlite) |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II (Turbinlite) |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.II (Turbinlite) |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III |
| 20 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
Flight bases
| From | To | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 20 September 1941 | 21 September 1941 | RAF Hunsdon Hunsdon Airfield Hunsdon Airfield is a largely defunct airfield near Hunsdon, Hertfordshire , England. The airfield was operational between 1941 and 1945.- History :... , Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and... |
| 21 September 1941 | 2 September 1942 | RAF Hibaldstow RAF Hibaldstow RAF Hibaldstow, near Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, was built with greater things in mind, but it only became a satellite airfield for RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey in 1941. When the runways were constructed, some of the hardcore was made from material taken from demolished bungalows on the site.- History :The... , Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders... |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 20 September 1941 | March 1942 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... J.B. Nicholson, VC Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.... |
| March 1942 | May 1942 | S/Ldr. V.R. Oats |
| May 1942 | 2 September 1942 | S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against... |