No. 537 Squadron was formed at RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire on 8[1] September 1942, from No. 1458 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] as part of No. 10 Group RAF in Fighter Command. Instead of operating only Turbinlite and -rudimentary- Airborne Intercept (AI) radar equipped aircraft (Havocs and Bostons) and working together with a normal nightfighter unit, such as in their case No. 245 Squadron RAF while still 1458 Flight,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Middle Wallop on 25 January 1943,[1] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[5]
Aircraft operated[]
Aircraft operated by No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]
From
To
Aircraft
Version
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
Douglas Havoc
Mk.I (Nightfigter)
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
Douglas Havoc
Mk.I (Turbinlite)
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
Douglas Havoc
Mk.II (Nightfigter)
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
Douglas Boston
Mk.III (Turbinlite)
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
Hawker Hurricane
Mk.IIb
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
Hawker Hurricane
Mk.IIc
Squadron bases[]
Bases and airfields used by No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from[1][2][3][5]
From
To
Base
8 September 1942
25 January 1943
RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
Commanding officers[]
Officers commanding No. 537 Squadron RAF, data from[3]
Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN1-85310-451-5.
Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-281-8.
Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN0-354-01028-X.
Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-365-X.