No. 539 Squadron RAF
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit|
|unit_name= No. 539 Squadron RAF
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=97.}}
|country= {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom
|allegiance=
|branch= 23px Royal Air Force
|type=
|role= Turbinlite nightfighter squadron
|size=
|command_structure= No. 13 Group RAF, Fighter Command[http://www.rafcommands.com/Fighter/539F.html www.rafcommands.com]
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|garrison_label=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
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|battle_honours=
|commander1=S/Ldr. J.S. Morton, DFC
|commander1_label=Commanding Officer
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|notable_commanders=
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label= Squadron Badge heraldry
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label= Squadron Codes
}}
No. 539 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
History
No. 539 Squadron was formed at RAF Acklington, Northumberland on 2 September 1942, from No. 1460 (Turbinlite) Flight,{{Harvnb|Rawlings|1978|p=466.}}{{Harvnb|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=123.}} as part of No. 13 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, the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Acklington 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.{{Harvnb|Halley|1988|pp=402–404.}}
Aircraft operated
| class="wikitable"
|+Aircraft operated by no. 539 Squadron RAF, data from ! From !! To !! Aircraft !! Version | |||
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.I (Turbinlite) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Havoc | Mk.II (Turbinlite) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Boston | Mk.III (Turbinlite) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Douglas Boston | Mk.I (Nightfighter) |
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | Hawker Hurricane | Mk.IIc |
Squadron bases
| class="wikitable"
|+Bases and airfields used by no. 539 Squadron RAF, data from ! From !! To !! Base | ||
| 2 September 1942 | 25 January 1943 | RAF Acklington, Northumberland |
References
=Notes=
{{reflist|2}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last=Delve |first=Ken |title=The Source Book of the RAF |location= Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing |year= 1994 |isbn=1-85310-451-5}}
- {{cite book |last1=Flintham |first1= Vic |first2= Andrew |last2=Thomas |title=Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938 |location=Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |year=2003 |isbn=1-84037-281-8}}
- {{cite book |last=Halley |first=James J. |title=The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988 |year=1988 |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.|isbn=0-85130-164-9 }}
- {{cite book |last= Jefford |first= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |location=Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK |isbn=1-85310-053-6 }}
- {{cite book |last=Rawlings |first= John |title=Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft |location= London |publisher= Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. |year=1978 |edition=Revised |orig-year= 1969 |isbn=0-354-01028-X}}
- {{cite book |last=Sturtivant |first= Ray, ISO |first2=John |last2=Hamlin |title=RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912|location= Tonbridge, Kent, UK |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. |year= 2007 |isbn=0-85130-365-X}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/539 Squadron.cfm 539 Squadron history on MOD site]
- [http://www.rafcommands.com/Fighter/539F.html No. 539 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20141106103235/http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn521-540.htm Squadron histories for nos. 521–540 squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation]
{{RAF squadrons}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:No. 539 Squadron Raf}}
Category:Aircraft squadrons of the Royal Air Force in World War II