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.

No. 538 Squadron RAF
Active	2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Turbinlite nightfighter squadron
Part of	No. 9 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2]

History

No. 538 Squadron was formed at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire on 2^[1] September 1942, from No. 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight,^[3][4] as part of No. 9 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. 253 Squadron RAF while still 1458 Flight,^[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Hibaldstow 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. 538 Squadron RAF, data from^[1][3][5]

From	To	Aircraft	Version
2 September 1942	25 January 1943	Douglas Havoc	Mk.I (Nightfigter)
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	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.I
2 September 1942	25 January 1943	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.IIc

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from^[1][2][3][5]

From	To	Base
2 September 1942	25 January 1943	RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from^[3]

From	To	Name
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC