No. 1453 Flight RAF

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No. 1453 Flight RAF
Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3A 'L' (Lima) of 1453 Flight RAF on the flight-line at RAF Stanley, Falklands, 1984 (cropped).jpg
'L' for Lima, on the pan at RAF Stanley
Active10 Jul 1941 – 2 Sep 1942
5 Jun 1953 – 30 Jun 1956
20 Aug 1983 – Jun 1985
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Role Night Fighter (Turbinlite)
Airborne Early Warning (ELINT?)
Ground Attack / Air Defence
Part of No. 12 Group RAF, Fighter Command (1941–1942) [1]
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryno known badge
Squadron codesno known identification code for the flight is known to have been carried

Number 1453 (Turbinlite) Flight RAF was an independent flight of the Royal Air Force (RAF), first formed in 1941 as a night-fighter unit at RAF Wittering, equipped with Douglas Turbinlite Havoc aircraft. In the 1950s, the flight was briefly resurrected as an early warning flight, and during the 1980s, it was employed as a ground attack and air defence unit on the Falkland Islands.

Contents

History

1453 Flt and the Turbinlite Havocs

After the fall of France in 1940, outstanding contracts for Douglas DB-7 and DB-7A medium bomber aircraft were appropriated by the British Purchasing Commission. The relatively low availability of aircraft, and the good performance of the DB-7/A, named Havoc in UK service, made them suitable for use as intruders and night-fighters.

Thirty-one of the DB-7's (Havoc I) were converted to carry the 2,700 million candela (2.7Gcd) Helmore Turbinlite searchlight in the nose, as well as Airborne Interception Mk.IV (A.I. Mk.IV) radar. These aircraft were to operate in conjunction with Hawker Hurricane night fighters, illuminating the targets after tracking them with the radar, for the Hurricane fighters to despatch.

1453 (Turbinlite) Flight was one of the flights, formed on 10 July 1941;83 years ago, [2] especially to use the Turbinlite Havoc operating in conjunction with Hawker Hurricanes of No. 151 Squadron RAF and No. 486 Squadron RNZAF, also housed, like 1453 Flt, at RAF Wittering [2] [3]

Thirty-nine DB-7A's (Havoc II) were also converted to use the Turbinlite searchlights, and these also saw service with the Turbinlite flights and the squadrons formed from the flights from 2 September 1942, 1453 Flt becoming No. 532 Squadron RAF (532 Sqn) on 8 September 1942 [3] (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons) [4] and the flight officially disbanded as late as 31 January 1943. [3] [5] [6]

Results of the combined operations were not spectacular, (only one confirmed kill with 31 aircraft lost), but valuable experience in the use of the A.I. (Airborne interception) radar was gained. The Helmore Turbinlite was also evaluated as an anti-submarine attack searchlight, but the Leigh Light was found to be superior. [7]

AEW Neptunes at RAF Kinloss

On 1 November 1952, four Lockheed Neptune MR Mk.1 aircraft (registrations WX547, WX499, WX500, and WX501) formed the complement of Vanguard Flight of Fighter Command at RAF Kinloss, to research and develop tactics for use by Airborne Early Warning aircraft. [8]

RAF Topcliffe

Disbanded on 5 June 1953, the four Neptune aircraft of Vanguard Flight became the re-formed 1453 (Early Warning) Flight at RAF Topcliffe in Yorkshire. [8] Despite their innocuous public role, the Neptunes of 1453 Flight retained the full armament of the P2V-5 variant with nose, dorsal and tail turrets.

Details of 1453 Flight's operations are few and far between, leading to speculation that they may have been involved in highly classified reconnaissance missions over or near Eastern Bloc countries (more info / evidence required), similar to the US Navy's Martin P4M Mercator ELINT (ELectronic INTelligence) aircraft, and the 'Ghost' North American RB-45 Tornado's that flew with RAF crews and markings from RAF Sculthorpe, over eastern Europe to provide radar images of potential targets for RAF and Strategic Air Command (SAC) bombers.

Neptune flying at RAF Topcliffe continued until 1453 (Airborne Early Warning) Flight was disbanded on 30 June 1956.

RAF Stanley, Falkland Islands

A view across the 1453 Flight pan, runway, and 1312 Flight pan at RAF Stanley. 1453 Flight Pan from inside the Rubb Falklands 1984.jpg
A view across the 1453 Flight pan, runway, and 1312 Flight pan at RAF Stanley.

After the qualified success of RAF Harrier operations in the Falklands conflict, a detachment of six Harrier GR.3A's was established at Stanley airport, which became RAF Stanley, part of BFFI (British Forces Falkland Islands). As the rudimentary facilities at RAF Stanley improved, Harrier Detachment (HarDet) Stanley was made autonomous with the formation of 1453 (Tactical Ground Attack) Flight, operating from a Military Engineering Experimental Establishment (MEXE) pad apron by the side of the runway at the extreme western end. Later, semi-permanent facilities were constructed, with Portakabin offices and RUBB hangars, during the extension and reinforcement of the runway. [8] [9]

The Harriers were tasked initially with mostly air defence of the Falklands garrison. After the arrival of No. 29 Squadron RAF, with their McDonnell-Douglas/Hawker-Siddeley F-4M Phantom FGR.2's from Ascension Island in October 1982, 1453 flight's mission was focused more on ground attack missions, but supplying a back-up quick reaction alert (QRA) in daylight hours.

Operations at RAF Stanley were challenging, with makeshift accommodation, few asphalt roads, army discipline, extreme weather, long supply lines, lacklustre catering supplies (e.g. several weeks with nothing but spinach and beetroot for vegetables), not to mention the close proximity of unclearable minefields, and danger of unexploded ordnance.

The Harriers of 1453 Flight continued flying at Stanley until June 1985, when the new airport / airbase at RAF Mount Pleasant was opened, after which 1453 Flight disbanded and the Harriers were returned to the UK, leaving the air defence of the Falkland Islands to the Phantoms of 23 Squadron which had relieved 29 Squadron in October 1983. [8]

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 1453 Flight RAF [3] [10] [11]
fromtoaircraftversion
10 July 19418 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite)
10 July 19418 September 1942Douglas HavocMk.I
10 July 19418 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.II
10 July 19418 September 1942Douglas BostonMk.III (Turbinlite)
5 June 195330 June 1956 Lockheed Neptune MR.1
20 August 1983June 1985 Hawker-Siddeley Harrier GR.3A

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1453 Flight RAF [3] [10] [11]
fromtobaseremarks
10 July 19418 September 1942 RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire Det. at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire
5 June 195330 June 1956 RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire
20 August 1983June 1985 RAF Stanley, Falkland Islands

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Wittering</span> Royal Air Force air combat support station in Cambridgeshire, England

Royal Air Force Wittering or more simply RAF Wittering is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

No. 530 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turbinlite</span> British searchlight mounted on a fighter plane.

The Helmore/GEC Turbinlite was a 2,700 million candela (2.7 Gcd) 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. The Havoc was guided to enemy aircraft by ground radar and its own radar. The searchlight would then be used to illuminate attacking enemy bombers for defending fighters accompanying the Havoc to shoot down. In practice the Turbinlite was not a success, and the introduction of higher performance night fighters with their own radar meant they were withdrawn from service in early 1943.

No. 532 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1451 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1451 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on 22 May 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. On operations they co-operated at first with Hawker Hurricanes of No. 1422 Flight RAF and later with Hurricanes of 3 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 530 Squadron on 8 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1452 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1452 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF West Malling on 22 May 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. On operations they co-operated at first with the Boulton Paul Defiants of 264 Squadron and later with the Hawker Hurricanes of 32 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 531 Squadron on 8 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 22 January 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1454 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1454 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire on 27 June 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. By 26 January 1942 the flight moved to RAF Charmy Down, Somerset. On operations they co-operated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 87 Squadron, which also flew from Charmy Down. The flight was replaced with 533 Squadron on 8 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 31 January 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1456 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1456 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Honiley, Warwickshire on 24 November 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 257 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 535 Squadron on 2 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1457 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1457 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Colerne on 15 September 1941, and was equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 247 Squadron. By 15 November 1941 the flight moved to RAF Predannack, Cornwall. During its operational life the flight had three sightings of possible enemy aircraft. The first occasion was on 24 June 1942, when the flight lit up a suspected Ju 88 and the satellite fighters of 247 sqn fired - on a RAF Short Stirling. Others sightings occurred on 27 June and in August, but no enemy aircraft was shot down. The flight was replaced with 536 Squadron on 8 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 31 December 1942.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1458 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1458 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Middle Wallop on 6 December 1941, from elements of No. 93 Squadron RAF, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 245 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 537 Squadron on 8 September 1942 but only officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943. 537 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1460 Flight RAF</span> Military unit

No. 1460 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Acklington on 15 December 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft. The flight became operational in May 1942 and made its first and only contact with the enemy in June of that year. On operations they cooperated first with the Hawker Hurricanes of 43 Squadron and later with those of 1 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 539 Squadron on 2 September 1942 but officially disbanded as late as 23 January 1943.

No. 531 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 533 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 534 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 535 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 536 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 537 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 538 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 539 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Delve 1994, p. 58.
  2. 1 2 Lake 1999, p. 89.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  4. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  5. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 403.
  6. ↑ "RAF Wittering history" (PDF). RAF.MoD.uk.
  7. ↑ Rawlings 1978, p. 463.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Lake 1999, p. 90.
  9. ↑ "Harrier service in 1453 Flight". Harrier.org.uk.
  10. 1 2 Lake 1999, pp. 89–90.
  11. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 464.
Bibliography
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