No. 1451 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on 22 May 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.Lake 1999, p. 89. On operations they co-operated at first with Hawker Hurricanes of No. 1422 Flight RAF and later with Hurricanes of 3 Squadron.Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123. The flight was replaced with 530 Squadron on 8 September 1942 (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)Jefford 2001, p. 97. but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.
530 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,Halley 1988, p. 402. when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.Rawlings 1978, p. 463.
Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by no. 1451 Flight RAF, data from From To Aircraft Version 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite) 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II (Turbinlite) 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.II (Turbinlite) 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.III (Turbinlite)
Flight bases +Bases and airfields used by no. 1451 Flight RAF, data from From To Base 22 May 1941 8 September 1942 RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire
Commanding officers +Officers commanding no. 1451 Flight RAF From To Name 22 May 1941 July 1941 S/Ldr. D.C. Hobbis, DFC July 1941 November 1941 S/Ldr. Paul Rabone
References Notes
Bibliography
Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. . Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. . Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). . Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1999. . Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). . Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. .