No. 1456 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Honiley, Warwickshire on 24 November 1941, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.Lake 1999, p. 90. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 257 Squadron.Rawlings 1978, p. 465. The flight was replaced with 535 Squadron on 2 September 1942Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.Jefford 2001, p. 97. but officially disbanded as late as 25 January 1943.
535 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. 403. 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. 1457 Flight RAF, data from From To Aircraft Version 24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite) 24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I 24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II (Turbinlite) 24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.II (Turbinlite) 24 November 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.III (Turbinlite)
Flight bases +Bases and airfields used by no. 1456 Flight RAF, data from From To Base 24 November 1941 June 1942 RAF Honiley, Warwickshire June 1942 2 September 1942 RAF High Ercall, Shropshire
Commanding officers +Officers commanding no. 1456 Flight RAF, data from From To Name 24 November 1941 August 1942 S/Ldr. I.E. Chalmers-Watson, AFC August 1942 2 September 1942 S/Ldr. B.H. Moloney
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. .
External links Aircraft and Markings of no. 511-598 sqn, amongst them 535 sqn, the successor of 1456 flt.