No. 1458 (Fighter) Flight was formed at RAF Middle Wallop on 6 December 1941,Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123. from elements of No. 93 Squadron RAF, equipped with Turbinlite Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc aircraft.Lake 1999, p. 90. On operations they cooperated with the Hawker Hurricanes of 245 Squadron. The flight was replaced with 537 Squadron on 8 September 1942 (not on 2 September due to administrative reasons)Jefford 2001, p. 97. 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,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. 1458 Flight RAF, data fromRawlings 1978, p. 466. From To Aircraft Version 6 December 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I (Turbinlite) 6 December 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.I 6 December 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Havoc Mk.II 6 December 1941 8 September 1942 Douglas Boston Mk.III (Turbinlite)
Flight bases +Bases and airfields used by no. 1458 Flight RAF, data from From To Base 6 December 1941 8 September 1942 RAF Middle Wallop, Hampshire
Commanding officers +Officers commanding no. 1458 Flight RAF, data from From To Name 6 December 1941 May 1942 S/Ldr. C.R. Stewart May 1942 8 September 1942 S/Ldr. P.L. Burke, AFC
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 537 sqn, the successor of 1458 flt.