No. 539 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
History No. 539 Squadron was formed at RAF Acklington, Northumberland on 2 September 1942, from No. 1460 (Turbinlite) Flight, as part of No. 13 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, the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Acklington 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.
Aircraft operated +Aircraft operated by no. 539 Squadron RAF, data from From To Aircraft Version 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 Douglas Boston Mk.I (Nightfighter) 2 September 1942 25 January 1943 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc
Squadron bases +Bases and airfields used by no. 539 Squadron RAF, data from From To Base 2 September 1942 25 January 1943 RAF Acklington, Northumberland
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Bibliography
External links Squadron.cfm 539 Squadron history on MOD site No. 539 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history Squadron histories for nos. 521–540 squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation