No. 531 Squadron RAF

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

No. 531 Squadron RAF
Active8 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleTurbinlite nightfighter squadron
Part ofNo. 11 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2]

History

No. 531 Squadron was formed at RAF West Malling, Kent on 8[1] September 1942, from No. 1452 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] as part of No. 11 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, such as in their case with the Boulton Paul Defiants of No. 264 Squadron RAF or later the Hawker Hurricanes of No. 32 Squadron RAF in the Flight,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. The squadron moved to RAF Debden, Essex on 2 October 1942, but returned to West Malling a week later.[2] It was disbanded at West Malling on 25 January 1943,[1] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[5]

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by No. 531 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]
FromToAircraftVersion
8 September 194225 January 1943Douglas HavocMk.I (Turbinlite)
8 September 194225 January 1943Douglas HavocMk.I (Nightfighter)
8 September 194225 January 1943Douglas BostonMk.III
8 September 194225 January 1943Hawker HurricaneMk.IIc

Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by No. 531 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]
FromToBase
8 September 19432 October 1942RAF West Malling, Kent
2 October 19429 October 1942RAF Debden, Essex
9 October 194225 January 1943RAF West Malling, Kent

Commanding officers
Officers commanding No. 531 Squadron RAF, data from[3]
FromToName
September 1942October 1942S/Ldr. G.R. Turner
October 1942January 1943S/Ldr. N.M. Browning

References

Notes
  1. Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  2. www.rafcommands.com
  3. Rawlings 1978, p. 464.
  4. Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  5. Halley 1988, p. 402.

Bibliography
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians), 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • 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). ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers), 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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