No. 534 Squadron (RAF): Second World War

Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books

No.534 Squadron was one of ten Turbinlite squadrons formed on 2 September 1942 to operate a mix of searchlight-equipped Havocs and Hurricane fighters. The aim was for the Havoc to find an enemy bomber with its radar, then illuminate it with its searchlight, allowing a pair of Hurricanes to shoot it down. The initial scheme, using special Turbinlite flights and fighters from nearby fighter squadrons failed, partly because the fighters often failed to arrive. In an attempt to solve this problem the Turbinlite flights were turned into squadrons, and given both types of aircraft, but by the autumn of 1942 more suitable night fighters were entering service in significant numbers, and the Turbinlite squadrons were disbanded on 25 January 1943.

No.534 Squadron was formed from No.1455 Flight at Tangmere (West Sussex) and remained there until being disbanded.

Aircraft
September 1942-January 1943
Douglas Havoc I and II
Douglas Boston III
Hawker Hurricane IIB, IIC, X, XI and XII

Location
September 1942-January 1943: Tangmere

Squadron Codes: -

Duty
September 1942-January 1943: Turbinlite Squadron

Books

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