No. 533 Squadron RAF

No. 533 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 533 Squadron RAF
Active	8 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Turbinlite nightfighter squadron
Part of	No. 10 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2]

History

No. 533 Squadron was formed at RAF Charmy Down, Somerset on 8[1] September 1942, from No. 1454 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] as part of No. 10 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 Hawker Hurricanes of No. 87 Squadron RAF in the Flight,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Charmy Down 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. 533 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]

From	To	Aircraft	Version
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	Douglas Havoc	Mk.I (Turbinlite)
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	Douglas Havoc	Mk.I (Nightfighter)
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	Douglas Boston	Mk.III
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.IIb
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	Hawker Hurricane	Mk.IIc

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 533 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]

From	To	Base
8 September 1942	25 January 1943	RAF Charmy Down, Somerset

Commanding officers

Officers commanding No. 533 Squadron RAF, data from[3]

From	To	Name
September 1942	November 1942	S/Ldr. D.P. McKeown, AFC
November 1942	January 1943	unknown yet

References

Notes

1. Jefford (2001), p. 97.
2. www.rafcommands.com
3. Rawlings (1978), p. 465
4. Sturtivant & Hamlin (2007), p. 123
5. Halley (1988), p. 402

Bibliography

• Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Air Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C. G (2001) [1988]. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (second ed.). Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Rawlings, John D. R. (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (second ed.). Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
• Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

Further reading

• Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
• Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew Thomas (2003). Combat Codes: A full explanation and listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied air force unit codes since 1938. Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-281-8..

External links

• Squadron.cfm 533 Squadron history on MOD site
• No. 533 Squadron RAF movement and equipment history
• Squadron histories for nos. 521–540 squadron on RafWeb's Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation