No. 1439 Flight RAF

No. 1439 Flight RAF

A Westland Whirlwind helicopter, like the ones used in the flight
Active  ? - June 1942
8 May 1957 – 20 November 1957
Role Strategic Reconnaissance
Transport

There is unconfirmed evidence that a No. 1439 (Strategic Reconnaissance) Flight RAF was formed in the Western Desert ca. June 1942, flying Bristol Blenheim aircraft.[1][2] The flight was reformed as No. 1439 (Communication Support) Flight at RAF Hemswell on 1 May 1957 to support the Nuclear Weapons Task Force during Grapple series of nuclear tests near Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in a remote Pacific region.[1] Flying continued for six months until the Flight was dis-banded on 20 November 1957.[1]

Contents

Aircraft operated

Aircraft operated by no. 1439 Flight RAF, data from[1][2]
From To Aircraft Version Example
June 1942  ? Bristol Blenheim
1 May 1957 20 November 1957 Vickers Varsity T.1 WL676
1 May 1957 20 November 1957 Avro Anson Mk.XIX TX196
1 May 1957 20 November 1957 Westland Whirlwind HAR.2 XD164

Flight bases

Bases and airfields used by no. 1439 Flight RAF, data from[1][2]
From To Base
June 1942  ? Western dessert
1 May 1957 22 August 1957 RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire
22 August 1957  ? LRWRE Woomera, Australia
 ? 20 November 1957 RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e Lake 1999, p. 89.
  2. ^ a b c Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
Bibliography
  • Lake, Alan. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

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