RAF No 18 Squadron emblem

emblem RAF
RNZAF No 486 Squadron

RNZAF No 486 Squadron

Motto: Hiwa hau Maka (Beware of the wild winds)

Formed at Kirton in Lindsey as the second New Zealand fighter squadron on 3 March 1942 in the night fighting role. Initially equipped with Hurricanes it moved to Wittering, where it co-operated with the Turbinlite equipped Havocs on No 1453 Flight. However, in July the squadron began to convert to the day fighter role and was re-equipped with Typhoons.

Moving south it participated in Rhubarbs, Ramrods and Roadsteads as well as the occasional night intruder mission until January 1944 when the squadron began to re-equip with the Tempest V. This re-equipment was short-lived, however, as the Tempests were transferred to No 3 Squadron and it received Typhoons again. Tempest arrived eventually in April and the squadron began training as part of 2 TAF, but a few days after D-Day, the squadron was transferred to defensive duties in an attempt to combat the V1 flying bombs now being targeted against the UK.

During the three month campaign against the V1, the squadron accounted for 223.5 V1s destroyed. The squadron then returned to 2 TAF and moved on to the continent, ending the war in Denmark. In July 1945 it moved into Germany but in September it returned to the UK and was disbanded at Dunsfold on 12 October 1945.

Squadron Codes used: - SA Mar 1942 - Sep 1945

Email me to book a reading!

This webpage was updated 30th June 2023

-xxx-