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New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II)

No. 485 Squadron

No. 485 Squadron

Squadron Motto: Ka whawhai tonu (We will fight on).

Date and Place of Formation: 1 March 1941 – Driffield, Yorkshire.

Commanding Officers:

Sqn Ldr M. W. B. Knight April 1941 to November 1941
Sqn Ldr E. P. Wells November 1941 to May 1942
Sqn Ldr R. J. C. Grant May 1942 to March 1943
Sqn Ldr R. W. Baker March 1943 to June 1943
Sqn Ldr J. M. Checketts July 1943 to September 1943
Sqn Ldr M. R. D. Hume September 1943 to February 1944
Sqn Ldr J. B. Niven February 1944 to September 1944
Sqn Ldr J. G. Pattison September 1944 to February 1945
Sqn Ldr K. J. Macdonald February 1945 to July 1945
Sqn Ldr S. F. Browne July 1945 to August 1945

Bases:

Driffield, Yorkshire March 1941 to April 1941
Leconfield, Yorkshire April 1941 to June 1941
Redhill, Surrey July 1941 to October 1941
Kenley, Surrey October 1941 to July 1942
King's Cliffe, Northants July 1942 to January 1943
Westhampnett, Sussex January 1943 to May 1943
Merston, Sussex May 1943 to June 1943
Biggin Hill, Kent July 1943 to October 1943
Hornchurch, Essex October 1943 to November 1943
Drem, East Lothian November 1943 to February 1944
135 Airfield, Hornchurch, Essex February 1944 to April 1944
ALG Selsey, Sussex April 1944 to June 1944
ALG Coolham (near Billinghurst, Sussex) June 1944 to July 1944page 458
ALG Funtingdon, Sussex July 1944 to August 1944
ALG Selsey, Sussex August 1944
Caen-Carpiquet, France August 1944 to September 1944
Reume, France September 1944
Merville, France September 1944 to October 1944
Maldegem, Belgium November 1944 to January 1945
Gilze Rijen, Holland January 1945 to February 1945
Predannack, Cornwall February 1945 to April 1945
Twente, Holland April 1945
Drope, Germany April 1945–

Role:

Equipped with Spitfires, No. 485 was a day-fighter squadron until March 1944 when it transferred to fighter bombing. Operated from England, based at some of the most famous fighter stations, until August 1944 when it moved to the Continent. There it flew in the fighter and fighter-bomber role with Second Tactical Air Force.

First Operation:

12 April 1941 Convoy patrol off Flamborough Head shared by six sections of two Spitfires.

Last Operation:

7 May 1945 Patrol over Oldenburg by twelve aircraft.

Disbanded: 26 August 1945

Effort and Achievements:

No. 485 Squadron flew 10,717 sorties, totalling 14,494 hours. In combat 63 enemy aircraft were destroyed, 25 probably destroyed, and 32 damaged. During the short period that the squadron was employed against ground targets pllots destroyed some 70 motor vehicles and blew up 5 railway engines.

Decorations won by New Zealanders with the squadron were:

Distinguished Service Order 2 Distinguished Flying Cross 17
Bar to DFC 5 Distinguished Flying Medal 1