No. 486 Squadron

No. 486 Squadron RNZAF was formed on 7 March 1942 at RAF Kirton in Lindsey as the second New Zealand fighter squadron to serve under RAF operational control, initially equipped with Hawker Hurricanes in a night-fighter role. By mid-1942 it had converted to Hawker Typhoons and shifted to day operations, moving to RAF North Weald within 11 Group to counter hit-and-run raids on coastal convoys and southern England. A further re-equipment with the Hawker Tempest V in early 1944 transformed the squadron into one of the RAF’s most formidable interceptor units, and during the summer of 1944 it destroyed 223½ V-1 flying bombs — the largest tally of any single squadron during the anti-doodlebug campaign. Operating from advanced bases in the Netherlands and Germany as part of 2nd Tactical Air Force after the Normandy invasion, its Tempest pilots claimed 59½ aerial victories, making it the highest-scoring Tempest squadron of the war. Over the course of more than 11,000 sorties the squadron destroyed 81 enemy aircraft in total and was awarded 22 Distinguished Flying Crosses. After brief occupation duties in Denmark and northern Germany, No. 486 Squadron was disbanded at RAF Dunsfold on 12 October 1945.