No. 488 Squadron RNZAF

Last updated

No. 488 (NZ) Squadron RAF
488 squadron RNZAF badge.jpg
Active1 September 1941 – 26 April 1945
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
AllegianceFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Branch Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Royal Air Force
Role Fighter squadron
Motto(s) Māori: Ka ngarue ratau
(Translation: "We shake them") [1] [2]
Anniversaries1 September 1941
Insignia
Squadron BadgeIn front of a taiaha and tewhatewha in saltire, a morepork [1] [2]
Squadron CodesNF (Oct 1941 – Jan 1942) [3] [4]
ME (Jun 1942 – Apr 1945) [5] [6]
Aircraft flown
Fighter Brewster Buffalo
Hawker Hurricane
Bristol Beaufighter
de Havilland Mosquito

No. 488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.

Contents

Background

In the mid-1930s, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was in the process of expanding and required an increasing number of suitable flying personnel. A number of schemes were implemented for New Zealanders to obtain short-service commissions in the RAF with the intention of then transferring to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in the future. This led to over 500 New Zealanders serving in the RAF by the time of the outbreak of the Second World War. [7]

At around the same time there was discussion between the governments of Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to facilitate the co-ordination of training of air crew in the event of hostilities. This led to the implementation of the Empire Air Training Scheme (ETAS) in December 1939. Under this agreement, New Zealand committed to initially supply 880 full trained pilots for the RAF, with another 520 pilots being trained to an elementary standard annually. As each of the Dominion governments desired its personnel to serve together, the ETAS had a clause, Article XV, that allowed for the establishment of squadrons with personnel from the respective countries. In theory, the Dominions would supply the ground crew as well as flying personnel. However, in New Zealand's case, there was a reluctance to maintain RNZAF squadrons in Britain so the decision was made to allow for the formation of squadrons within the RAF designated as being New Zealand. These squadrons, known as Article XV squadrons, were formed around a cadre of New Zealand flying personnel already serving in the RAF but supplemented by newly trained pilots from the RNZAF. [8] [9]

History

Day fighter unit

Noel Sharp's Brewster Buffalo at RAF Kallang, January 1942 Noel Sharp's Brewster B-339E Buffalo at RAF Kallang.jpg
Noel Sharp's Brewster Buffalo at RAF Kallang, January 1942
Buffalo pilots of 488 Squadron based at Kallang display the tail fin of a Japanese Ki-46 aircraft of 81st Sentai which they shot down over Johore, Malaya, January 1942 488 Squadron RNZAF.jpg
Buffalo pilots of 488 Squadron based at Kallang display the tail fin of a Japanese Ki-46 aircraft of 81st Sentai which they shot down over Johore, Malaya, January 1942

No. 488 (NZ) Squadron was formed on 1 September 1941 [2] at Rongotai, New Zealand under the command of Squadron Leader Wilfred Clouston, a veteran of the Battle of France and Battle of Britain with nine aerial victories to his credit. The squadron was one of several Commonwealth squadrons equipped with Brewster Buffalos, and arrived at Kallang Airfield Singapore in November, where it took over the Brewsters of No. 67 Squadron. Kallang was shared with a Brewster detachment of the 2-VLG-V of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force, and No. 243 Squadron, in which most of the aircrew were New Zealanders. [10]

When the Japanese attacked, the squadron was still in training and sorting out difficulties with its machines, including dysfunctional oxygen which prevented high-altitude flying, weight difficulties which resulted in armour and machine guns being deleted and high maintenance requirements resulting from Brewster's use of worn out ex-airline engines in manufacturing the aircraft (which had been supplied to No. 67 Squadron in March). There were also problems getting spares and with the peacetime red tape and restricted flying hours laid down by the British High Command in Singapore.

Frequent air battles over Singapore occurred from 12 January 1942, the Japanese pilots being better trained and outnumbering the defenders, but (despite widespread claims of Mitsubishi Zeros being present), with the exception of a few Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa "Oscars" most Japanese fighters and many bombers were in no better condition than those of the Royal Air Force's. [11] As the Buffalo squadrons (many manned by New Zealanders and Australians) lost men and machines, several were amalgamated into 488 Squadron. Clouston had presented a plan "Get Mobile" to provide daylight air cover off the coast to Admiral Phillip's Force Z, but this was rejected by the Navy. [12]

The squadron received nine Hawker Hurricanes at the end of January to partially replace the Buffalos, but by 31 January, losses and the ground situation forced a withdrawal to Palembang, Sumatra and a few days later to Tjililitan airfield, near Batavia, Java, where Dutch East Indies Buffalo squadrons were facing a similarly unequal fight. Clouston handed over command to Squadron Leader John MacKenzie and stayed with remaining staff to become a prisoner when Singapore fell.

On 23 February, the squadron evacuated Tjililitan, to Fremantle in Australia where it disbanded on 2 March, the New Zealand pilots returning home to form the nucleus of No. 14 Squadron RNZAF. Figures for the squadron's achievements in the Far East are difficult to determine, but one notable pilot, Flying officer Noel Sharp, who flew a Brewster Buffalo in Singapore, is credited with three victories.

Night fighter unit

Personnel of No. 488 Squadron, with William Jordan (centre), the New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK, 27 September 1942 No. 488 Squadron, September 1942.jpg
Personnel of No. 488 Squadron, with William Jordan (centre), the New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK, 27 September 1942

No. 488 Squadron was reformed on 25 June 1942 at Church Fenton, in Yorkshire, as a night fighter 'intruder' unit equipped with the twin-engined Bristol Beaufighter. [13] The squadron aircraft carried the code letters ME. When it switched to a defensive role in August 1943 it was re-equipped with de Havilland Mosquitoes. Flight Lieutenant John Hall and his radar operator Jock Cairns combined to destroy two German bombers on the opening night of the Luftwaffe's Operation Steinbock, its renewed bombing campaign against England. [14]

Following the invasion of Normandy the squadron began performing in an offensive role, operating from the permanent RAF station at Zeals, Wiltshire. [13] It patrolled over the landing beaches, protecting the land forces from night attacks mounted by German bombers, and also carried out intruder missions, seeking out targets of opportunity such as transport vehicles and enemy aircraft. [15] From early July, the squadron began operating from a temporary situation at Colerne, Wiltshire. The weather for most of the month was poor so there was little action until towards the end of July, at which time German air activity increased. [16] In November the squadron moved to France, and was based in Belgium and Holland in the closing stages of the war. It disbanded on 26 April 1945. [13]

Possibly the top scoring No. 488 Squadron Mosquito of the war was NF.Mk.XII MM466, ME-R, which shot down seven enemy aircraft between July 1944 and November 1944, after which the aircraft was passed on to No. 409 Squadron, with which it shot down another four. [17] In its night fighter incarnation, No. 488 Squadron flew 2899 sorties, shot down 67 aircraft and, in its intruder role, destroyed 40 trains. [18] In one notable sortie in July 1944, Flight Lieutenant George Jameson and his radar operator Norman Crookes shot down four enemy aircraft. [19] Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Stewart, who flew with radar operator Harold Brumby, was the last pilot of the squadron to become a flying ace. [20] Pilots of the squadron were awarded 5 DFCs, a DSO and an AFC. [13]

No. 488 Squadron was unique in that it was the only "Article XV" New Zealand unit to have two distinct and separate roles, in different theatres, during World War Two.

In December 2010, the new headquarters formed to command the RNZAF units stationed at RNZAF Base Ohakea was named No. 488 Wing RNZAF in honour of No. 488 Squadron. [21] This unit was disbanded in early 2015. [22]

Aircraft operated

Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB/Trop at RAF Kallang, January 1942 Hawker Hurricane of 488 Squadron RNZAF.jpg
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB/Trop at RAF Kallang, January 1942
Aircraft operated by No. 488 Squadron RNZAF [23] [24] [25]
PeriodAircraft
October 1941 to January 1942 Brewster Buffalo Mk.I
January 1942 to February 1942 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb
June 1942 to March 1943 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IIf
March 1943 to September 1943Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VIf
August 1943 to May 1944 de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XII
October 1943 to September 1944de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XIII
September 1944 to April 1945de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XXX

Squadron bases

Bases and airfields used by No. 488 Squadron RNZAF [23] [24] [25]
FromToBaseNotes
1 September 19412 September 1941 Rongotai, New Zealand Formed here
2 September 194110 October 1941en route to Singapore
10 October 19412 February 1942 RAF Kallang, SingaporeDet. at Kluang, Malaysia
2 February 19429 February 1942 Palembang, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies
9 February 194223 February 1942 Tjililitan, Java, Dutch East Indies
23 February 19421 March 1942en route to Australia
1 March 19422 March 1942 Fremantle, AustraliaDisbanded here
25 June 19421 September 1942 RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire Reformed here
1 September 19423 August 1943 RAF Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland Dets at RAF Drem, East Lothian, Scotland and RAF Coltishall, Norfolk
3 August 19433 September 1943RAF Drem, East Lothian, Scotland
3 September 19433 May 1944 RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex
3 May 194411 May 1944 RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
11 May 194428 July 1944 RAF Zeals, Wiltshire
28 July 19449 October 1944RAF Colerne, Wiltshire
9 October 194415 November 1944 RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire
15 November 19445 April 1945 B.48/Amiens-Glisy, France Advanced landing ground
5 April 194526 April 1945 B.77/Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands Disbanded here

Commanding officers

The following served as commanding officers of No. 488 Squadron: [26] [27]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Rawlings 1978, p. 452.
  2. 1 2 3 Halley 1988, p. 531.
  3. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 91.
  4. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, p. 76.
  5. Flintham & Thomas 2003, p. 89.
  6. Bowyer & Rawlings 1979, pp. 71–72.
  7. McGibbon 2000, p. 8.
  8. McGibbon 2000, pp. 156–157.
  9. Thompson 1953, pp. 209–211.
  10. Clayton 2008 , p. 52.
  11. A kill ratio of 2:1 was claimed by the Buffalo squadrons
  12. Clayton 2008 , p. 83.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Thompson 1956, pp. 460–461.
  14. Clayton 2019, pp. 140–143.
  15. Thompson 1956, p. 302.
  16. Clayton 2019, pp. 206–207.
  17. Sharp & Bowyer 1995 , p. 449.
  18. Thompson 1956, p. 461.
  19. Thompson 1956, p. 320.
  20. Thomas, Andrew (24 February 2021). "The Nocturnal Kiwi Ace". Fly Past. Key Publishing. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  21. Blaikie, Bill (December 2010). "New Wing Established at Ohakea" (PDF). Air Force News. p. 26. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  22. "Spitfire display marks Air Force changes". Stuff.co.nz. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  23. 1 2 Rawlings 1978 , pp. 452–453.
  24. 1 2 Jefford 2001 , p. 95.
  25. 1 2 Halley 1988 , p. 532.
  26. Ross 1955, p. 325.
  27. Thompson 1956, p. 460.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brewster F2A Buffalo</span> WWII American fighter plane

The Brewster F2A Buffalo is an American fighter aircraft which saw service early in World War II. Designed and built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, it was one of the first U.S. monoplanes with an arrestor hook and other modifications for aircraft carriers. The Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the U.S. Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft. Although superior to the Grumman F3F biplane it replaced, and the early F4Fs, the Buffalo was largely obsolete when the United States entered the war, being unstable and overweight, especially when compared to the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 14 Squadron RNZAF</span> Military unit

14 Squadron RNZAF is a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In 2015 the squadron was re-raised and equipped with 11 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. A new aerobatic display team called the Black Falcons was also formed using the new aircraft. They replaced the RNZAF display team known as the Red Checkers.

No. 75 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force in World War I and the RAF in World War II. In 1940–1945, it was a bomber unit comprised mainly of New Zealand-born personnel. In October 1945, the squadron number – along with its heraldry and honours – was relinquished by the RAF and transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, officially becoming No. 75 Squadron RNZAF. No other RAF squadron has been gifted in this way, to another Commonwealth air force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 486 Squadron RNZAF</span> Military unit

No. 486 (NZ) Squadron was a fighter squadron established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were largely drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 487 Squadron RNZAF</span> Military unit

No. 487 (NZ) Squadron was a light bomber squadron established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were largely drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force as part of Bomber Command. Formed in mid-1942, it operated the Lockheed Ventura and then the de Havilland Mosquito and took part in over 3,000 operational sorties before being disbanded at the end of the war in late 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 489 Squadron RNZAF</span> Military unit

No. 489 (NZ) Squadron was a torpedo bomber squadron established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although its flying personnel were largely drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force as part of Coastal Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 453 Squadron RAAF</span> Royal Australian Air Force squadron

No. 453 Squadron is an air traffic control unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. It was established at Bankstown, New South Wales, in 1941 as a fighter squadron, in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme for overseas service with the Royal Air Force during World War II. No. 453 Squadron saw combat first in the Malayan and Singapore campaigns of 1941–42. Severe aircraft losses effectively destroyed the squadron and it was disbanded in March 1942. A successor unit by the same name was raised in Britain from mid-1942, to take part in fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe until 1945. The squadron was disbanded in 1946. It was re-formed in its current role in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffrey Fisken</span>

Geoffrey Bryson Fisken, was a New Zealand fighter pilot who was the British Commonwealth's leading air ace in the Pacific theatre of World War II. He is credited with shooting down 11 Japanese aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 67 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

The name No. 67 Squadron has been used by the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force for two quite different units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 71 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 71 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron. The number has been used three times: once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron; in the Second World War as the first of three Eagle Squadrons; and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit under the command of Royal Air Force Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 605 Squadron RAF</span> Military unit

No. 605 Squadron was formed as an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. Initially formed as a bomber unit, it became a fighter squadron prior to the Second World War and was one of the most successful participants of the Battle of Britain. It also had the distinction of being active during the war at two fronts at a time, when the squadron was split up between Malta and the Dutch East Indies. In its last incarnation as an active flying unit, the squadron served as the first jet fighter unit in the post-war Royal Auxiliary Air Force; 616 having already flown Gloster Meteors during the war. No. 605 Squadron was reformed as a RAuxAF Logistic Support Squadron (LSS) on 1 Nov 2014 within No. 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing of the RAF A4 Force. On the 1 January 2019, the Reserve Logistic Support Wing (RLSW) was established with 501, 504 and 605 LSS Squadron's moving from No. 85 Wing RAF to form RLSW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bert Wipiti</span>

Bert Sam Wipiti, DFM was a New Zealand fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Born in New Plymouth, he enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1941 and when he was posted to No. 243 Squadron in Singapore, he was the first Māori airman to leave New Zealand for active duty. Following the Japanese invasion of British Malaya, he destroyed five Japanese aircraft before being evacuated to Java in February 1942. He later flew with the RNZAF's No. 485 Squadron in Europe and was killed on operations while escorting bombers on a raid over France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Hall (RNZAF officer)</span> New Zealand flying ace during World War II

Peter Francis Locker Hall, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with the confirmed destruction of eight German aircraft and one more probably destroyed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reg Grant</span>

Reginald Joseph Cowan Grant, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. E. Clouston</span>

Air Commodore Arthur Edmond Clouston, was a New Zealand-born British test pilot and senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He took part in several air races and record-breaking flights in the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfred Clouston</span> New Zealand Second World War flying ace

Wilfred Greville Clouston was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of nine enemy aircraft and shared in the destruction of three more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Noble MacKenzie</span> New Zealand flying ace

John Noble MacKenzie, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was officially credited with the destruction of nine enemy aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Jameson (RNZAF officer)</span> New Zealand World War II flying ace (1921–1998)

George Esmond Jameson, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War, who is credited with the destruction of eleven enemy aircraft and two damaged. He was the highest scoring New Zealand night fighter pilot of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest Joyce (RNZAF officer)</span> New Zealand flying ace

Ernest Leslie Joyce, was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with the destruction of at least nine enemy aircraft.

Kenneth William Stewart, was a flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He was officially credited with the destruction of five German aircraft.

References

Further reading