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New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vol. II)
No. 488 Squadron
No. 488 Squadron
Squadron Motto: Ka ngarue ratau (We shake them).
Date and Place of Formation: 25 June 1942 – Church Fenton, Yorkshire.
Commanding Officers:
| Wg Cdr R. M. Trousdale | June 1942 to March 1943 |
| Wg Cdr J. Nesbitt-Dufort | March 1943 to July 1943 |
| Wg Cdr A. R. Burton-Giles | July 1943 to September 1943 |
| Wg Cdr P. H. Hamley | September 1943 to January 1944 |
| Wg Cdr R. C. Halne | January 1944 to October 1944 |
| Wg Cdr R. G. Watts | October 1944 to April 1945 |
Bases:
| Church Fenton, Yorkshire | June 1942 to August 1942 |
| Ayr, Ayrshire | August 1942 to August 1943 |
| Drem, East Lothian | August 1943 to September 1943 |
| Bradwell Bay, Essex | September 1943 to May 1944 |
| Zeals, Wiltshire | May 1944 to August 1944 |
| Colerne, Wiltshire | August 1944 to November 1944 |
| Hunsdon, Hertfordshire | November 1944 |
| Amiens-Glisy, France | November 1944 to April 1945 |
| Gilze Rijen, Holland | April 1945 |
Role:
No. 488 was originally equipped with Beaufighters and operated as a night intruder squadron over France and the Low Countries. Re-equipped with Mosquito night fighters in August 1943 and posted south as defensive night fighters. After D Day operated almost entirely over the Continent as night fighters, achieving outstanding success.
First Operation:
| 2 October 1942 | Interception patrol over Ayrshire by one Beaufighter. |
Last Operation:
| 25–26 April 1945 | Seven sorties flown over Germany. |
Disbanded: 26 April 1945
Effort and Achievements:
No. 488 Squadron flew 2899 sorties, totalling 6689 hours, during which 67 enemy machines were destroyed, 4 probably destroyed, and 10 damaged. Whilst employed on ranger patrols in 1943, crews also destroyed or damaged some 40 locomotives.
Decorations won by New Zealand members of the squadron were:
| Distinguished Service Order | 1 | Distinguished Flying Cross | 4 |
| Bar to DFC | 1 | Air Force Cross | 1 |