No. 489 Squadron RNZAF
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No. 489 Squadron was formed from pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 12 August 1941 under Coastal Command as an anti submarine and reconnaissance unit at Leuchars with Bristol Beauforts. As Beauforts were in short supply, they were supplemented and eventually replaced by the earlier Bristol Blenheim Bolingbrokes. These were used over Norway. The Squadron converted to Handley Page Hampdens in April and became a dedicated torpedo bomber unit in August 1942. Depending on texts consulted, the squadron re-equppied with Bristol Beaufighters, in either August 1942 or October 1943, the August date probably being preferable as it would fit with the switch to torpedo bombing. Beaufighters were used to attack shipping in the North Sea and along the coast of Occupied Europe, Northern Germany and Scandinavia. From April 1944 it formed part of the Anzac Strike wing. It also flew air sea rescue missions, escorted onvoys and continued anti subamirne work. The squadrons last operational mission in Europe was flown off the Norwegian coast on May 21, 1945. It re-equipped with De Havilland Mosquitoes in June 1945 with a view to moving to the Pacific, but following the collapse of Japan, it was disbanded on 1 August 1945.
The squadron operated out of RAF Leuchars, RAF Thorney Island, RAF Wick, RAF St Eval, RAF Skitten, RAF Langham, RAF Dallachy and RAF Banff. It flew 2,380 sorties and 9,773 hours on operations. Awards were two Distinguished Service Orders, three Distinguished Flying Medals a Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and 19 Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Squadron's Māori motto is Whakatanagata kia kaha, which can roughly be translated as 'Be men, Be Strong".
No 489 Squadron aircraft are known to survive, but relics are preserved at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand.
