No. 488 Squadron RNZAF

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Brief History

488 Squadron reformed on 25 June 1942 at RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire, as a night fighter 'intruder' unit equipped with Beaufighters. In this role it destroyed 40 trains. The squadron aircraft carried the code letters ME. (An earlier version of the Squadron had served as a day fighter Squadron in the Battle for Malaya, taking very heavy casualties before evacuating to Fremantle.)

Switched to a defensive role in August 1943 it re-equipped with de Havilland Mosquitoes. In November 1944 the squadron moved to France, and was based in Belgium and Holland in the closing stages of the war. In this role it flew 2,899 sorties, shot down 67 aircraft.

Squadron personnel

• Roy Joseph Smith 16 Sep - 4 Oct 1942