No. 489 Squadron RNZAF

rdf:langString No. 489 Squadron RNZAF

rdf:langString No. 489 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF

rdf:langString A Bristol Beaufighter of No. 489 Squadron with its crew, April 1944

rdf:langString United Kingdom

rdf:langString August 1941–August 1945

rdf:langString P6

rdf:langString XA

rdf:langString Standing on a Torpedo, a Kiwi

rdf:langString Squadron Codes

rdf:langString Squadron Badge

rdf:langString Māori: Whakatanagata kia kaha

rdf:langString Anti-Shipping

rdf:langString No. 489 Squadron RAF

rdf:langString No. 489 (New Zealand) 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 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 Coastal Command. Formed in August 1941, the squadron commenced operations in April the following year, flying Handley Page Hampden. Its main role at the time was anti-submarine duties in the Atlantic but it was soon switched to operating against German shipping and carrying out patrols over the North Sea, along the Norwegian coast. In August 1943, the squadron ceased flying sorties while it converted to the Bristol Beaufighter. It resumed anti-shipping duties in January 1944, and later in the year formed the , along with No. 455 Squadron. Now flying to France and the Low Countries, the squadron supported the Allied preparations for the upcoming invasion of Normandy. After the invasion, during which it sought to destroy German motor launches that could attack the invasion fleet, it returned to operations over the North Sea to Norway. It was disbanded in August 1945, once it was determined it was no longer required for service in the war.