Page 24 - Demo

24account of the raid was revealed after the war. Re8equipped and led by Percy Pickard (of Target For Tonight fame) the squadron flew its first mission with Mosquitos against a power station near Nantes, subsequently specialising in precision attacks, including the raids on Amiens Prison and the Gestapo HQs in Aarhus and Copenhagen. The recently formed No 488 Sqn was in Singapore, still working8up on Buffaloes when the Japanese attacked. Hastily provided with some Hurricanes, it was soon rendered non8effective and the survivors were evacuated to New Zealand. In June 1942 the 488 number plate was reallocated to a night fighter squadron being formed at Church Fenton. Mounted on Beaufighters, and later Mosquitos, No 488 Sqn flew air defence and intruder sorties for the rest of the war. As an anti8shipping unit, No 489 Sqn had a fairly slow build up progressing via Blenheims and Hampdens to Beaufighters. Nevertheless, the squadron had a steady success rate against enemy shipping and eventually joined the very high8scoring Dallachy Wing, No 489 Sqn contributing the RNZAF element to the unique Commonwealth constitution of this wing, the other squadrons being provided by the RAF, RAAF and RCAF. The last RNZAF unit formed under Article XV was No 490 Sqn which flew Catalinas and then Sunderlands from Jui in West Africa from June 1943. A %u2018Torbeau%u2019 of No 489 Sqn RNZAF being escorted by a Mustang of No 315 (Polish) Sqn.