No. 489 Squadron RNZAF

No. 489 (NZ) Squadron RAF
A Bristol Beaufighter of No. 489 Squadron with its crew, April 1944
Active	August 1941–August 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	New Zealand
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Anti-Shipping
Motto(s)	Māori: Whakatanagata kia kaha (Translation: "Acquit yourselves like men, be strong")[1][2]
Anniversaries	12 August 1941
Equipment	Bristol Beaufort Bristol Blenheim Mk. IVf Handley Page Hampden Bristol Beaufighter De Havilland Mosquito
Engagements	Second World War
Insignia
Squadron Badge	Standing on a Torpedo, a Kiwi[1][2]
Squadron Codes	XA (Jan 1942 – Nov 1943)[3][4] P6 (Nov 1943 – Aug 1945)[5][6]

No. 489 (NZ) 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 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 light bombers. 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 October 1943, the squadron ceased flying sorties while it converted to the Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter. It resumed anti-shipping duties in January 1944, and later in the year formed the Anzac Strike Wing, 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.