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Aircraft - Locations - Group and Duty - Books
No.485 Squadron, RNZAF, was a UK based fighter squadron that took part in the offensive sweeps over France, supported the D-Day Landings and spent most of the rest of the war based on the Continent.
The squadron was formed on 1 March 1941 and was equipped with the Spitfire. It became operational on 12 April, and at first provided defensive cover for the east coast, from its base at Driffield in Yorkshire.
The squadron flew its first offensive sweep over France while it was based at Driffield, using airfields in the south as a staging post. It then moved south and spent a year taking part in the campaign of offensive sweeps over France and the Low Countries designed to take the fight to the Luftwaffe. In August 1942 it took part in the failed attack on Dieppe.
From October 1942 to January 1943 the squadron was moved to Northern Ireland for a rest, before returning south to resume the offensive campaign.
In February 1944 the squadron became a fighter-bomber squadron. It was used for low-level attacks on targets in along the possible invasion coasts, attacking communication targets and radar stations.
On D-Day the squadron was used to provide fighter cover for the invasion fleet. In August 1944 it moved to Normandy and provided support for the Allied armies. The squadron took part in the rapid advance across France and into the Low Countries. When the front stabilised it was used to fly sweeps behind German lines.
In February 1945 the squadron was withdrawn to the UK to convert to the Hawker Tempest. A number of Typhoons were also used during the training period, but in April the switch was abandoned. The squadron reverted to the Spitfire IX and returned to the Continent, moving to bases in the Netherlands. The squadron took part in the final advance into Germany. It remained on the Continent after the end of the war and was disbanded on 26 August 1945.
Aircraft
March 1941-June 1941: Supermarine Spitfire I
June-August: Supermarine Spitfire IIA
August 1941-July 1943: Supermarine Spitfire VB
July-November 1943: Supermarine Spitfire IXB
November 1943-February 1944: Supermarine Spitfire VB
February 1944-February 1945: Supermarine Spitfire IXB
February-March 1945: Hawker Typhoon IB and Hawker Tempest V
March-April 1945: Hawker Typhoon IB
April-May 1945: Supermarine Spitfire IXB
May-August 1945: Supermarine Spitfire XVI
Location
March-April 1941: Driffield
April-July 1941: Leconfield
July-October 1941: Redhill
October 1941-July 1942: Kenley
July-August 1942: King's Cliffe
August 1942: West Malling
August-September 1942: King's Cliffe
September 1942: Church Fenton
September-October 1942: King's Cliffe
October-November 1942: Kirkistown
October-November 1942: Detachment to Eglington
November 1942: Eglington
November 1942-January 1943: King's Cliffe
January-February 1943: Westhampnett
February 1943: Martlesham Heath
February-May 1943: Westhampnett
May-July 1943: Merston
June 1943: Detachment to Ayr
July-October 1943: Biggin Hill
October-November 1943: Hornchurch
November 1943-February 1944: Drem
February-March 1944: Hornchurch
March 1944: Llanbedr
March-April 1944: Hornchurch
April-June 1944: Selsey
June-July 1944: Coolham
July-August 1944: Funtington
August 1944: Selsey
August 1944: Tangmere
August-September 1944: B.17 Carpiquet
September 1944: B.35 Le Treport
September-October 1944: B.54 Merville
October-November 1944: B.65 Maldegem
November 1944: Fairwood Common
November 1944-January 1945: B.65 Maldegem
January-February 1945: B.77 Gilze-Rijen
February-April 1945: Predannack
April 1945: B.106 Twente
April-August 1945: B.105 Drope
Squadron Codes: OU
Duty
April-July 1942: Defensive fighter cover, Yorkshire
July-October 1942: Offensive sweeps over France
October 1942-January 1943: Rest period, Northern Ireland
January 1943-February 1944: Offensive sweeps over France
February 1944-February 1945: Fighter-Bomber squadron, supporting Allied invasion of Normandy
February-April 1945: UK to convert to Tempest
April 1945 onwards: Fighter-Bomber squadron, Germany