Article XV squadrons were
AustralianAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
,
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
air forceAn air force, also known in some countries as an air army or historically an army air corps, is in the broadest sense, the national military that primarily conducts aerial warfare...
flying squadronsA squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, armour, aircraft , or warships.-Army and Marines:A cavalry squadron , typically consists of four troops.-United States:...
formed from graduates of the
British Commonwealth Air Training PlanThe British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, also known as the Empire Air Training Scheme, Empire Air Training Plan, Commonwealth Air Training Plan or simply "The Plan" or "The Scheme", was a massive air-training program involving the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Southern...
(BCATP) during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Under Article XV of the "Riverdale Agreement" which established the BCATP, graduates from Dominion air forces were to be assigned to squadrons either formed by their own air forces, or with a specific national designation, under the operational control of the
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
(RAF). If it was intended that they would be under RAF control, Dominion air force squadrons were usually given numbers in the 400–490 range — 400–449 was allotted to the
Royal Canadian Air ForceThe Royal Canadian Air Force was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces...
(RCAF), 450–467 to the
Royal Australian Air ForceThe Royal Australian Air Force is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF began in March 1912 as the Australian Flying Corps making it the second oldest air force in the world...
(RAAF) and 485–490 to the
Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand components of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s...
(RNZAF).
Article XV squadrons were
AustralianAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
,
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
air forceAn air force, also known in some countries as an air army or historically an army air corps, is in the broadest sense, the national military that primarily conducts aerial warfare...
flying squadronsA squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, armour, aircraft , or warships.-Army and Marines:A cavalry squadron , typically consists of four troops.-United States:...
formed from graduates of the
British Commonwealth Air Training PlanThe British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, also known as the Empire Air Training Scheme, Empire Air Training Plan, Commonwealth Air Training Plan or simply "The Plan" or "The Scheme", was a massive air-training program involving the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Southern...
(BCATP) during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
Under Article XV of the "Riverdale Agreement" which established the BCATP, graduates from Dominion air forces were to be assigned to squadrons either formed by their own air forces, or with a specific national designation, under the operational control of the
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
(RAF). If it was intended that they would be under RAF control, Dominion air force squadrons were usually given numbers in the 400–490 range — 400–449 was allotted to the
Royal Canadian Air ForceThe Royal Canadian Air Force was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Forces...
(RCAF), 450–467 to the
Royal Australian Air ForceThe Royal Australian Air Force is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF began in March 1912 as the Australian Flying Corps making it the second oldest air force in the world...
(RAAF) and 485–490 to the
Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand components of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s...
(RNZAF). These were known as "Article XV squadrons."
During the war 44 Canadian, 17 Australian and six New Zealand Article XV Squadrons were formed. In practice — and technically in contravention of Article XV — most personnel from Dominion air forces, while they were under RAF operational control, were assigned to British units. This was generally due to practical staffing considerations. Similarly, many of the Article XV squadrons contained few airmen from their nominal air force, when they were first formed. However, by the end of the war this had generally been rectified.
In addition, several other pre-war RAAF units — which were not covered by Article XV — were also under RAF operational control. Initially, there was no cross-posting of personnel from the RAF or other Dominion air forces, to or from these squadrons, although this requirement was relaxed later in the war.
The remaining Dominion,
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland, while Lesotho is an independent country surrounded by South Africa.Modern...
was not a signatory to the BCATP and the
South African Air ForceThe South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
(SAAF) did not form any Article XV squadrons. However, South Africa made similar arrangements regarding training and personnel. SAAF units took part in the
East AfricanEast African Campaign may refer to:*East African Campaign *East African Campaign...
,
North AfricanDuring the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 16 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers...
and
Italian CampaignThe Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the invasion of...
s. As the war progressed, personnel from other Dominion air forces served in SAAF units and vice versa.
Southern RhodesiaSouthern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe.-Origin as 'Rhodesia':...
(later Zimbabwe) was not technically a Dominion and was therefore not a signatory to the BCATP, although aircrews from other Dominions were trained there. In 1940, the small
Southern Rhodesia Air ForceThe Royal Rhodesian Air Force was the air arm of the British colonial state of Rhodesia. It existed between 1935 and 1980 under various names, and is now the Air Force of Zimbabwe.-History:...
was formed into
No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAFNo. 237 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron. During the Second World War the unit was formed from No. 1 Squadron Southern Rhodesian Air Force for operations in North Africa.-History:...
. Two other RAF squadrons,
No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAFNo. 44 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is no longer operational. For most of its history it served as a heavy bomber squadron.-History:...
and
No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF-World War I:The squadron was formed from No's 437 and 438 Flights at Mudros, Greece on 27 September 1918 from to carry out anti-submarine patrols in that area, flying Short 184s and 320s along with Felixtowe F.3s. In February 1919 it was transferred to the Caucasus on HMS Engadine. It operated...
were also formed; both had significant numbers of Rhodesian personnel.
Similarly,
No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAFNo. 75 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operated as a bomber unit in World War II, before being transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1945.-World War I, Home Defence fighters:...
, which was staffed primarily by RNZAF personnel during the war and was officially transferred to the RNZAF in late 1945, was officially an RAF squadron during the war.
Royal Canadian Air Force
- No. 400 Squadron RCAF
No. 400 Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of CFB Borden. The squadron currently operates the CH-146 Griffon.-History:...
- No. 401 Squadron RCAF
- No. 402 Squadron RCAF
402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron is a Canadian Forces squadron based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada-Pre-war history:...
- No. 403 Squadron RCAF
- No. 404 Squadron RCAF
No. 404 Squadron is a long range patrol and training squadron in the Canadian Forces Air Command. The squadron was originally a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force -History:...
- No. 405 Squadron RCAF
No. 405 Squadron RCAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force that first saw service during the Second World War. After unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968, the squadron continued to provide service within the Canadian Armed Forces. It received the first production...
- No. 406 Squadron RCAF
406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at 12 Wing Shearwater it is responsible for crew training on the Sea King. The squadron was originally an Royal Canadian Air Force unit flying with RAF Fighter Command.-History:It was first formed at...
- No. 407 Squadron RCAF
407 Maritime Patrol Squadron is a maritime patrol squadron of the Canadian Forces. It is located at 19 Wing Comox, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia operating the CP-140 Aurora.-History:...
- No. 408 Squadron RCAF
- No. 409 Squadron RCAF
The 409 Nighthawk Squadron is an air force unit of the Canadian Forces. Operating the CF-18 Hornet at CFB Cold Lake.- Second World War :No. 409 Nighthawk Squadron was formed at RAF Digby in June 1941 for night operations with Boulton-Paul Defiants, moving in July to Coleby Grange, where, in August,...
- No. 410 Squadron RCAF
No. 410 Squadron RCAF, the "Cougars", is a Canadian Forces Air Command aircraft squadron currently located at Canada's primary CF-18 training base, Cold Lake, Alberta...
- No. 411 Squadron RCAF
No. 411 Squadron RCAF was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that operated as part of RAF Fighter Command in Europe with the Supermarine Spitfire. -History:...
- No. 412 Squadron RCAF
No. 412 Transport Squadron of Canadian Forces Air Command is one of 3 transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. This squadron, however, is based out of Ottawa, Ontario. It had formerly been attached to CFB Ottawa, which closed in 1994....
- No. 413 Squadron RCAF
No. 413 Squadron RCAF is an air force squadron of the Canadian Forces. It was originally a flying boat squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War...
- No. 414 Squadron RCAF
No. 414 Squadron RCAF was a squadron associated with the Royal Canadian Air Force and later with Canadian Forces Air Command.-History:On August 13, 1941, No. 414 Army Co-operation Squadron was formed at RAF Croydon, England, flying Lysander and Curtis Tomahawk aircraft. On June 28, 1943 the...
- No. 415 Squadron RCAF
No. 415 Squadron RCAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force that first saw service during the Second World War. After unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968, the squadron continued to provide service within the Canadian Armed Forces....
- No. 416 Squadron RCAF
No. 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron was a Canadian Forces fighter squadron that was originally formed during the Second World War as a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force . It was most recently stationed at CFB 4 Wing Cold Lake, where it operated the CF-18 Hornet. In 2006, 416 TFS stood down and...
- No. 417 Squadron RCAF
No. 417 Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Cold Lake it provides helicopter support to the base operations. Since 1994, it has also provided Search and Rescue.-History:...
- No. 418 Squadron RCAF
- No. 419 Squadron RCAF
419 City of Kamloops Squadron is an air force unit with the Canadian Forces. The squadron was originally formed during the Second World War as part of the Royal Canadian Air Force . Currently based at CFB Cold Lake, it is responsible for advanced tactical fighter training for pilots as part of the...
- No. 420 Squadron RCAF
No. 420 Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force which existed from late December 1941 forwards. The Squadron's nickname was "Snowy Owl". Their motto was Pugnamus Finitum, Latin for We Fight To The Finish. No. 420 Squadron is no longer active.-History:No...
- No. 421 Squadron RCAF
- No. 422 Squadron RCAF
- No. 423 Squadron RCAF
- No. 424 Squadron RCAF
No. 424 Squadron RCAF or 424 Squadron is a search and rescue/transport Squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of Hangar # 9 with the 8 Wing at CFB Trenton.-History:...
- No. 425 Squadron RCAF
No. 425 Squadron RCAF , also known as Alouette Squadron, is a unit flying the CF-18 Hornet aircraft from CFB Bagotville, Quebec, Canada...
- No. 426 Squadron RCAF
No. 426 Squadron RCAF, also known as 426 Transport Training Squadron, and 426 Thunderbird is a transport training squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. It fought during World War II as a bomber squadron...
- No. 427 Squadron RCAF
- No. 428 Squadron RCAF
No. 428 Squadron RCAF, also known as 428 Bomber Squadron, and 428 Ghost Squadron, was a bomber squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Throughout its service in the Second World War the squadron was based in England and flew bombing missions against the enemy. After the end of the war the...
- No. 429 Squadron RCAF
429 Transport Squadron of the Canadian Forces Air Command is one of three transport squadrons attached to CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. The squadron was originally formed as a bomber squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force attached to RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.-History:The...
- No. 430 Squadron RCAF
- No. 431 Squadron RCAF
- No. 432 Squadron RCAF
No. 432 Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force formed during the Second World War.-History:It was first formed at Skipton-on-Swale in May 1943, as part of No. 6 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The unit was equipped with Wellington X bombers.The squadron deployed to RAF East Moor...
- No. 433 Squadron RCAF
- No. 434 Squadron RCAF
No. 434 Squadron was a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron that flew bombing operations over Europe during World War II.The unit was re-activated as the CF-5 operational training unit in the late 1960s at CFB Cold Lake...
- No. 435 Squadron RCAF
435 Transport and Rescue Squadron is a Canadian Forces squadron based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.This squadron flies the Lockheed CC-130 Hercules tanker/transport in the airlift search and rescue roles...
- No. 436 Squadron RCAF
436 Transport Squadron of the Canadian Forces Air Command currently operates the C-130 Hercules from CFB Trenton, Trenton, Ontario.-History:436 Transport was formed late in 1944 and assisted the 14th Army in Burma using C-47 Dakota aircraft.-Current role:...
- No. 437 Squadron RCAF
437 Husky Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Trenton. It is responsible for long range airlift for the CF.- Squadron History :Formed in England in 1944 is provided general transport until disbanded in 1946....
- No. 438 Squadron RCAF
No. 438 "City of Montreal" Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force . The squadron is based at CFB St. Hubert, Quebec...
- No. 439 Squadron RCAF
- No. 440 Squadron RCAF
No. 440 Squadron RCAF was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that operated as part of the Royal Air Force in Europe with the Hawker Typhoon. -History:...
- No. 441 Squadron RCAF
- No. 442 Squadron RCAF
442 City of Vancouver Squadron is an Air Force unit with the Canadian Forces. Based at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island it provides Search and Rescue coverage for the West Coast of Canada...
- No. 443 Squadron RCAF
No. 443 Squadron RCAF was a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that operated as part of RAF Fighter Command in Europe with the Supermarine Spitfire...
Some RCAF Article XV Squadrons were re-numbered when posted overseas – for example No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron was reformed as No. 440 Squadron when posted from Alaska to Europe – but most RCAF 400-numbered squadrons were formed overseas.
Postwar, the 400 numbering remained in use and the original home-based squadron numbers were replaced with numbers in the 400-series. With expansion of the RCAF in the early 1950s the numbers 444 to 449 were used, and following the 1968 unification of the three service branches, an army helicopter squadron was re-numbered 450, intruding into the RAAF numbers.
Royal Australian Air Force
Australia formed 17 Article XV squadrons, out of a total of 79 RAAF squadrons, during World War II. While 18 squadrons had been originally planned for service with the RAF, No. 465 Squadron was never formed. The squadrons were:
- No. 450 Squadron RAAF
No. 450 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. It was the second RAAF Article XV squadron formed for service with the British military, under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan...
- No. 451 Squadron RAAF
No. 451 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed during World War II, 451 Squadron came into existence at Bankstown in New South Wales on February 12, 1941. The squadrons motto was Into the midst from above....
- No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit formed during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over the UK and Nazi-occupied Europe. The squadron was later based in Australia and the Netherlands East Indies.Keith "Bluey"...
- No. 453 Squadron RAAF
No. 453 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed during World War II. 453 Squadron came into existence at Bankstown in New South Wales on May 23, 1941. The squadron's motto was Ready to strike. It was raised under the Empire Air Training Scheme.- Malaya and Singapore :The squadron was...
- No. 454 Squadron RAAF
No. 454 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed during World War II. 454 Squadron came into existence at Williamtown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941. The squadron was raised under the Empire Air Training Scheme.-Middle East:...
- No. 455 Squadron RAAF
No. 455 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. The Squadron was formed in May 1941 and was equipped with Hampden bombers upon arrival in Britain in June. The Squadron served with RAF Coastal Command from April 1942 and made a deployment to the Soviet Union in...
- No. 456 Squadron RAAF
No. 456 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in June 1941 in the United Kingdom under the Empire Air Training Scheme as a night fighter squadron equipped with Defiant fighters. The Squadron was soon reequipped with Beaufighters and scored its...
- No. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The Squadron was formed in 1941 and was disbanded in 1945 after seeing action in both the European and Pacific theatres of the war.-History:...
- No. 458 Squadron RAAF
No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in Australia, under the Empire Air Training Scheme...
- No. 459 Squadron RAAF
No. 459 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in Egypt on 10 February 1942 under the Empire Air Training Scheme. The Squadron was initially equipped with Lockheed Hudson and Bristol Blenheim aircraft and operated in the maritime reconnaissance role...
- No. 460 Squadron RAAF
Number 460 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force was raised during World War II at RAF Molesworth, in England on November 15, 1941. It was a multinational unit, but most personnel were Australian.-History:...
- No. 461 Squadron RAAF
No. 461 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II which operated under Royal Air Force control flying in Europe and over the Atlantic. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and was disbanded in 1945.-Squadron history:...
- No. 462 Squadron RAAF
No. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The Squadron saw action during World War II as a bomber and electronic warfare squadron....
- No. 463 Squadron RAAF
No. 463 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force heavy bomber squadron during World War II. The squadron was formed in the United Kingdom on 25 November 1943 from personnel and aircraft allocated from No. 467 Squadron RAAF. The Squadron was equipped with Avro Lancaster bombers and flew its...
- No. 464 Squadron RAAF
No. 464 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II.-History:The Squadron was officially formed at RAF Feltwell on 1 September 1942 in the United Kingdom, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. No...
- No. 466 Squadron RAAF
No. 466 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force bomber squadron during World War II.-History:The squadron was formed at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire, England on October 10, 1942, under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. The majority of its original personnel were from British...
- No. 467 Squadron RAAF
No. 467 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in the United Kingdom, under the Empire Air Training Scheme on 7 November 1942 and was equipped with Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. The Squadron formed part of RAF Bomber Command and conducted raids on...
Five other RAAF squadrons were also under RAF operational control for the whole or part of the war:
Coastal Command
- No. 10 Squadron RAAF
No. 10 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The Squadron was first formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War.-Second World War:...
Far East Air Force
- No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. Based at RAAF Amberley, it currently operates the F-111 bomber.-World War I:...
- No. 8 Squadron RAAF
No. 8 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force flying training squadron of World War I and medium bomber squadron of World War II. The Squadron was first formed in October 1917 and was disbanded in January 1946 after seeing action during the Pacific War....
- No. 21 Squadron RAAF
No. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.-History:...
Desert Air ForceThe Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
- No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Sydney.-World War I:...
The remaining 57 RAAF squadrons served under the operational control of the RAAF or
United States Army Air ForcesThe United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. It was a component of the United States Army, divided functionally by executive order in 1942 into three autonomous forces: the Army Ground Forces, the...
, in the
South West Pacific TheatreThe South West Pacific was one of two theatres of World War II in the Pacific region, between 1942 and 1945. The South West Pacific theatre included the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies , Borneo, Australia, the Australian Territory of New Guinea , the western part of the Solomon Islands and some...
during World War II.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
- No. 485 Squadron RNZAF
No. 485 Squadron was a New Zealand Spitfire squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was the second New Zealand squadron to be formed in the European theatre, No. 485(NZ) Squadron was a New Zealand Spitfire squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was the second New...
(fighter)
- No. 486 Squadron RNZAF
486 Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Second World War manned by New Zealand pilots, trained mostly under the Empire Air Training Scheme, but operationally controlled in Europe by the Royal Air Force.-Background:...
(fighter bomber)
- No. 487 Squadron RNZAF
No. 487 Squadron was a New Zealand bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force which served in the European theatre during World War II.-History:...
(fighter bomber)
- No. 488 Squadron RNZAF
488 Squadron was a squadron formed from New Zealanders trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme for service during the Second World War under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.-Day Fighter Unit:...
(fighter/night Fighter)
- No. 489 Squadron RNZAF
489 Squadron was formed from pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 12 August 1941 under RAF Coastal Command as an anti-submarine and reconnaissance unit.-History:...
(torpedo bomber)
- No. 490 Squadron RNZAF
490 Squadron was formed from pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force under RAF Coastal Command as an anti-submarine and reconnaissance unit.-History:...
(flying boat)
In addition
No. 75 SquadronNo. 75 Squadron RNZAF was formed from the RAF's World War II bomber squadron, No. 75 Squadron, which had been initially equipped by the New Zealand government and was largely manned by New Zealanders. The squadron was created when, in a unique gesture, the squadron number, colours and battle...
(heavy bombers) was treated similarly, forming in August 1939 from 30
WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bombers and their crews loaned by New Zealand to the RAF.
See also