Gone The Dark Night – now published

I’m really pleased to be able to share the news that Graham Clayton’s history of 488(NZ) Squadron has been published and is now available to purchase online.

I have just finished reading the book and have to give credit to Graham for writing such a meticulously researched piece of work. The story follows the Squadron’s reforming at Church Fenton in the UK as a night fighter squadron operating Beaufighters through to the conversion to Mk XII, Mk XIII and ultimately Mk 30 Mosquitos as they moved first up to Scotland then to the south of England before crossing the Channel into France and then Belgium where the Squadron was disbanded in the dying days of the war.

The Squadron’s effective use of early versions of Radar is explained in good detail, and leaves you amazed at the ability of the squadron’s airmen as they hunted and identified aircraft in pitch black conditions using a screen that is smaller than most people’s mobile phones!

Graham was able to draw on eye witness accounts of squadron life as well as official records which makes this the most complete record of the Squadron’s activities that has ever been written. The use of contemporary reports and photographs of the time really brings the squadron and it’s personnel back to life.

This book is an essential addition to any wartime aviation historian’s collection and sits well alongside “Defence Until Dawn”, the first biography written by Leslie Hunt soon after the war when Radar and Air Interception was still shrouded in secrecy.

On behalf of the families of 488(NZ) Squadron’s airmen and ground crews, thank you Graham for your tenacity in getting this book researched, written and published!

2019 update

The lifespan of active posts on this blog was always going to be limited by the “real-time” nature of the original posts. Almost 5 years have past since this site was updated regularly, although I have posted if any significant new information came to light.

The site continues to get a good number of hits, and the odd enquiry or request for information from people researching their ancestors’ roles in the war. I hope to be able to add some new Aircrew Biographies in the future, but it is a slow process and only made possible by family members or other researchers providing me with additional information.

I will always share, free of charge and without expectation, any information I have that will help others with their research. If anyone has any information they would like to share; or has any suggestions as to how I could bring this site back to life without detracting from it’s original purpose, I’d love to hear from you.

Aircrew Biographies

I have made a start on adding some Aircrew biographies to the site. They include service histories and photographs not previously seen. This has only been possible with the help of relatives of these airmen, and I am grateful to them for their help.

You can see the biographies added to date here or by navigating through the 488(NZ) Squadron Research link at the top of the page.

If you have any information about an Airman of this Squadron, and would like to see a biography included, please get in touch using the Contact page.

488 (New Zealand) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Broody joined 488 (New Zealand) Squadron on 04/ix/43 with W/Cdr Peter Hamley AFC, who he had paired up with for the majority of his time at 51 OTU. W/Cdr Hamley was joining the squadron as it’s new Commanding Officer, replacing W/Cdr. P.R.Burton-Gyles who was moving on to take command of 23 Squadron in Malta.

Despite the fact the squadron badge carries the name “Royal New Zealand Air Force”, it was not a RNZAF squadron. 488 (New Zealand) Squadron was in fact a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed under article XV of The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (1939).

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was drawn up to address a shortage of aircrew, and to circumvent the difficulties of training up the large number of aircrew required by the Royal Air Force in the UK by establishing overseas training schools to provide commonwealth aircrew who would go on to serve with the Royal Air Force in squadrons formed under article XV. In a nutshell – Commonwealth countries would provide aircrew who would be administrated by, fly for, and be paid by, the Royal Air Force in squadrons generally populated by citizens of that country. In reality, many of these squadrons were manned by a mixed bag of commonwealth citizens. Other New Zealand squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed under article XV were 485, 486, 487, 489 & 490

488 Squadron had previously operated as a separate entity between September 1941 and March 1942 in Singapore as a Day Fighter Squadron equipped with Brewster Buffaloes. The squadron was reformed in the UK in June 1942 as a night fighter squadron, initially equipped with Beaufighters and operating in an offensive “intruder” role. The unit switched to a defensive role in August 1943, operating De Havilland Mosquitos. The squadron was based at several UK airfields until it moved to France, and then Holland before disbanding in April 1945.

The squadron’s motto “Ka ngarue ratau”, translates from Maori to “We shake them”

488(NZ) Squadron RAF’s crest

 

RAF Bradwell Bay

RAF Bradwell Bay was an RAF base located on the Essex coast  (Grid Reference TM 00485 08178). The base was used during the war between 1941 and 1945. 488 Squadron moved to Bradwell bay on 3rd August 1943, and remained there until a move to RAF Colerne in May 1944.

The images below show (from Broody’s collection) an aerial view of the airfield as it looked during the war, and an image from google maps of the airfield as it look today. The site is now home to the Bradwell Nuclear Power Station.

RAF Bradwell Bay (1943)

RAF Bradwell Bay as is looks in 2013
(Source Google maps)