Small Scale Military Headquarters

Re-equipped with Hawker Tempests, initially in January - February 1944[13], and later again in April. Although 486 Sqn was the first unit to receive Tempests, 3 Squadron was the first unit fully equipped. The unit was changed back to fighter defence after D-Day and claimed 223½ V-1 flying bombs, the second highest number of any unit. At the end of April 1944 the 486 squadron became part of 150 Wing, along with 3 Squadron and 56 Squadron. (the latter still equipped with Spitfire VBs and, later, Hawker Typhoons), under the command of Wing Commander Roland Beamont.[14] Beamont wrote about 486 Sqn.

"...an exuberant bunch of New Zealanders with a brilliant record on Typhoons and a rather casual approach (as I was soon to find out) to King's Regulations and Air Council instructions - and to "Pommy Bastard" wing leaders!" [15]

Apart from the anti-Diver (V-1) operations, 150 Wing undertook several night-time, as well as the more usual daytime, ground attack sorties.

On 28 September 1944 with the V-1 threat over, 150 Wing became 122 Hawker Tempest Wing, trading places with three Mustang III squadrons.[16][17] Later additions to 122 Wing included 80 Squadronn. and 274 Squadron.; 41 Squadron., a Grffon engine Spitfire XIV unit was also a part of the Wing, providing high altitude cover. 122 Wing was attached to the Second Tactical Air Force, and moved through Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Denmark. The wing's role was low-medium altitude fighter operations, although many ground attack missions were also undertaken.(NB: few Tempests carried bombs; ground attack operations mainly involved strafing with the Tempest's four Hispano 20mm cannon.) During these operations German light and medium Flak took a steady toll of Tempest units. 486 lost two C/O's, Arthur E Umbers and Keith G Taylor-Cannon to flak in the last few months of the war.[18]

Soon after the war ended 486 Squadron left 122 Wing and was posted to moved to Kastrup,[19] Denmark. This was considered to be a "perk job" and the personnel of 486 were given an opportunity to unwind and relax, with each pilot being expected to log four hours of Tempest flying per month.[20] On 1 July 1945 the squadron took part in an air display and airfield open day which was attended by the Danish Royal Family and some 300,000 Danes. One of the attractions was the strafing and sinking of old Luftwaffe Bv 138 flying boats anchored in Øresund Strait.[21]


486 (NZ) Squadron in June 1945, Kastrup, Denmark.The squadron was disbanded on 12 October 1945 at RAF Dunsfold, England.[4][22]

[edit] 486 Squadron Record
486 squadron flew over 11,000 sorties claimed 81 enemy aircraft, (including two Messerschmitt 262 jets) and destroyed 223½ (or 241) V-1 "flying bombs"[23], 323 motor vehicles, 14 railway engines and 16 ships.[24] Pilots attached to the squadron won 22 DFCs,a DSO and six Mentioned in Dispatches.[25] While mounted on Tempests 486 Sqn claimed 59.5 enemy aircraft shot down; first place for Tempest victories. 56 Sqn. was second with 59.2.[26]

Panzer_M wrote:

That is just a awesome looking Fighter Bomber for the Commonwealth. Although it's a RNZAF plane...it's serving in Europe so would it be a RAF plane with a commonwealth pilot?

Sorry not sure on how the Commonwealth and RAF worked together in Europe, with the exception of the Canadians and RAF.

Now I just wish someone would make a good and correct Fw 190F(F-3 or F-8) in 1/72

Very nice but my credo is No Pilot in cockpit No buy.

I would be all over a Typhoon,or Tempest in 1/32