486 Squadron became operational late the following month, initially flying patrols protecting convoys making their way through the North Sea.

In the mid-1930s, the Royal Air Force (RAF) was in the process of expanding and required an increasing number of suitable flying personnel.

[1] At around the same time there was discussion between the governments of Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to facilitate the co-ordination of training of air crew in the event of hostilities.

[4][Note 1] The squadron's motto, in Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand, was Hiwa hau Maka, or Beware of the Wild Winds in English.

Allocated the code letters SA, it was initially equipped with Hawker Hurricane IIs and trained in a night fighting role.

[8] The squadron also carried out convoy patrols and its first operational flight, made on 27 April by Sweetman and Pilot Officer Arthur Umbers, was in this capacity.

Sweetman was responsible for the squadron's first aerial victory, when he shot down a Dornier Do 17 medium bomber near Peterborough one night in early July.

[4][6][Note 2] In late July, the squadron began re-equipping with Hawker Typhoons, in anticipation of switching to a role as a day fighter unit.

It moved to the south of England in late August, settling first at North Weald and then West Malling, before a shift to Tangmere in October from where it would operate for over a year.

486 Squadron began flying standing patrols, meant to counter incoming Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter bombers that flew at high speed, and very low altitude, to avoid being detected by radar, to make sneak attacks on targets along the coastline of England.

It then went several weeks without a successful interception but once low level radar stations had been established along the coast in early December, earlier detection of incoming Luftwaffe raids was possible.

[10] The patrols over the South coast against the Luftwaffe's raids continued into early 1943 and by April, the squadron had achieved 11½ aerial victories, mostly fighter-bombers but also the odd Dornier Do 217 bomber engaged in mine laying missions.

[13] By the middle of the year, Luftwaffe resources did not permit the ongoing sneak attacks as its focus shifted to intercepting the increasing Allied bombing raids on Germany.

By the middle of the year, it was itself operating in a fighter bomber role, attacking targets in Caen, Abbeville, Triqueville, Boulogne, Cherbourg and Le Havre.

In some instances, the entire wing flew as fighter escort to medium or heavy bombers attacking targets in France.

[6] At this time, it was tasked with attacking the launching sites of the new V-1 flying bombs in northern France, as well seeking out German aircraft and their airfields.

150 Wing as part of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force, the squadron carried out attacks on transportation infrastructure in northern France, as well as on shipping along the coastline.

[22] However, when the Germans started launching V-1 flying bombs at England, beginning on the night of 12–13 June,[23] the squadron was tasked to deal with the threat as the Tempest was the fastest fighter plane available to the RAF.

It now began operating from airfields in France as the Allied ground forces moved through Belgium and Holland, the wing provided aerial support and cover.

[27] Umbers, who was a founding member of the squadron and served with it until he was posted away in September 1943, returned on 11 December to take command of his former unit.

122 Wing's operations against ground targets had been high and it was decided that the Tempests would now carry out wide-ranging sweeps, hunting out the Luftwaffe.

486 Squadron flew in support of the crossing of the Rhine on 23 March, dealing with anti-aircraft guns that were firing upon the Allied gliders involved in the operation.

[30][34] With Taylor-Cannon missing, Flight Lieutenant Warren Schrader took over command in an acting capacity before being promoted to squadron leader and confirmed in his appointment on 21 April.

[35] However, Schrader, who had been one of the most successful fighter pilots in the preceding few weeks having destroyed a number of German aircraft during this time, was soon given command of No.

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.

[38] 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 Blohm und Voss Bv 138 flying boats anchored in Øresund strait.

[44] When operating against ground or sea targets, it was responsible for the destruction of 323 motor vehicles, 14 railway engines and 16 ships.