It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan.

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

[5] 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.

It was based at Feltwell, a station in Norfolk that was commanded by Group Captain Kippenberger, a New Zealander.

[8] The squadron was initially equipped with Lockheed Ventura light bombers which were nicknamed "Flying pigs" on account of the generous space in its airframe.

[8] The Ventura, an update of the Lockheed Hudson, acquired a poor reputation in Europe[9] as its performance was not really in the same league as British and German aircraft of the period.

[11] The squadron shifted to Methwold on 3 April and promptly resumed operations, with twelve aircraft bombing Caen the next day.

The squadron pressed on, with further losses; by the time the Venturas had begun their bomb run, only five aircraft remained.

487 Squadron was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF), which was raised as part of the Allied preparations for the forthcoming invasion of France.

It became operational on 3 October, when it sortied to Pont Chateau, near Nantes, successfully bombing a power-station without loss.

During the raid, bombs dropped by the squadron destroyed a wall and enabled over a hundred prisoners to escape.

In February 1945, in order to stay in touch with the advancing Allied armies, the squadron shifted its base to liberated Europe, moving to Rosières-en-Santerre in France.

487 Squadron flew its last operational mission on the night of 2–3 May 1945, launching a thirteen-plane raid on Itzeloe, Heide, and Elmshorn.