No. 485 Squadron RNZAF

No. 485 (NZ) Squadron RAF
Pilots of the Squadron with NZ High Commissioner Bill Jordan circa 1944
Active	1 March 1941 – 26 August 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	New Zealand
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Fighter
Garrison/HQ	RAF Driffield, RAF Redhill
Motto(s)	Māori: Ka whawhai tonu ("We will fight on")
Anniversaries	01 March 1941
Equipment	Spitfire
Engagements	World War II
Insignia
Squadron Badge	A demi Māori warrior holding a Taiaha
Squadron Codes	OU (Mar 1941 – Aug 1945)

No. 485 (NZ) Squadron RAF was a Spitfire squadron during the Second World War. It was the first New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme. It served in Europe under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Manned primarily by pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, but controlled operationally and administered by the RAF, 485 (NZ) Squadron was formed on 1 March 1941 at RAF Driffield, in Yorkshire by CO Marcus W B Knight. No 485 Sqn was equipped with old Spitfire Mk Is for its "working up" period in No. 13 Group RAF, which was carried out with no recorded fatalities. The Spitfire Mk Is were exchanged for Spitfire Mk IIs on 1 June 1941.

By July 1941 the squadron had scored its first victories, suffered its first combat fatalities and had moved to RAF Redhill, a frontline No. 11 Group RAF base to take part in offensive operations. One type of operation was fighter escort for "Circus" raids, in which a small number of RAF bombers (originally Bristol Blenheims and later Short Stirlings) were used as bait to draw up enemy fighters.

Starting in August 1941 Spitfire Mk Vbs began arriving. At least 20 of the Mk Vs had been paid for by a subscription fund in which citizens of New Zealand and Pacific Island 'Protectorates' could participate. Most of these aircraft bore the names of New Zealand Provinces stencilled on the fuel tank cover, just ahead of the cockpit (e.g.: W3579 'Southland II'.)