No. 490 Squadron RNZAF

No. 490 (NZ) Squadron RAF
A RNZAF Sunderland MR.5 with a USN Martin P5M Marlin and a RAAF Lockheed P-2 Neptune in 1963.
Active	28 March 1943 – 1 August 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	New Zealand
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Maritime Reconnaissance
Motto(s)	Māori: Taniwha kei runga (Translation: "The Taniwha is in the air")
Insignia
Squadron Badge	An arm couped below the elbow, holding in the hand a Patu
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	Consolidated Catalina Twin-engined flying boat; Short Sunderland Four-engined flying boat

490 (NZ) Squadron was formed from pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force under RAF Coastal Command as an anti-submarine and reconnaissance unit.

490 (NZ) Squadron Royal Air Force was formed 28 March 1943 with Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew at Jui near Freetown in West Africa (present Sierra Leone) under Wing Commander D.W. Baird. Equipped with PBY Catalinas, the squadron was tasked with maritime patrol and search and rescue. Its first operation was convoy escort on 2 July 1943. In August the squadron rescued its first seamen, and damaged its first U-boat.

Wing Commander B.S. Nicholl took over in November 1943 and oversaw re-equipment with Short Sunderlands in May of the following year. Wing Commander T.S. Gill was its last commander, taking over in October 1944. The squadron flew its last operation on 6 May 1945, and when it became obvious that 490 would not be needed in Japan, the squadron was disbanded on 1 August 1945.

Of all New Zealand squadrons of the RAF, 490 saw least action, but nonetheless flew 463 operational sorties, totalling 4853 hours. One Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded.

The squadron's Māori motto was "Taniwha kei runga" which translates as "Taniwha in the air". Taniwha are mythical intelligent monsters in Māori legend, occasionally but not particularly accurately translated as "dragons". They are often associated with water, but a flying taniwha is relatively unusual.

Official New Zealand History (available online):