No.485 (NZ) Squadron was the first of six New Zealand manned squadrons formed for the defence of Great Britain during WW2. As a fighter unit, it participated in the first offensive missions over occupied Europe in 1941. It subsequently became part of the 2nd TAF and took part in the D-Day operations. The unit was in Germany at the end of the war. The history of the Squadron is narrated in 88 pages followed by full appendices comprising all the claims, losses (including accidental), awards, maps and the operational diary. In the third and last part, the pilots’ roster gives details of the almost 210 pilots, including three Americans, one Australian, eleven British, and two Canadians, who were either posted in to or were attached to No.485 Squadron. There are about 100 photos, some being published for the first time, as well as eight colour profiles.

*****SOLD OUT!***** A few copies still available  at Casemate (see distribution page)   SIZE : 170 x 245mm (paperback) ISBN 2-9526381-0-1 978-295-26-3810-4 by Paul Sortehaug and Phil Listemann 18.00 € 29.03.2006

REVIEWS http://www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/books/rafic/485sq.htm http://www.hyperscale.com/reviews/books/485sqnbookreviewme_1.htm http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/ref/gs/book_gs_485sqn.shtml  Aeroplane Monthly - OCTOBER 2007 New Zealand was the first of the Dominions to have its own recognised unit in the RAF after the declaration of war in 1939, when 75 Sqn redesignated early in 1940, operating Vickers Wellington, but the first fighter unit was 485 Sqn, formed with Spitfires at Driffield on March 1, 1941. It achieved its first victory, a Junkers 88, on June 2. Ther elderly Spitfire Is were soon replaced by IIs and Vs, but at the end of the war, after a brief flying with Typhoons and Tempests, 485 had Spitfire XVIs. Many pilots found these Packard-Merlin models less reliable than the Rolls-Royce powered versions. Various tables give hours flown on operations, serials of aircraft used and individual letters where known from A to Z, bases in the UK and Continental Europe, confirmed victories, operational and accident losses, number of sorties by day and month and a pilot roster of pilots, while colour side elevations show Spitfires of various marks. This is an inexpensive and well-researched and produced book. Mike HOOKS