No 488 (Far East) Squadron

Formed September 1941 at Rongotai, New Zealand. No 488 began as a day fighter squadron equipped with Brewster Buffaloes based at Kallang in Singapore, after sailing from New Zealand in October 1941. Not fully operational when the Japanese onslaught took place, it had its first air encounters with the Japanese on the 12th of January 1942. An injection of Hurricanes towards the end of the month was only a temporary measure and on the 31st January the squadron prepared to move. It re-assembled near Batavia, but on the 23rd February the survivors were evacuated to Fremantle in Australia. The squadron disbanded on the 2nd March and formed the nucleus of No 14 Squadron.

Bases

Rongotai, New Zealand	September 1941 to October 1941
en route to Singapore	October 1941 to November 1941
Kallang, Singapore	November 1941 to January 1942
en route to Batavia	January 1942 to February 1942
Tjililitan, Batavia	February 1942 to February 1942
en route to Australia	February 1942

 
 

Main Equipment

Brewster Buffalo I 
Hawker Hurricane 
 

Commanding Officers

Sqn Ldr W.G. Clouston	September 1941 to January 1942
Sqn Ldr J.N. McKenzie	January 1942 to February 1942

 
 

Disbanded

Disbanded 2 March 1942 at Freemantle.