| No. 490 (NZ) Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 28 March 1943 – 1 August 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |  New Zealand |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Role | Anti-submarine Maritime Reconnaissance |
| Motto(s) | Māori: Taniwha kei runga (Translation: "The Taniwha is in the air") |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| 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 |
No. 490 (NZ) Squadron was an anti-submarine and maritime reconnaissance squadron of Coastal Command established for service during the Second World War. It was a New Zealand squadron formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Plan. Although many of its flying personnel were drawn from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the squadron served under the operational and administrative command of the Royal Air Force.
Formed in March 1943, No. 490 Squadron was based at Jui, near Freetown, in West Africa and initially flew the Consolidated Catalina flying boat. Becoming operational in July, its work mainly consisted of escorting convoys, carrying out maritime patrols, and search and rescue missions along the coast of West Africa. It began using the Short Sunderland flying boat in 1944 but by this time the threat that U-boats posed to convoys in the area was largely non-existent and the squadron saw little enemy action. It was disbanded in August 1945.