.The Commonwealth Air Force’s played a major part in the air war over Europe. Of the thousands of Bomber Crews that died in World War Two, they included:
1,697 members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. .

Of the more then 11,000 airmen who went from New Zealand to the European and Middle East and Far East campaigns to fly with the RAF, over 4000 never returned. It’s interesting to see such a low figure for Bomber Command as I had thought the majority would have died in bombers.

To add to and correct some other points made:

Royal New Zealand Air Force Bomber Command
was 487 sqn who’s motto was `Ki Te Mutunga` I Believe the Maori translation to be ‘to the end’ but I cannot guarantee it!

Yes, close, Ki Te Mutunga maeans Through To The End

In the Battle of Britain, 401 Squadron, Fighter Command, was a New Zealand squadron.

Really? I have never heard of that. Please tell more. It was certainly not an official RNZAF squadron. There was an unofficial New Zealand Fighter Squadron, No. 258 Sqn, flying Hurricanes in late 1940-1941, which was made up mostly of RNZAF pilots, and their aircraft all wore silver ferns (one of our national symbols). But most of these pilots were transferred in March 41 to the newly formed No. 485 Squadron, our first official fighter squadron.

Also No. 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm, when it reformed in 1943, was made up mostly of Kiwis but never given official recognition as an official NZ squadron. They flew Barracudas II’s from May 1943-Oct 1944, including bombing the Tirpitz.

As well No. 243 Squadron was mostly New Zealand pilots from formation in March 1941 to the fall of Singapore. No. 67 Squadron was also mostly New Zealand pilots from formation in March 1941 but were down to about 2/3rd New Zealanders during the spring of 1942. Plus No. 605 Squadron had a New Zealand Flight during the last days of the defence of Java.

But I’ve never heard of No. 401 Squadron being connected to NZ or the RNZAF. If any Battle of Britain Squadrons I’d have picked No. 41 (or was it 54?) Squadron which had Al Deere, Colin Gray nd Bob Spurdle among its pilots.

Officially the RNZAf had seven squadrons in the RAF:
They were
No. 485 Fighter Command (Spitfires and in 1945, Tempests)
No. 486 Fighter Command (Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tempests)
No. 487 Bomber Command (Venturas, Mosquitos)
No. 488 Fighter Command Night Fighter (Blenheims, Beaufighters, Mosquitoes)
No. 489 Coastal Command (Blenheims, Beauforts, Beaufighters, Mosquitoes)
No. 490 Coastal Command (Catalinas, Sunderlands)

And thed one important Bomber Command squadron that your piece missed out, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron. This was the first ever official foreign Squadron in the RAF in WWII. It was initially made up of RNZAF owned aircraft (Wellingtons) and crews from 1939 as they’d gone to the UK to pick up our bombers which were planned to come home. When the war looked like it was to kick off in the August our Govt. offered the bombers to britain and the crews. They first formed The New Zealand Flight of No. 75 Squadron RAF, but as more Kiwis arrived it became No. 75 (NZ) Squadron. They flew Wimpys, Stirlings and Lancasters, and just afetr the wars end, Lincolns.

They were involved in virtually every important raid there was, had some of the best bombing figures and also had some of the worst figures for casualties. By 1946 the RAF was so pleased with the RNZAF’s efforts in the war they allowed the RNZAF to transfer the 75 Sqn No. to our Air Force and it continued till 2001 when it was finally disbanded.