It formed in Northern Ireland at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, in December 1943, as a fighter squadron.

August, September and October saw the squadron undertake photographic reconnaissance and provide fighter cover for the attacks on Indaroeng and Emmahaven in Sumatra, then on Sigli, followed by the Nicobar Islands respectively.

When the Second World War ended, its aircraft were left behind at HMS Nabbington and the squadron's personnel returned to the UK, disbanding on arrival in November 1945.

[2] In early June 1844, Naval Air Squadron moved to Ceylon, arriving at RNAS Colombo Racecourse (HMS Berhunda), Colombo, on the 7, then moving again to RN Air Section China Bay, located at RAF China Bay, Trincomalee, on the 12.

1), which was at RAAF Nowra, New South Wales, and here it exchanged its aircraft and received eighteen improved Grumman Wildcat fighters.

[4] The squadron re-embarked in HMS Indomitable on 27 February, for Operation Iceberg, which included the attacks on the Sakishima Gunto group of islands, and also Formosa.

[3] On 5 June the squadron disembarked back to RNAS Nowra (HMS Nabbington) and on 30 the 5th Naval Fighter Wing was disbanded.

[9] The Admiralty had decided to move to the American system of all ships squadrons under a single Carrier Air Group (CAG).

[13] The squadron replaced the Fairey Firefly aircraft in March 1956, when it received six Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber.