The unit was established on 5 July 1938 at Kagamigahara, Japan.

The unit saw service in Manchuria during the Manchuria Incident, China during the Second Sino-Japanese War and Burma, Netherlands East Indies, Indochina, Rabaul, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Philippines, Formosa and Japan during World War II.

The 1st Air Squadron can trace its roots back to the First World War, where the Imperial Japanese Army used early aircraft in their conquest of German held islands.

The "Temporary Air Force" as it was known was primarily used at the Siege of Tsingtao and would ultimately be disbanded in January 1915.

Soon after, its successor the 1st Aviation Battalion was established in October of the same year.