It was active twice more during the Second World War, between May 1940 and June 1941 on special duties and then between October 1942 and August 1943 performing anti-submarine patrols.

444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA; Acquiring some of the latter Flight's aircraft along with other additions 701 (Catapult) Flight operated with Hawker Osprey, the navalised carrier-borne version of the Hawker Hart biplane light bomber, Fairey IIIF reconnaissance biplane, Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne torpedo bomber, Fairey Seal, a carrier-borne spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bomber, operating from warships of the 1st Battle Squadron, serving with both the Home and Mediterranean Fleets.

[2] 701 Naval Air Squadron reformed 7 May 1940, at HMS Merlin, RNAS Donibristle, located in Fife, Scotland, tasked to provide for temporary units formed ashore.

[3] 701 Squadron saw action in the Norwegian campaign in mid-1940, and in May six Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft of the squadron were flown off the converted to aircraft carrier Courageous-class battlecruiser, HMS Glorious, to support operations off Harstad, in Norway,[4] performing anti-submarine patrols, and undertaking liaison and communications flights plus a small number bombing sorties.

In March 1941 three aircraft were detached to RAF Sullom Voe in Shetland, to augment the existing 700 Naval Air Squadron Flight.

[3] It had been operating out of Heathrow Aerodrome, which was owned by the Fairey Aviation Company, but was controlled by RNAS Lee-on-Solent and mainly ferried passengers in and out of London.

[2] 701 Naval Air Squadron reformed in October 1957, at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, as a Helicopter Fleet Requirements Unit.

The Helicopter Trials being picked up by 700 Naval Air Squadron, the training element moved to 705 Naval Air Squadron, the Fleet Requirements Unit tasks to Airwork Services, at Hurn, and the Flights became the ‘Ship's Flights’ of their respective ships.