The squadron was reconstituted in June 1944 at HMS Raven, RNAS Eastleigh, located near Southampton, and was designated as the School of Safety Equipment.

716 (Catapult) Flight, FAA, formed on 15 July 1936 at RAF Mount Batten, a Seaplane Station and flying boat base in Plymouth Sound, Devon, England, from part of No.

However, starting in October 1937, with the arrival of sister ship HMS Neptune, these aircraft were gradually supplanted by Fairey Seafox floatplane, another reconnaissance biplane.

[4] The Flight conducted comprehensive reconnaissance missions from HMS Amphion, monitoring British interests near Tenerife during the initial phases of the Spanish Civil War.

The squadron was outfitted with several Supermarine Sea Otter aircraft, an amphibious air-sea rescue type, as well as a minimum of one Vickers Wellington, a twin-engine medium bomber designed for long-range missions.