It was formed in February 1942 and was equipped with Hawker Furies released from 43 Squadron RAF but was disbanded seven months later in August 1942 and was never operationally deployed during the war.

In 1957 the squadron was assigned the role of presenting the Harvard Weapons Course and was split between permanent and citizen force flights.

The Permanent Force Flight was responsible for the weapons course training, a role retained until 1970.

[1] The squadron again reverted to a full Permanent Force staffing structure and was employed in the light attack role during the South African Border War.

[5] and in April 1999 the squadron was relocated from its long standing base in Bloemfontein to AFB Hoedspruit.