Before it became operational it was decided to move the squadron to Omagh, County Tyrone, with RE8 biplanes on anti-submarine and reconnaissance duties.

Its first equipment was the biplane Hawker Audax while it awaited delivery of the more modern monoplane Fairey Battle.

At the start of the Second World War in September 1939, as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force, the squadron moved to France, initially on reconnaissance missions along the France-German border.

One of the most important targets was the bombing of the bridges over the River Meuse in attempt to slow down the German advance.

At RAF Honington the squadron was re-equipped with the Bristol Blenheim to join 2 Group's offensive against the invasion ports and German shipping.

In October 1940 part of the squadron was detached to Malta to carry out attacks on Axis shipping in the Mediterranean Sea.

For his part in planning and leading a low level daylight attack on the port of Bremen he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In October 1941 the Malta detachment returned to England and the squadron began to operate at a reduced level.

DK 298, Wing Commander Alan Robertson Oakeshott DFC flew his final mission, departing from RAF Horsham St.

[6] Another early Mosquito operation was a high-level attack on Cologne as a follow-on to the "thousand-bomber" raid on the city.

When the terrorist activity worsened, it was also tasked with providing search-and-rescue searches over the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.