The unit was formed at Stonehenge or the nearby Lake Down Aerodrome[3] in November 1917, and was equipped with Airco DH.9 bombers.

[1] In July 1918, the squadron went to Capelle, Dunkirk, equipped with DH.9s for day-bombing operations against targets in north-west Belgium.

Its Vickers Wellingtons began bombing raids on 22 September, targets being ports on the Libyan coast and in Greece.

Its Bristol Beaufighters flew night patrols over Egypt, Libya and Malta and were supplemented by de Havilland Mosquitoes in February 1944.

In October 1944 the squadron moved to Greece and became involved in the attempted Communist take-over of the country in December.