The squadron eventually reformed on 10 May 1941 as a fighter unit equipped with Spitfire Mk I, stationed at RAF Castletown, to provide air defence for Scapa Flow from 29 June.

[3] It was then moved to RAF Biggin Hill with Spitfire Mk V taking part in sorties against the German Channel Dash.

[4] In April 1942, it received new equipment in the form of the high altitude Spitfire Mk VI, which it took to RAF Drem for a month in December.

In early February 1945 the Squadron began re-equipping with Spitfire Mk IX.HF(e)’s primarily in order to carry out dive-bombing attacks on the mobile launch sites of the V2 rockets, mainly in the woodland area around The Hague in the Netherlands.

On a few occasions, they refuelled and also re-armed, to enable further attacks on the launch sites in the Netherlands during the return flight to base.

[6] Operations were preceded by early morning photo reconnaissance and/or met flights to try and pointpoint the latest positioning of the mobile launchers, and to check for sufficient visibility and cloud base.

After the resulting briefing, the Squadron Leader was responsible for finding the target area and leading all twelve aircraft into the attack on the launch site(s).

To deal with this possibility, during the dive pilots trimmed the aircraft so that it automatically pulled up if pressure on the stick was relaxed - as happened during blacking out.