Due to the outbreak of the Pacific War the squadron was diverted to Rangoon, Burma, where it began operations against Japanese air attacks on 26 January 1942, having replaced its IIAs with Hurricane IIBs.

The aircraft were almost entirely lost in the fighting, and to avoid being overrun by the Japanese advance the ground crew were evacuated to Calcutta, embarking on 20 February.

Relocated to Yelahanka on 1 July it returned to St. Thomas Mount on 22 November, then moved to Minneriya on 16 January 1944.

It was re-equipped with the Republic Thunderbolt I in May and completed conversion by the end of August, resuming ground attack missions over Burma on 16 October.

The squadron temporarily relocated to Amarda Road between 25 August and 16 September, then moved to Chittagong on 9 October, Jumchar on 9 December, and Cox's Bazar on 15 April.