138 Squadron RAF was originally to be formed as a fighter unit on 1 May 1918, but formation was suspended[6] until officially formed on 30 September 1918 as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron at Chingford, and was disbanded there on 1 February 1919.

1419 Flight, and was the first squadron of the Royal Air Force Special Duty Service.

The squadron dropped supplies and agents for the SIS and the SOE to Axis occupied territory.

[9] It carried out this role until March 1945 when it was reassigned to Bomber Command, operating under No.

It flew them from Malta during the Suez Crisis of October 1956, and was finally disbanded on 1 April 1962.