419 (Special Duties) Flight was formed at RAF North Weald on 21 August 1940.

1419 (Special Duties) Flight on 1 March 1941, continuing to fly Westland Lysander aircraft, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers and Martin Maryland reconnaissance bombers on Special Operations Executive clandestine operations.

138 Squadron RAF which continued flying clandestine support missions for the remainder of World War II.

78 Squadron RAF from RAF Benson flying AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3 helicopters in support of Operation Telic as part of Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq) until the British drawdown in Iraq, the flight then being relocated to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Herrick.

The flight was relocated to Camp Bastion as part of Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan)[3] in 2009.