[3] It was primarily an operational training squadron, flying single-seat fighter aircraft, mainly Sopwith Pups and Triplanes, and a few Camels.

It also flew standing patrols over the British naval ships stationed in the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands.

[3] The squadron was re-formed at RAF Mildenhall on 24 June 1937, with 10 officers and about 50 airmen, and was initially equipped with 12 Hawker Audax light bombers organised into two flights of six.

Based at RAF Helwan in Egypt[5] with 18 Hind aircraft, the squadron was organised into three flights of six, with 14 officers and about 180 other ranks.

[6] In January 1939 it moved to RAF Ismailia where in April it re-equipped with the Bristol Blenheim Mk.I twin-engined light bomber.

[9] The German advance forced 211 Squadron back, first to Agrinion and then to Tatoi from where it was evacuated in April 1941 through Crete to Egypt.

[7] Withdrawn to Egypt in June 1941, it was based at RAF Heliopolis to regroup for the pending move to Wadi Gazouza in Sudan.

[5] The squadron was re-established in December 1941 at RAF Helwan,[5] equipped with 24 Blenheim IVs with around 90 aircrew and over 400 ground staff.

[7] By July 1944 it was based at Chiringa in Bengal Province, India (now Bangladesh) where it was to operate until stood down for conversion to the de Havilland Mosquito from June 1945.

[6] In May 1945 the squadron was stood down from operations[7] and moved to Yelahanka, near Bangalore, where in June it was re-equipped with de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.

[5] In July it moved to St. Thomas Mount, Madras, and in November, following the Japanese surrender, to Akyab, Burma, then to Don Muang, Bangkok, Thailand.