Originally formed as part of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), the Squadron flew in both World Wars.

It continued operations over the Aegean Sea, flying both reconnaissance and bombing missions from various bases until the end of World War I, disbanding at Mudros on the island of Lemnos on 16 May 1919.

[4][6] Vickers Wellesley monoplanes followed in June 1938, and these still remained in service when Italy entered World War II.

[4] In August 1940, the squadron moved to Perim Island, near Aden to support operations in Italian Somaliland.

[12] It moved to Malta in July 1943, participating in the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Italian Campaign, being based in Italy from September 1943.