Initially equipped with Dh6 and Kangaroo aircraft, it operated Defiant Mk IIs, Beaufighters, and Mosquitoes in the Second World War.

[5] The various flights were engaged in coastal patrols and outbased at other locations such as RAF Ashington,[6] New Haggerston, Rennington, and Cairncross.

[8] The squadron reformed at RAF Catterick as night-fighter unit, in November 1940, flying the Boulton Paul Defiant.

[13] In September 1943, the squadron was moved to RAF Luqa in Malta for night-defence and convoy escort duties.

[15][16] During this time, the squadron ran intruder operations into Italy, eventually relocating to Foggia to enable these flights to be extended into the Balkans.