The squadron was formed on 1 September 1943 at RAF Weston Zoyland to operate the Vickers Warwick in the transport role.

[7] It first operated on the routes from England to Gibraltar and North Africa, but the Warwick was not the best aircraft for the role and it was withdrawn in 1944.

[7] The Warwick was replaced with the Douglas Dakota and one example[8] of the Mark III transport version of the former four-engined heavy bomber, the Short Stirling.

[9] The squadron soon operated on routes throughout Europe and also became mainly manned by Canadian personnel.

[7] The Canadians withdrew at the end of the war, but the squadron continued with trooping flights.