The squadron formed at RAF Benson on 19 October 1942 from 'B' and 'F' flights of No.

1 PRU,[6] and was equipped with Spitfires to fly missions over Europe.

[7] It also received Mustang aircraft in July 1944 and operated some Lancaster bombers for UK mapping purposes after hostilities ceased.

One of the squadrons first commanders following its formation was John Saffery.

[8] Wartime detachments operated from Gibraltar in 1943, providing imagery of North Africa,[9] and from RAF Leuchars in the same year with missions flown into Norway looking for the battleship Scharnhorst.