During the war it was primarily used in an anti-submarine role with Western Air Command, flying from Jericho Beach and Coal Harbour.

It began service training with Canadian Vickers Vedette flying boats before receiving Blackburn Shark torpedo bombers from England in January 1937.

These patrols, which had been begun by the RCAF on 2 September, were to identify and report all shipping transiting the Vancouver area.

It was redesignated as a bomber reconnaissance squadron on 31 October 1939, and flew anti-submarine patrols for the rest of the war.

The squadron relocated to Alliford Bay on 15 May 1940, and during the year received at least three Noorduyn Norseman floatplane utility aircraft.

After receiving Supermarine Stranraer flying boats in November 1941, it gave up its Sharks and Norsemans in December of that year.

In September of that year it received Consolidated Catalina IB and IIIAs, giving up its Cansos in November.

The balloon was subsequently recovered by a ground party and sent to Western Air Command headquarters for inspection.