With Sopwith Camels, it performed fighter sweeps, provided close air support and raided German airfields.

Besides Cobby, Elwyn King, Edgar McCloughry (later an air vice-marshal), Herbert Watson, Thomas Baker, Leonard Taplin, Thomas Barkell, George Jones (later Chief of the Australian Air Force), Norman Trescowthick, and Garnet Malley served in the unit.

Appraisal by Royal Air Force acceptance personnel criticised the Brewster Buffalo on numerous points, including lack of armament and pilot armour, poor high-altitude performance, engine overheating, unreliability and cockpit controls, while it was praised for its handling, roomy cockpit and visibility.

The squadron's first confirmed victory came on 21 July during a bomber escort mission, when Pilot Officer William R. Dunn destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109F over Lille.

The unit soon established a high reputation, and numerous air kill claims were made in RAF fighter sweeps over the continent during the remainder of the summer and into autumn.

[5] When informed of the attack on Pearl Harbor, most of the Eagle Squadron pilots wanted to immediately join the fight against Japan.

71 Squadron decided they wanted to go to Singapore to fight the Japanese and a proposal was put to RAF Fighter Command, but it was turned down.

On 16 September 1950 a new 71 Squadron was formed at RAF Gütersloh with de Havilland Vampire fighter-bombers, joining the Second Tactical Air Force.