Raised for service during the New Guinea campaign, the squadron existed between October 1942 and November 1943, and undertook a variety of support roles including search and rescue, transportation, reconnaissance and casualty evacuation.

[4][5] The squadron was based at various locations around New Guinea, including Goodenough Island,[6] and mainland airfields such as Vailala, Kerma, Amau, Dobodura, Gurney and Garaina.

[1] In the search and rescue role, the squadron also used several flying boats, consisting of Supermarine Walruses, Dornier Do 24s and Consolidated PBY Catalinas.

[1] Another aircraft was lost on 11 September 1943 during search and rescue operations to find the crew of a Bristol Beaufighter that had ditched off New Britain.

[10] A Walrus was also lost when it came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire while attempting a rescue close to shore.