It saw action during World War II as a photo reconnaissance squadron, being raised in September 1944 through the re-designation of No.

87 Squadron flew a variety of aircraft from bases in Australia, gathering photographic intelligence on Japanese forces and installations throughout the Pacific.

At the conclusion of hostilities, the squadron was disbanded but was later re-formed in 1948, carrying out aerial survey operations in Australia until 1953.

1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit" (1 PRU), with eight officers and thirty-five airmen under the command of Squadron Leader L. W. Law, operating six Brewster F2A Buffalos.

[1] Initial training in navigation and aerial photography was carried out at Laverton until 12 August 1942 when the unit began moving to Hughes Airfield, Northern Territory to prepare for operational service.

A Japanese bombing raid on 23 August subsequently resulted in the loss of one Buffalo and a CAC Wirraway.

Meanwhile, further training continued through to September which resulted in one aircraft and its pilot (Fl Lt Raymond Henry Winter AFC) being lost at Tallarook Vic.

Two P-43 Lancers arrived in November as the unit continued to expand, moving to Coomalie Creek Airfield in December.

In August aircraft from the squadron located two new Japanese airstrips near Koepang, and confirmed the presence over another one on Roti Island.

During November the squadron conducted sorties over Timor, Kai, Tanimbar and Roti Island, yet bad weather curtailed operations during December.

Between June and August the squadron flew missions over Java, Balikpapan, Biak, the Halmaheras and the Philippines.

A detachment from the squadron was briefly based on the Cocos Islands in June 1945 where it unsuccessfully attempted to photograph targets in Singapore, being hampered by bad weather and the loss of an aircraft.

87 Squadron was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, four received the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven were Mentioned in Dispatches.