It was immediately on operations, flying night raids against the Third Reich as part of No.3 Group. Over the new year the squadron re-equipped with Avro Lancasters, and these were flown intensively through 1944 both in support of the invasion of Europe and in the continuing offensive against Germany's industries and cities. As World War 2 drew to its close the squadron took part in some daylight raids, maintaining its bombing tasks until its last raid, on Bremen, on 22 April 1945.

It was then turned to dropping food supplies to starving Dutch people and then began sorties into Europe to bring POWs back to the UK; it also flew some troop trips back from Italy before disbanding at Mildenhall on 15 August 1945.

The squadron re-formed as an auxiliary transport squadron at Blackbushe on 15 December 1950,equipped with Vickers Valetta C.Mk is. It was, in effect, a voluntary air arm of Airwork Ltd. It served in this role until disbanding again on 30 September 1953.