The squadron formed as No. 9 General Reconnaissance Squadron operating
Lockheed Hudson aircraft at
Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield in
New Caledonia during July 1942. The squadron was assigned to Task Group 63.1. A largely American force consisting of the
69th Bomb Squadron,
67th Pursuit Squadron and two U.S.
PBYs, the Task Group was tasked with patrolling the New Caledonia coast and flying air defence operations over the island. The squadron remained on New Caledonia until March 1943, when it moved forward to
Palikulo Bay Airfield on
Espiritu Santo. The squadron transferred to
New Zealand to re-equip with
Lockheed Venturas in November 1943, returning to Santo in February 1944, moving to
Bougainville from May to August of that year. The squadron rotated through
Fiji in January 1945, and advanced to
Emirau in March. With the winding down of aerial operations against the Japanese in the South West Pacific, it was disbanded in June 1945. ==Commanding officers==