Formed on 15 July 1936 as No. 701 (Catapult) Flight FAA at RAF Kalafrana, Malta by re-designating No. 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight FAA; 701 Squadron saw action in the Norwegian campaign in mid-1940, and in May six Supermarine Walrus aircraft of the squadron were flown off to support operations off Harstad. In June 1940 the squadron briefly appeared on , and the squadron was at Reykjavík in October 1940, when they were taken on board .