540 Squadron was formed from the merger of 'H' and 'L' Flights of No.1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (1PRU) at RAF Leuchars on 19 October 1942. Equipped with Mosquito aircraft, it operated over Norway and the Baltic. Detachments to bases further south also operated over France, Italy and North Africa. The squadron moved to RAF Benson in February 1944 and also carried out sorties into Austria and to the Canary Islands. In March 1945, the squadron moved to France but returned to Benson in November 1945 and remained there until disbanding on 30 September 1946. The squadron reformed at Benson on 1 December 1947, again in the photographic reconnaissance role and again equipped with the Mosquito. It converted to the Canberra in December 1952 and moved to RAF Wyton in March 1953. The squadron was disbanded on 31 March 1956.
1420 vertical aerial photographs.
