ɪn mˈɪd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn, æz wˈɔːɹ wɪð dʒəpˈæn bɪkˌeɪm mˈoːɹ lˈaɪkli, ðə skwˈɑːdɹən wʌz sˈɛnt tə məlˈeɪə, ˈɑːpɚɹˌeɪɾɪŋ ˌaʊɾəv sˈʌŋɡaɪ pɛtˈɑːni, wˌɛɹ ðeɪ ɔːɡmˈɛntᵻd fˈoːɹ ˈʌðɚ bɹˈɪɾɪʃ kˈɑːmənwˌɛlθ, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ nˈoʊ. fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti θɹˈiː skwˈɑːdɹən ɹˈɑːf.
In mid-1941, as war with Japan became more likely, the squadron was sent to Malaya, operating out of Sungai Petani, where they augmented four other British Commonwealth, including No. 453 Squadron RAAF.