fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðə dˌɛklɚɹˈeɪʃən ʌv wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː, ðə skwˈɑːdɹən wʌz ˈæləkˌeɪɾᵻd ɔːstɹˈeɪliənbˈɪlt, tˈuː sˈiːɾɚ wˈɜːɹəwˌeɪz, ˈɑːpɚɹˌeɪɾɪŋ ðiːz ɪn kˈɑːnvɔɪ pɹətˈɛkʃən ænd ˈæntaɪsˈʌbmɚɹˌiːn ɹˈoʊlz ˈɔf ðə wˈɛstɚn ɔːstɹˈeɪliə kˈoʊst ɚɹˈaʊnd fɹˈɛmæntəl ænd ɹˈɑːtənɪst ˈaɪlənd.
Following the declaration of World War II, the squadron was allocated Australian-built, 2 seater  Wirraways, operating these in convoy protection and anti-submarine roles off the Western Australia coast around Fremantle and Rottnest Island.