Formed at Laverton on 8 June 1942 as No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, with eight officers and thirty-five airmen under the command of Squadron Leader L. W. Law. Initial training in navigation and aerial photography was carried out at Laverton until 12 August 1942 when the unit began moving to Hughes Airfield, Northern Territory to prepare for operational service. During the war, one member of No. 87 Squadron was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, four received the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven were Mentioned in Dispatches.
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| - Formed at Laverton on 8 June 1942 as No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, with eight officers and thirty-five airmen under the command of Squadron Leader L. W. Law. Initial training in navigation and aerial photography was carried out at Laverton until 12 August 1942 when the unit began moving to Hughes Airfield, Northern Territory to prepare for operational service. During the war, one member of No. 87 Squadron was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, four received the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven were Mentioned in Dispatches.
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| - 1944(xsd:integer)
- 1948(xsd:integer)
- 2006(xsd:integer)
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| - Borneo 1945
- Darwin 1942–1944
- Dutch New Guinea 1945
- Morotai 1945
- Pacific 1942–1945
- Philippines 1944
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| - Formed at Laverton on 8 June 1942 as No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit, with eight officers and thirty-five airmen under the command of Squadron Leader L. W. Law. Initial training in navigation and aerial photography was carried out at Laverton until 12 August 1942 when the unit began moving to Hughes Airfield, Northern Territory to prepare for operational service. No. 87 Squadron was formed on 10 September 1944 at Coomalie Creek Airfield in the Northern Territory by re-designating No. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit. The Squadron's role during World War II was providing photo reconnaissance support for Allied operations in South East Asia and the Netherlands East Indies. Operating from Coomalie Creek, No. 87 Squadron primarily conducted reconnaissance flights over the eastern islands of the Netherlands East Indies, with occasional missions over Java and other parts of South East Asia. A detachment from the squadron was briefly based on the Cocos Islands in June 1945 where it unsuccessfully attempted to photograph targets in Singapore. During the war, one member of No. 87 Squadron was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, four received the Distinguished Flying Cross and seven were Mentioned in Dispatches. Following the end of the war No. 87 Squadron continued to conduct flights over Japanese held territory in order to monitor Japanese Army units until they could be disarmed. The Squadron moved to Parkes, New South Wales in October 1945 where it was disbanded on 24 July 1946. Following No. 87 Squadron's disbandment its Mosquito aircraft were operated as the Survey Flight based at RAAF Base Fairbairn. This Flight was re-designated No. 87 Squadron on 8 March 1948. Operating in the photo survey role the Squadron carried out many operations to support the Commonwealth Survey Committee and National Mapping Council. The Squadron also became responsible with providing the RAAF with a photo reconnaissance capability in 1949. Following the withdrawal of funding support by the Department of National Development No. 87 Squadron was disbanded at Fairbairn in December 1953.
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