 This designation was never accepted by the squadron or the Australian Imperial Force, and was in fact officially dropped by the British by early 1918, before the formation of the RAF.Initially equipped with Airco DH.5 aircraft, the unit's main role with these aircraft was the strafing of hostile trenches.In January 1918 the unit was re-equipped with S.E.5a fighters, which it retained for the rest of the war.