202 Sqn can trace its history back to the very earliest days of the Royal Air Force.

Formed as a Royal Naval Air Service reconnaissance unit in October 1914, it was renumbered 202 in 1918 prior to switching to the RAF.

D Flt, 202 Sqn was the first Royal Air Force flying unit to return to RAF Lossiemouth after the Royal Navy relinquished the Flt in 1972. The Unit moved up from RAF Thorney Island, Hants, in March of that year. D Flt assumed responsibility for 24 hr Search and Rescue (SAR) cover in 1973, covering a 90-mile radius of RAF Lossiemouth and operating the Whirlwind Helicopter. However, in 1978 a major improvement took place when D Flt received the first two Sea King Helicopters to enter service with the RAF.