7 Squadron was formed on the 1st of May, 1914 and was the last squadron of the Royal Flying Corps - a forerunner of the RAF - to be formed before the outbreak of the First World War. It became a leading heavy bomber squadron and was the first RAF unit to operate four-engined bombers in the Second World War. From May 1943, it was equipped with Avro Lancaster bombers. In August of that year, 7 Squadron was transferred to the Pathfinder Force (PFF) and remained in that unit until the end of the war in Europe.

The PFF was formed in August 1942 with the aim of enhancing the accuracy of Bomber Command's bombing. Its task was to find and mark targets using flares for the rest of the Bomber Command force, or the Main Force. It was commanded by the Australian Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett.

7 Squadron’s last mission as part of the PFF was dropping food for civilians in the Netherlands in May 1945.

In December 1943, 7 Squadron’s base was RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire, 8.2 km north of the city of Cambridge. It is now based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, and serves as the Chinook helicopter force supporting the UK Special Forces. In that capacity, 7 Squadron has served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.