238 Squadron RAF flew Hurricanes and then Spitfires in North Africa and Italy in the early part of the war in Europe. The Squadron was disbanded on 26 October 1944.

5 weeks later on 1 December 1944, 238 Squadron RAF was reformed as a transport squadron at Merryfield, Somerset, and was equipped with the Dakota Mk III and Mk IV. As a transport squadron, the intention was for it to move to Australia to support the British Pacific Fleet which was moving to the Pacific at that time from the India Ocean. However, while in transit to Australia, it was decided to use 238 Squadron to support the 14th Army operations in India / Burma. The Squadron moved to Rajpur in India on 22 February 1945.

The outward journey from Merryfield was via St Mawgan, Cornwall, to Istres near Marseilles then Castel Benito and El Adem, both in Libya, then on to Tel Aviv, Palestine and Shaibah Iraq. From Iraq the Squadron flew via Sharjah in the Gulf, to Karachi and the Raipur, arriving on 22 March 1945. On 13 March 1945 they relocated to Comilla (now known as Cumilla, in Bangladesh). 

After four months in India, 238 Squadron then relocated to Australia.

16 Dakotas moved to Parafield, near Adelaide in South Australia with the first batch leaving on 26 June 1945 and arriving on 2 July 1945. The last group arrived at Parafield on 11 July 1945. The Squadron aircraft flew in formation from Comilla (Cumilla) as follows:-

Day 1 – Comilla – Calcutta – Ratmalana
Day 2 – Rest
Day 3 – Ratmalana – Cocos Islands
Day 4 – Cocos Islands – Learmonth
Day 5 – Learmonth – Perth
Day 6 – Restg
Day 7 – Perth – Parafield

At the time this was one of the longest relocation flights (in formation) of any RAF Transport Squadron, though not all the Squadron personnel flew with the aircraft to Australia. Some personnel followed by sea. Another 14 Dakotas relocated from Comilla to Schofields in New South Wales with 243 Squadron.

Squadron Leader A. W. G. "Tony" Le Hardy was the Commanding Officer of 238 Squadron RAF.

NAA File Item ID 639302 shows that RAF Transport aircraft VM-YCV was involved in an accident at Parafield, SA on 23 October 1945. NAA File Item ID 1050841 covers suspect sabotage of RAF aircraft at Parafield and Richmond.

The Commanding Officer and senior officers of 238 Squadron RAF at Parafield sent out invitations to a late afternoon party to be held at the South Australian Hotel at 5:45pm on Friday 9 November 1945.