It was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during the First World War. Becoming part of the Royal Air Force on its formation in 1918, it was disbanded the following year as part of the post-First World War scaling back of the RAF. During the Second World War the squadron operated in the torpedo bomber role over the North Sea and then in the Mediterranean and the Far East. Between 1955 and 2015 the squadron was in the search and rescue role, operating the Westland Sea King HAR3 and HAR3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom.
The squadron moved to France on 1 April 1916, and soon began carrying out reconnaissance missions over the front lines.[2] It flew fighter patrols during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916,[3] in addition to its normal reconnaissance and photography duties in support of the army.[4] One notable casualty during the Somme was Auberon Herbert, 9th Baron Lucas, the former Liberal politician and cabinet minister, who was wounded when attacked by German fighter aircraft on 3 November 1916, and died of his wounds the same day.[5]
From July 1917, the squadron started to replace its the FE.2 with faster and more capable Bristol F.2 Fighters also known as the 'Brisfit', receiving its full complement of eighteen aircraft by 24 August.[6] This was in time to allow the squadron to take part in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917.[7] The squadron was heavily deployed during the German spring offensive of 1918, and was forced to change bases due to the German advance,[6][8] and later, as the Allies drove the Germans out of France in the Hundred Days Offensive, changed bases to keep up with the Allied advances.[6]
The squadron moved to Spich, near Cologne in Germany as part of the British Army of Occupation in March 1919, leaving for home at the end of August that year. After a period as a cadre unit (without aircraft) at RAF Ford in West Sussex, the squadron formally disbanded on 31 December 1919.[9]
Interwar period (1919–1938)
The squadron's second incarnation was as one of two test squadrons (the other being No. 15 Squadron) supporting the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. For ten years following its reformation on 24 July 1923, the squadron was involved in testing new aircraft before they were accepted for service or sold overseas. The two test squadrons were disbanded on 1 May 1934.[6]
The squadron reformed again on 1 May 1934 at RAF Donibristle near Edinburgh, Scotland in the torpedo bomber role, flying the Vickers Vildebeest Ibiplane. From March 1935, the squadron began to re-equip with the improved Vildebeest III, with a more powerful engine and carrying an observer as a third crew member.[10] In October 1935, as part of Britain's response to the Abyssinia crisis, the squadron was deployed to Malta, returning to Britain in August 1936 after the threat of war between the United Kingdom and Italy receded.[11]
On 14 December 1936, part of the squadron was detached to form No. 42 Squadron, also equipped with the Vildebeest, while in March 1938, No. 22 Squadron moved south to RAF Thorney Island in West Sussex.[12]
The squadron was still equipped with the Vildebeest when the Second World War broke out in September 1939, with the squadron carrying out anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel.[13] From November 1939, the squadron started to receive Bristol Beaufort twin-engined monoplanes to replace its obsolete biplanes. The Bristol Taurus engines of the Beaufort proved unreliable at first, and the squadron continuing to fly operations with the Vildebeest while converting to the Beaufort. It flew its last operational mission with the Vildebeest on 20 December 1939.[14]
Flying OfficerKenneth Campbell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for executing a torpedo attack on the Gneisenau in Brest harbour in April 1941. Despite atrocious weather having prevented the other aircraft in the mission from reaching the harbour and, with virtually no chance of pulling out of the harbour, Campbell pressed home his attack and badly damaged the ship, being shot down in the process. He and his crew were buried with full military honours by the Germans in the cemetery at Brest.[16]
In 1942, the squadron was posted to North Africa before being moved to South East Asia, where it converted to the Bristol Beaufighter and continued its anti-shipping role, this time using rockets. It disbanded for the third time a month after war's end.[16]
Cold War (1949–1990s)
No. 22 Squadron reformed in February 1955 with the Bristol Sycamore HC.12 helicopter at RAF Thorney Island. The squadron took on the search and rescue role with the Sycamore until the Westland Whirlwind replaced it in June 1955. The squadron was initially equipped with the Westland Whirlwind HAR.2 until August 1962, when it was replaced by the Whirlwind HAR.10.[15]
Between 1955 and 1976 the squadron operated the following flights:[15]
On 11 November 1962, the FVJeanne Gougy ran aground and capsized at Land's End, Cornwall. Eight of her twenty crew were rescued by helicopter or breeches buoy. Sergeant Eric Smith was awarded a George Medal for his actions.[17]
The squadron re-equipped with the Westland Wessex from June 1976. Its headquarters were at RAF Finningley and it had flights at:[15]
A Flight – RAF Chivenor, Devon
B Flight – RAF Leuchars, Fife
C Flight – RAF Valley, Anglesey
D Flight – RAF Leconfield, East Riding of Yorkshire
E Flight – RAF Manston, Kent and RAF Coltishall, Norfolk
B Flight was disbanded on 1 April 1993 and E Flight disbanded on 21 July 1994.[18][19]
Finally, in the mid-1990s, the squadron received six newly built Westland Sea King HAR3A to supplement the Sea King HAR3 which replaced the Wessex aircraft. The squadron headquarters was co-located with the Search and Rescue Force Headquarters at RAF Valley.[20] Detachments of at least two aircraft operated from three stations providing search and rescue cover in those parts of the country; these were:[21]
A and B Flights operated the Sea King HAR3A.[21] C Flight shared a pool nominally of five Sea King HAR3 aircraft with No. 203 (Reserve) Squadron, the Sea King operational conversion unit.[20]
The Boscastle flood of 2004 occurred on Monday, 16 August 2004 in the villages of Boscastle and Crackington Haven in Cornwall. The villages suffered extensive damage after flash floods caused by an exceptional amount of rain that fell over the course of eight hours that afternoon. Two Sea Kings from A Flight at RMB Chivenor, callsigns Rescues 169 and 170, were called and help to rescue some of the 100 people who were airlifted out.[22]
The squadron's badge features on a red roundel (torteaux), a Maltese cross and pi symbol with fimbriation. The Maltese cross denotes where the squadron was based when the badge was authorised by King Edward VIII in May 1936. During this time, it was based with No. 7 Squadron and had to fly over their lines away from the airfield. This is reflected in the badge by the pi symbol, with 22 divided 7 equalling pi (equal to 3.14).[31]
The squadron's motto is Preux et audicieux (Latin for 'Valiant and Brave').[32]
Battle honours
No. 22 Squadron has received the following battle honours. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be emblazoned on the squadron standard.[33]
Ashworth, Chris (1989). Encyclopaedia of modern Royal Air Force squadrons. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens. ISBN1-85260-013-6.
Barker, Ralph (1957). The Ship-Busters: The Story of the R.A.F. Torpedo-Bombers. London, UK: Chatto & Windus Ltd. ISBN978-1-906502-29-4.{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
Cotter, Jarrod (2008). Royal Air Force celebrating 90 years. Stamford, UK: Key Publishing Ltd. ISBN978-0-946219-11-7.
Halley, James J. Famous Maritime Squadrons of the RAF, Volume 1. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Hylton Lacy Publishers Ltd., 1973. ISBN0-85064-101-2.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Harvey, William Frederick James. 'Pi' in the Sky: History of No.22 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and R.A.F.in the War of 1914–18. Colin Huston, 1971. ISBN0-9501868-0-5.
Jackson, P (1995). Royal Air Force (Seconded.). UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN0-7110-2338-7.
Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN1-85310-053-6.
Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1976). ISBN0-354-01027-1.
Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN0-7106-0187-5.
Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (new edition 1976, reprinted 1978). ISBN0-354-01028-X.
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