1916 to present


united kingdom 22 Squadron

Royal Air Force









22 Squadron
Formed at Fort Grange, Gosport on 1 Sep 1916 from a nucleus of 13 Squadron, 22 Squadron undertook a variety of tasks before its famous Search and Rescue Helicopter role began at RAF Thorney Island (EGYT) in Feb 1955 with the Sycamore. Since then, the Unit has operated the Whirlwind HAR.10, Wessex HC.2 and the Sea King HAR.3/3A in up to 4 Flights around Britains coast. In early 2004, 22 Squadron provided SAR services from A Flt at RMB Chivenor (EGDC), B Flt at AAC Wattisham (EGUW) and C Flt at RAF Valley (EGOV).
The transition from Whirlwind to Wessex completed in mid Dec 1981 for A Flight at Chivenor; Whirlwind HAR.10 XD186 and XP344 were replaced by Wessex HAR.2 XV724 and XV730.
B and C Flt were relieved of their SAR responsibilities on 30 Jun 2015, when the service was assumed by Bristow from the MCA Lydd and MCA Caernarfon bases (respectively), the next day. A Flt at RMB Chivenor stood down on 4 Oct 2015 when the new service commenced from MCA St Athan.
22 Squadron was reformed on 14 May 2020 as the Operational Evaluation Unit of Joint Helicopter Command, at RAF Benson.




I was a Crewman with Sycamores at Chivenor 1955, then spent 2 years at Leconfield on the then new Whirlwinds




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  News about 22 Squadron


RAF 22 Squadron Now OEU at RAF Benson

RAF 22 Squadron Now OEU at RAF Benson

20-May-20 - After 60 years serving as a Search and Rescue unit, Royal Air Force 22 Squadron was designated Operational Evaluation Unit (OEU) for the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC). The OEU mission is to evaluate aircraft’s weapons, systems and performance #OEU


  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
2020-    RAF BensonEGUB
1994/15AAC WattishamEGUW
1992/97Newquay / St Mawgan EGHQ
1988/94RAF ColtishallEGYC
1982/85RAF ColtishallEGYC
1979/88RAF Leconfield closed 1977EGXV
1976/93RAF LeucharsEGQL
1976/88Kent International / Manston closed 2014EGMH
1974/79BrawdyEGDA
1974/76Thorney Island closed 1976EGYT
1973/76RAF ColtishallEGYC
1964/73Thorney Island closed 1976EGYT
1961/69Kent International / Manston closed 2014EGMH
1958/15RMB ChivenorEGDC
1956/74Newquay / St Mawgan EGHQ
1955/15RAF ValleyEGOV
1955/59Thorney Island closed 1976EGYT


helicopter   Models


Years Models
1994/15 Sea King
1974/97 Wessex
1955 Type 171 Sycamore
1955/81 Whirlwind
















  22 Squadron Operations


Dates Operation
2004-aug-162004-aug-16 Boscastle Flood Disaster
1971-jun-161971-jun-18 5th International Helicopter SAR Competition
1962-nov-031962-nov-03 Rescue from Trawler Jeanne Gougy





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