大象传媒

Information provided by: Ross McNeill
Part of: RAF Coastal Command Losses Database
First Published: 07 November 2003

Facts and figures

Unit name: 22 Squadron
Force: RAF
Designation: Squadron (RAF)
Type: Reconnaissance
Entered service: 1934-05-01

Chronology

29 Aug 1936 - 10 Mar 1938: Main Base, Donibristle

04 Dec 1939 - 10 Dec 1939: Detachment, Detling

08 Apr 1940 - 10 Jun 1941: Main Base, North Coates

10 Jun 1941 - 28 Oct 1941: Main Base, Thorney Island

01 May 1940 - 02 May 1940: Detachment, Lossiemouth

04 May 1940 - 13 Mar 1942: Detachment, Bircham Newton

12 Jun 1940 - 18 Jun 1940: Detachment, Wick

19 Jul 1940 - 02 Aug 1940: Detachment, Gosport

04 Sep 1940 - 15 Dec 1940: Detachment, Thorney Island

10 Mar 1938 - 08 Apr 1940: Main Base, Thorney Island

28 Oct 1941 - 01 Feb 1942: Main Base, St Eval

01 Feb 1942 - 14 Feb 1942: Main Base, Thorney Island

16 Feb 1942 - 28 Apr 1942: Transit to Far East

Air echelon flew via the Middle East and was retained for operations from Luqa, Sidi Barrani and LG.86.

29 Apr 1942 - 30 Sep 1942: Main Base, Ratmalana

30 Sep 1942 - 15 Feb 1943: Main Base, Minneriya

15 Feb 1943 - 21 Apr 1944: Main Base, Vavuniya

21 Apr 1944 - 07 Jul 1944: Main Base, Ratmalana

07 Jul 1944 - 23 Dec 1944: Main Base, Vavuniya

23 Dec 1944 - 11 Jan 1945: Main Base, Kumbhirgram

11 Jan 1945 - 26 Jan 1945: Main Base, Dohazari

26 Jan 1945 - 18 Apr 1945: Main Base, Joari

18 Apr 1945 - 21 Jun 1945: Main Base, Chiringa

21 Jun 1945 - 30 Sep 1945: Main Base, Gannavaram

30 Sep 1945: Disbanded

25 Sep 1942 - 13 Dec 1944: Equipment, Beaufort Ia

19 Sep 1939 - 03 Nov 1939: Equipment, Vildebeest I

15 Nov 1939 - 28 Oct 1943: Equipment, Beaufort I

01 May 1944 - 30 Sep 1945: Equipment, Beaufighter X

28 Sep 1943 - 01 Mar 2044: Detachment, Santa Cruz

09 Feb 1943 - 15 Feb 1943: Detachment, Vavuniya

14 Nov 1942 - 08 Jan 1943: Detachment, Ratmalana

01 Sep 1941 - 13 Mar 1942: Detachment, Leuchars

29 Jul 1941 - 28 Oct 1941: Detachment, Manston

23 Jul 1941 - 23 Jul 1941: Detachment, St Eval

22 May 1941 - 30 May 1941: Detachment, Skitten

22 May 1941 - 30 May 1941: Detachment, Kaldadarnes

29 Mar 1941 - 08 May 1941: Detachment, St Eval

18 Mar 1941 - 25 Mar 1941: Detachment, Thorney Island

05 Nov 1940 - 12 Nov 1940: Detachment, St Eval

09 Mar 1940 - 01 Apr 1940: Detachment, Carew Cheriton

14 Mar 1942 - 18 Mar 1942: Main Base, Portreath

18 Mar 1942 - 19 Mar 1942: Maim Base, North Front

19 Mar 1942 - 21 Mar 1942: Main Base, Hal Far

21 Mar 1942 - 04 Apr 1942: Main Base, Fagume

04 Apr 1942 - 21 Apr 1942: Main Base,Sidi Barrani LG.05

06 Apr 1941: F/O K Campbell, Victoria Cross Award

F/O Kenneth Campbell and his crew of Sgt J P Scott RCAF, Sgt W C Mulliss and F/Sgt R W Hillman took off as part of a two wave attack on the Gneisanau in Brest Harbour. The ship had been moved from it's dry dock to the inner harbour. Coastal Command ordered an "at all costs" attack using three aircraft carrying mines to first breach the expected torpedo nets and to silence the flak ships. Following this wave were to be three torpedo bombers who would then attack the Gneisanau. Due to bad weather F/O Campbell was to arrive at the grouping point off the harbour alone and, after waiting for any other aircraft to arrive, launched a single aircraft attack against the target knowing that the defences had not been eliminated. The London Gazette of 13th March, 1942 gave the following account: Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell was the pilot of a Beaufort aircraft detailed to attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest Harbour at first light on the morning of the 6th April, 1941. The ship was in a position protected by a stone mole bending round it, and rising ground behind on which stood batteries of guns. Other batteries clustered thickly round the two arms of land which encircled the outer harbour, while three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships moored nearby guarded the cruiser. Even if an aircraft penetrated these formidable defences it would be almost impossible, after attacking at low level, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond. Knowing all this, Flying Officer Campbell ran the gauntlet of the defences and launched a torpedo at point-blank range, severely damaging the battle cruiser below water-line, so that she was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before. By pressing home the attack at close quarters in the face of withering fire, on a course fraught with extreme peril, this officer displayed valour of the highest order. F/O Campbell VC and his crew rest in Kerfautras Cemetery in Brest. About 15 minutes after F/O Campbell had attacked another aircraft of the squadron reached the grouping point and also launched a similar single aircraft attack but was forced to turn back by the awakened defences. This aircraft reached base safely.

21 Apr 1942 - 23 Apr 1942: Main Base, Habbaniya

23 Apr 1942 - 25 Apr 1942: Main Base, Shaibah

25 Apr 1942 - 26 Apr 1942: Main Base, Sharjah

26 Apr 1942 - 28 Apr 1942: Main Base, Karachi

28 Apr 1942 - 29 Apr 1942: Main Base, Hyderabad

01 Jan 1936 - 22 Feb 1939: Equipment, Vildebeest III

05 Sep 1942 - 05 Nov 1942: Equipment, Beaufort II

29 Jan 1942 - 22 Oct 1942: Equipment, Beaufort IIa

05 Sep 1942 - 30 Sep 1945: Eqquipment, Harvard IIb

Further resources

Museums and Organisations

Name: No.22 Squadron Association
Address: The Jays, 4 New Road, Easton-on-the-Hill, Stamford
Postcode: PE9 3NN
Email address: mike@danehouse3.fsnet.co.uk

Name: RAF Coastal Command Losses Database
Email address: rmcneill@currantbun.com
Internet access on site: Yes

Books and Magazines

Title: Royal Air Force Coastal Command Losses of the Second World War 1939-1941
Author: Ross McNeill
Pub year: 2003
ISBN: 1857801288
Description: Full listings of losses suffered by Coastal Command. Arranged by date and includes aircraft serial, crew names, fates and where known reason for loss.

Name: ^{About links}
Description: Official Association web pages. Brief history and contact details for historians.

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