No. 22 Squadron RAAF
No. 22 Squadron RAAF | |
---|---|
Active | 1936–1946 1948–present |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
Role | Base operations and training |
Size | Squadron |
Part of | Combat Support Group |
Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Richmond |
Motto(s) | Adsum |
Commanders | |
Honorary Colonel | Governor of New South Wales (Since 1937) |
Notable commanders | Allan Walters (1937–1938) Charles Learmonth (1943) |
No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron is a
History
No. 22 Squadron was formed on 20 April 1936 at
Second World War
No. 22 Squadron was mobilised following the outbreak of war in September 1939 and conducted anti-submarine patrols. Its first operational mission came on 10 September when its aircraft undertook a search for a submarine that had been reported off Sydney. The sighting came to nothing. In late December 1940, the squadron replaced its Demons with CAC Wirraways and over the course of the next year it slowly converted completely to this type, completing this process by the time Japan entered the war in December 1941. During this time the squadron undertook anti-submarine and convoy escort tasks, but saw no action.[3] It also provided training support for Army anti-aircraft units, towing targets for them to shoot at.[4]
The squadron was equipped with
It deployed to
In April 1943, the squadron moved to
The squadron's first operation on the new aircraft type came in mid-February when nine Beaufighters were sent to attack
Post-war
Following the end of hostilities, No. 22 Squadron returned to Australia at the end of 1945 and was disbanded on 15 August 1946 at
In March 1953, the squadron relocated to
On 1 July 2010, changes to the structure of the Combat Support Group resulted in the combat support and fixed base services functions of No. 325 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron (325 ECSS) being integrated with No. 22 Squadron's training role at Richmond and 325 ECSS being disbanded.[13] The squadron is currently staffed by a mix of 280 Permanent and Reserve personnel.[14][15]
Battle honours
For its involvement during the Second World War, No. 22 Squadron was awarded the following battle honours:
- Pacific 1941–1945, New Guinea 1942–1944, Moresby 1942–1943, New Britain 1943, Markham Valley 1943–1944, Dutch New Guinea, Morotai, Borneo 1945, and Bismarck Sea.[4]
Notes
- ^ a b Eather 1995, p. 56.
- ^ Roylance 1991, p. 115.
- ^ Eather 1995, pp. 56–57.
- ^ a b c "22 Squadron RAAF". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ a b c Eather 1995, p. 57.
- ^ a b c d Eather 1995, p. 58.
- ^ Gillison 1962, p. 696.
- ^ Eather 1995, pp. 57–58.
- ^ Odgers 1968, pp. 196–198.
- ^ Eather 1995, pp. 58–59.
- ^ a b c d Eather 1995, p. 59.
- ^ Odgers 1968, pp. 482–483.
- ^ Stackpool, Andrew (5 August 2010). "Over To You Now". Air Force. p. 6. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- ^ "No 22 Squadron". RAAF Museum. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ "No 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
References
- Eather, Steve (1995). Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1-875671-15-3.
- Gillison, Douglas (1962). Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 1. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 2000369.
- OCLC 246580191.
- Roylance, Derek (1991). Air Base Richmond. RAAF Base Richmond: Royal Australian Air Force. ISBN 0-646-05212-8.
Further reading
- Page, Charles (2008). Wings of Destiny: Wing Commander Charles Learmonth, DFC and Bar and the Air War in New Guinea. New South Wales: Rosenberg Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-1-8770586-4-6
- Weate, Mark (1999). Bill Newton VC: The Short Life of a RAAF Hero. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-78-5.