No. 22 Squadron Royal Air Force

22 Squadron was formed at Gosport in September 1915 and went to France in April 1916 where it served as both a reconnaissance and fighter unit. It was part of the Army of Occupation in Germany until disbanded in 1919.
It re-formed on 24 July 1923 at the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment, Martlesham Heath. Its task was to test every new type of aircraft, both civil and military, produced by the British aircraft industry, and also all foreign designs ordered for use by the RAF.
This role came to an end on 1 May 1934 when 22 Squadron was re-formed at RNAS Donibristle as a torpedo bomber squadron with the Vickers Vildebeest bi-plane torpedo aircraft. The Squadron was assigned to the Home Fleet. In October 1935 during the Abyssinian Crisis the Squadron went overseas to Malta but saw no action. In 1938 it moved to Thorney Island.
The Vildebeest was verging on the obsolete by 1939 but was still with the Squadron when World War 2 broke out, and was pressed into service for anti-submarine patrols from October 1939 until February 1940.

15th April 1940 New aircraft

May 1940 Mine laying

August 1940 Torpedo problems fixed

6th April 1941 Attack on the Gneisanau

25th June 1941 On the move

1st Feb 1942 Crews reassigned

14th Feb 1942 Malta

14th April 1942 Aircraft Lost

21st April 1942 Journey to the Far East resumed

28th April 1942 Ceylon

17th February 1943 Escorts shot down

May 1944 Equipped with rockets

23rd December 1944 Move to India

21st June 1945 On the Move

August 1945

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Those known to have served with
No. 22 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.

Campbell VC. Kenneth. F/O. (d.6th April 1941)
Hunt Clifford Dennis. P/O. (d.5th June 1942)
Newton VC. William Ellis. F/Lt. (d.29th Mar 1943)

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P/O. Clifford Dennis Hunt 607 Squadron (d.5th June 1942)

Clifford Hunt was posted to Padgate Air Crew as a Pilot Under training, on the 12th of September 1939. On the 3rd of November 1939 he was posted to Wick, then on the 28th of December 1939 to 4 I.T.W., Hastings by the end of the year his rank was A.C.2, Pilot U/T. Clifford joined No.13 O.T.U. (Bomber Command)on the 20th of May 1940 and on the 10th of June was posted to 50 Group (pool) then to 8 S.F.T.S. at RAF Montrose on the 10th of August 1940. He qualified as a pilot on the 26th of October 1940 and was posted to 56 O.T.U. (Fighter Command) on the 4th of November, transferring to 22 Squadron at North Coates, Lincolnshire on the 9th of December 1940, then to 607 Squadron at RAF Usworth, Durham on the 16th. On New Years eve 1940 he was promoted to the Rank of Sgt. Pilot. His service record notes he held this rank when at Skitten, Caithness with No. 607 Squadron on the 26th of May 1941. On the 26th of June 1941 he was posted to No. 3 Squadron for Flying Duties at Stapleford Tawney in Essex, On the 18th of July 1941 he was granted a commission as Pilot Officer for duration of hostilities. He joined No. 174 Squadron for Flying Duties at Manston in Kent, on the 10th of March 1942, this is confirmed in Cliff's diary entry for 10/3/1942, with the note that it was a Fighter Bomber Squadron. On the 8th of May 1942 he was promoted to Flight Commander (Flight Lieutenant) and on the 5th of June 1942 Clifford was killed on Active Service.

A D Hunt

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No. 22 Squadron Royal Air Force
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Those known to have served with No. 22 Squadron Royal Air Forceduring the Second World War 1939-1945.

The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

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Links

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- No. 22 Squadron Royal Air Force during the Second World War -

Those known to have served with
No. 22 Squadron Royal Air Force
during the Second World War 1939-1945.