#1645 Puma, Apache, Chinook, Wildcat and Merlin Print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No, 1645 - 22 Squadron.
No. 22 Squadron was formed at Fort Grange, Gosport, on 1 September 1915 and departed for France seven months later with twelve FE2B two-seat pusher biplanes. The Squadron subsequently re-roled to fighters and fought with distinction, winning battle honours in the Western Front, the Somme, Ypres and the Hindenburg Line. The Squadron moved to Germany after the War as part of the Army of Occupation, returning to the UK in August 1919 before disbanding at the end of that year. The Squadron reformed at Martlesham Heath in 1923 as a Test and Evaluation squadron, to test all new aircraft, civilian and military, produced by the British aviation industry, including all foreign designs, to be used by the RAF. Throughout WWII, the Squadron conducted mine-laying sorties and torpedo operations, where numerous individuals were commended for their brave actions, some posthumously. In 1955, the Squadron began its long association with Search and Rescue, first being equipped with the Sycamore, followed by the Whirlwind, Wessex and finally Sea King helicopters. Over the following 60 years the Squadron served with distinction before disbanding in 2015 having conducted over 10,000 life-saving sorties. On 14 May 2020, 22 Squadron re-formed as the JHC Operational Evaluation Unit and Tactics Pillar of the JHC Aviation Warfare Branch, responsible for Operational Test and Evaluation on all JHC helicopter types. The unit is also responsible for the generation, standardisation and development of Qualified Warfare Instructors and Crew Served Weapon Instructors to the front line. The Squadron HQ is located at RAF Benson in the CAE Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility. 22 Squadron is manned by tri-service personnel with detached Flights at Middle Wallop and Yeovilton.
Fg Off Kenneth Campbell, VC, RAFVR, was the pilot of a Beaufort aircraft of 22 Squadron RAF Coastal Command which was detailed to attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest harbour on the morning of 6 April 1941. The aircraft did not return but it is known that a torpedo attack was carried out with the utmost daring. The ship was protected by stone mole, numerous batteries of guns and the local topography would make escape almost impossible after a low-level attack. This was well known to Fg Off Campbell who went resolutely to the task running the gauntlet of defences, came in at nearly sea level and launched a torpedo at point-blank range damaging the battle cruiser below the water-line. By pressing home his attack at close quarters in the face of withering fire on a course fraught with extreme peril, Fg Off Campbell displayed valour of the highest order. For his brave actions this day, Fg Off Kenneth Campbell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
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