A wildebeest in full course The wildebeest comes from the armorial bearings of Natal, the squadron being the Natal gift squadron; the wildebeest also symbolises speed.[2]
The squadron was formally formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918 from "A" Squadron of the former No. 2 Wing, RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed. At this time, Richard Peirse became Officer Commanding 222 Squadron.[3] Later, on 6 April 1918, former "Z" Squadron of No. 2 Wing, RNAS was added to the strength. Renumbered No. 62 Wing and consisting of Nos. 478, 479 and 480 Flights, the squadron was given the task of maintaining raids on Turkish targets in Macedonia and Thrace, operating from islands in the Northern Aegean, officially adopting the 222 Squadron number plate on 14 September 1918.[4] The squadron continued to carry out raids on Turkish targets in the Balkans until the end of the war, eventually disbanding on 27 February 1919.[5]
In World War II
No. 222 Squadron Spitfire VB in 1942.
On 5 October 1939 No. 222 Squadron was reformed at RAF Duxford flying Blenheim Mk.If's in the shipping protection role,[5] but in March of the following year it re-equipped with Spitfires and became a day-fighter unit. It fought during the Battle of Britain, being based at RAF Hornchurch on 15 September 1940, under Squadron Leader "Johnnie" Hill.[6] It later took part in Operation Jubilee, the 1942 Dieppe raid. In December 1944 the squadron converted to Tempests, which it flew until the squadron was recalled to the UK to re-equip with Meteors.[5]
Entering the jet age
From October 1945 the squadron flew various marks of Meteors for nine years and later, after December 1954 Hunters, being part of Scotland's defence,[7] but on 1 November 1957 No. 222 was disbanded.[4][5]
On Rockets
In its last incarnation on 1 May 1960, No. 222 became a Bristol Bloodhound SAM unit at RAF Woodhall Spa, but after four years service in this role it disbanded on 30 June 1964.[4][5]
References
Notes
^Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1. ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 65. ISBN0-7100-9339-X.
Burton, E. Go straight ahead: Battle of Britain diary of 222 Squadron RAF. London: Square One, 1996.
Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN0-85130-164-9.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN0-7106-0187-5.
Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1978. ISBN0-354-01028-X.
Robinson, Anthony. RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain. London: Arms and Armour Press Ltd., 1987 (republished 1999 by Brockhampton Press, ISBN1-86019-907-0.).
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to No. 222 Squadron RAF.
History of No.'s 221–225 Squadrons at RAF Web
January 19, 2023
squadron, squadron, royal, force, fighter, unit, natal, squadron, rafactive1, april, 1918, february, 1919, october, 1939, november, 1957, 1960, june, 1964countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcenickname, natalmotto, zulu, pambili, straight, ahead, commandersno. No 222 Squadron was a Royal Air Force fighter unit No 222 Natal Squadron RAFActive1 April 1918 27 February 1919 5 October 1939 1 November 1957 1 May 1960 30 June 1964CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceNickname s NatalMotto s Zulu Pambili bo Go straight ahead 1 CommandersNotablecommandersRichard Peirse Johnnie Hill Herbert Hallowes Archibald WinskillInsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryA wildebeest in full courseThe wildebeest comes from the armorial bearings of Natal the squadron being the Natal gift squadron the wildebeest also symbolises speed 2 Post 1950 squadron roundelSquadron CodesZD Oct 1939 1953 Contents 1 History 1 1 In World War I 1 2 In World War II 1 3 Entering the jet age 1 4 On Rockets 2 References 2 1 Notes 2 2 Bibliography 3 External linksHistory EditIn World War I Edit The squadron was formally formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918 from A Squadron of the former No 2 Wing RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed At this time Richard Peirse became Officer Commanding 222 Squadron 3 Later on 6 April 1918 former Z Squadron of No 2 Wing RNAS was added to the strength Renumbered No 62 Wing and consisting of Nos 478 479 and 480 Flights the squadron was given the task of maintaining raids on Turkish targets in Macedonia and Thrace operating from islands in the Northern Aegean officially adopting the 222 Squadron number plate on 14 September 1918 4 The squadron continued to carry out raids on Turkish targets in the Balkans until the end of the war eventually disbanding on 27 February 1919 5 In World War II Edit No 222 Squadron Spitfire VB in 1942 On 5 October 1939 No 222 Squadron was reformed at RAF Duxford flying Blenheim Mk If s in the shipping protection role 5 but in March of the following year it re equipped with Spitfires and became a day fighter unit It fought during the Battle of Britain being based at RAF Hornchurch on 15 September 1940 under Squadron Leader Johnnie Hill 6 It later took part in Operation Jubilee the 1942 Dieppe raid In December 1944 the squadron converted to Tempests which it flew until the squadron was recalled to the UK to re equip with Meteors 5 Entering the jet age Edit From October 1945 the squadron flew various marks of Meteors for nine years and later after December 1954 Hunters being part of Scotland s defence 7 but on 1 November 1957 No 222 was disbanded 4 5 On Rockets Edit In its last incarnation on 1 May 1960 No 222 became a Bristol Bloodhound SAM unit at RAF Woodhall Spa but after four years service in this role it disbanded on 30 June 1964 4 5 References EditNotes Edit Pine L G 1983 A dictionary of mottoes 1 ed London Routledge amp Kegan Paul p 65 ISBN 0 7100 9339 X Rawlings 1978 p 330 Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation Archived from the original on 20 November 2012 Retrieved 13 February 2013 a b c Jefford 2001 p 75 a b c d e Halley 1988 p 288 Robinson 1999 p 276 Rawlings 1978 p 331 Bibliography Edit Burton E Go straight ahead Battle of Britain diary of 222 Squadron RAF London Square One 1996 Halley James J The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1981 1988 Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd 1988 ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing 2001 ISBN 1 84037 141 2 Rawlings John D R Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Jane s Publishing Company Ltd 1982 ISBN 0 7106 0187 5 Rawlings John D R Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd 1978 ISBN 0 354 01028 X Robinson Anthony RAF Squadrons in the Battle of Britain London Arms and Armour Press Ltd 1987 republished 1999 by Brockhampton Press ISBN 1 86019 907 0 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 222 Squadron RAF Official history of No 222 Squadron History of No s 221 225 Squadrons at RAF Web Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 222 Squadron RAF amp oldid 1111218865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
