22 Squadron SAAF
Encyclopedia
22 Squadron is a squadron
of the South African Air Force
. It is currently a maritime helicopter
squadron operating Lynx and Oryx helicopters for the South African Navy
.
on 1 July 1942 by renaming 31 Flight to 22 (Torpedo-Bomber-Reconnaissance) Squadron. It was equipped with ex-SAA
Junkers Ju 86
s as well as a number of Avro Anson
s, and was assigned to anti-submarine, coastal reconnaissance and convoy support duties.
It had a relatively unremarkable period of duty in World War II
, being engaged mainly in coastal patrols as part of Coastal Command.Coastal Command consisted of 27 Sqn
at Walvis Bay and Rooikop and a detachment at Aus; 6 Sqn
at Eerste River; 23 Sqn at Darling; 25 Sqn
at Port Elizabeth and East London; 22 Sqn
at Lombazi and Matubatuba; 29 Sqn
also at Lombazi and 10 Sqn
at Durban and Isipingo. Martin and Orpen, (1979) p.275 It was disbanded at Idku
on 24 October 1945. Following the war, it was briefly recreated in 1954 and equipped with Lockheed Ventura
s, but disbanded again soon thereafter.
The latest chapter in the squadron's history began on 1 January 1964, when it was recreated at AFB Ysterplaat
as 22 Flight and equipped with the newly-delivered Westland Wasp
helicopter, becoming a full squadron in May 1976. In 1978 it received a complement of Aérospatiale Alouette III
s.
At the end of the 1980s, the Westland Wasps were withdrawn from service, but the squadron received a number of Aérospatiale Puma
s in 1991 when it was amalgamated with 31 Squadron. The Pumas were later replaced with the Atlas Oryx M2
.
This squadron is the sole maritime helicopter squadron of the SAAF, and therefore provides all helicopters, air and ground crew for operation aboard South African Navy
vessels. It has previously been tasked with supporting South Africa's Antarctic
research station
, and therefore operates two specially modified Atlas Oryx M2 helicopters, suitable for use in the extreme conditions. One of the M2s was written off
after a crash landing
in July 2004.
Wasp helicopters from the squadron were involved in the rescue of South African Navy
personnel in the South Atlantic following the sinking of the SAS President Kruger in 1982. The squadron also gained international recognition in 2002 during the high profile rescue of the Magdalena Oldendorff
which was trapped in the Antarctic ice. 22 Squadron's two Oryx M2s were embarked aboard the SA Agulhas
for the successful operation.
Apart from official military support the squadron is involved in mountain rescue
and air-sea rescue
operations, fire fighting
, crime prevention
and humanitarian relief
in the event of disasters.
The squadron's Alouette IIIs were retired in August 2007. The first of four Westland Super Lynx 300
helicopters for use aboard the South African Navy's new Valour class frigate
s, was delivered on the 13th July 2007. It was accompanied to AFB Ysterplaat
on its first flight in South Africa
by two Oryx and an Alouette III.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
. It is currently a maritime helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
squadron operating Lynx and Oryx helicopters for the South African Navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
.
History
The squadron was formed in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
on 1 July 1942 by renaming 31 Flight to 22 (Torpedo-Bomber-Reconnaissance) Squadron. It was equipped with ex-SAA
South African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
Junkers Ju 86
Junkers Ju 86
The Junkers Ju 86 was a German monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed in the early 1930s, and employed by both sides during World War II. The civilian model Ju 86B could carry 10 passengers. Two were delivered to Swissair and five to Luft Hansa...
s as well as a number of Avro Anson
Avro Anson
The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
s, and was assigned to anti-submarine, coastal reconnaissance and convoy support duties.
It had a relatively unremarkable period of duty in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, being engaged mainly in coastal patrols as part of Coastal Command.Coastal Command consisted of 27 Sqn
27 Squadron SAAF
27 Squadron was established as a World War II maritime patrol squadron of the South African Air Force. It was disbanded after the war and resurrected in the same role from 1951 to 1958...
at Walvis Bay and Rooikop and a detachment at Aus; 6 Sqn
6 Squadron SAAF
6 Squadron was a South African Air Force squadron as from World War II. It was disbanded and re-created a number of times, until finally disbanded in October 1990.The Squadron was formed in Cape Town in April 1939 and was equipped with Westland Wapiti IIIs...
at Eerste River; 23 Sqn at Darling; 25 Sqn
25 Squadron SAAF
25 Squadron was a maritime patrol and later medium bomber squadron of the South African Air Force during World War II. It was re-constituted twice between 1951 and 1990 as a medium transport squadron and was finally disbanded in October 1990....
at Port Elizabeth and East London; 22 Sqn
22 Squadron SAAF
22 Squadron is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It is currently a maritime helicopter squadron operating Lynx and Oryx helicopters for the South African Navy.-History:...
at Lombazi and Matubatuba; 29 Sqn
29 Squadron SAAF
29 Squadron was one of the Coastal Command squadronsCoastal Command consisted of 27 Sqn at Walvis Bay and Rooikop and a detachment at Aus; 6 Sqn at Eerste River; 23 Sqn at Darling; 25 Sqn at Port Elizabeth and East London; 22 Sqn at Lombazi and Matubatuba; 29 Sqn also at Lombazi and 10 Sqn at...
also at Lombazi and 10 Sqn
10 Squadron SAAF
10 Squadron was formed as a South African Air Force fighter bomber squadron on 1 April 1939 and was deployed in a coastal defence role as part of Coastal Command until 1943 and was disbanded after the threat of Japanese naval actions off the South African coast had waned...
at Durban and Isipingo. Martin and Orpen, (1979) p.275 It was disbanded at Idku
Idku
Idku, also spelt Edkou is a town in Al Buhayrah Governorate, Egypt....
on 24 October 1945. Following the war, it was briefly recreated in 1954 and equipped with Lockheed Ventura
Lockheed Ventura
The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
s, but disbanded again soon thereafter.
The latest chapter in the squadron's history began on 1 January 1964, when it was recreated at AFB Ysterplaat
AFB Ysterplaat
Air Force Base Ysterplaat is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located in Cape Town, on the southwestern coast of South Africa.The name Ysterplaat is Afrikaans; it means Iron Plate in English....
as 22 Flight and equipped with the newly-delivered Westland Wasp
Westland Wasp
The Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
helicopter, becoming a full squadron in May 1976. In 1978 it received a complement of Aérospatiale Alouette III
Aérospatiale Alouette III
The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India as Hal Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania.The Alouette III is the...
s.
At the end of the 1980s, the Westland Wasps were withdrawn from service, but the squadron received a number of Aérospatiale Puma
Aérospatiale Puma
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
s in 1991 when it was amalgamated with 31 Squadron. The Pumas were later replaced with the Atlas Oryx M2
Atlas Oryx
The Atlas Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa.-Design and development:...
.
This squadron is the sole maritime helicopter squadron of the SAAF, and therefore provides all helicopters, air and ground crew for operation aboard South African Navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
vessels. It has previously been tasked with supporting South Africa's Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
research station
Research station
A research station is a station built for the purpose of conducting scientific research. Research station sites might include outer space and oceans. Many nations have research stations in Antarctica; Showa Station, Halley and Troll are examples...
, and therefore operates two specially modified Atlas Oryx M2 helicopters, suitable for use in the extreme conditions. One of the M2s was written off
Write-off
The term write-off describes a reduction in recognized value. In accounting terminology, it refers to recognition of the reduced or zero value of an asset. In income tax statements, it refers to a reduction of taxable income as recognition of certain expenses required to produce the income...
after a crash landing
Emergency landing
An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.-Types of emergency landings:...
in July 2004.
Wasp helicopters from the squadron were involved in the rescue of South African Navy
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
personnel in the South Atlantic following the sinking of the SAS President Kruger in 1982. The squadron also gained international recognition in 2002 during the high profile rescue of the Magdalena Oldendorff
Magdalena Oldendorff
MV Captain Kurbatskiy was a Russian SA-15 class cargo ship originally known as Nizhneyansk after a port of the same name...
which was trapped in the Antarctic ice. 22 Squadron's two Oryx M2s were embarked aboard the SA Agulhas
SA Agulhas
The SA Agulhas is an ice-strengthened research vessel. She was built in 1977, by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki, Japan. The SA Agulhas is South Africa's polar research vessel...
for the successful operation.
Apart from official military support the squadron is involved in mountain rescue
Mountain rescue
Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
and air-sea rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
operations, fire fighting
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
, crime prevention
Crime prevention
Crime prevention is the attempt to reduce victimization and to deter crime and criminals. It is applied specifically to efforts made by governments to reduce crime, enforce the law, and maintain criminal justice.-Studies:...
and humanitarian relief
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
in the event of disasters.
The squadron's Alouette IIIs were retired in August 2007. The first of four Westland Super Lynx 300
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
helicopters for use aboard the South African Navy's new Valour class frigate
Valour class frigate
The South African Valour class frigates are the major surface ships of the South African Navy. Their German manufacturer designates these warships as the MEKO A-200SAN class, member of its MEKO family of naval ships...
s, was delivered on the 13th July 2007. It was accompanied to AFB Ysterplaat
AFB Ysterplaat
Air Force Base Ysterplaat is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located in Cape Town, on the southwestern coast of South Africa.The name Ysterplaat is Afrikaans; it means Iron Plate in English....
on its first flight in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
by two Oryx and an Alouette III.
Previous Aircraft Operated
- Junkers Ju 86Junkers Ju 86The Junkers Ju 86 was a German monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed in the early 1930s, and employed by both sides during World War II. The civilian model Ju 86B could carry 10 passengers. Two were delivered to Swissair and five to Luft Hansa...
- Avro AnsonAvro AnsonThe Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
- Lockheed VenturaLockheed VenturaThe Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
- Westland WaspWestland WaspThe Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
- Aérospatiale PumaAérospatiale PumaThe Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...