Search and Rescue
Reformed again in 1955, the squadron took on the Search and Rescue role it maintains today. Initially equipped with Westland Whirlwinds, these were later replaced by the Westland Wessex. Finally, in the mid-1990s, the squadron received six newly built Sea King HAR.3A to supplement the Sea King HAR.3 aircraft which replaced the Wessex aircraft.
The squadron HQ is co-located with the SAR Force HQ at RAF Valley on Anglesey, Wales. Detachments of at least two aircraft operate from three stations to provide search and rescue cover in their parts of the country; these are:
- 'A' Flight - RMB Chivenor, Devon
- 'B' Flight - Wattisham, Suffolk
- 'C' Flight - RAF Valley, Anglesey
A and B Flights operate the Sea King Mk3A. C Flight shares a pool nominally of five Sea King Mk3 aircraft with 203 (R) Sqn, the Operational Conversion Unit.
The squadron was the subject of the BBC documentary series "Helicopter Rescue" broadcast in February 2012.
Read more about this topic: No. 22 Squadron RAF
Famous quotes containing the words search and/or rescue:
“If ever the search for a tranquil belief should end,
The future might stop emerging out of the past,
Out of what is full of us; yet the search
And the future emerging out of us seem to be one.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“In the event of an oxygen shortage on airplanes, mothers of young children are always reminded to put on their own oxygen mask first, to better assist the children with theirs. The same tactic is necessary on terra firma. There’s no way of sustaining our children if we don’t first rescue ourselves. I don’t call that selfish behavior. I call it love.”
—Joyce Maynard (20th century)