22 Squadron was formed on 1 September 1915. It was equipped principally with RAF B.E.2c aircraft. These were replaced in 1916 by RAF F.E. 2b, which the Squadron took to France on 1 April that year.

22 Squadron went to France as a general-purpose squadron to be used for reconnaissance bombing and photographic work. In this it became a particular target for the German fighters but, despite the pusher configuration of its F.E.s, it had many successful air combats, developing a very definitely aggressive spirit. The Squadron acquired a reputation as a tough unit. Consequently, when the time came to re-equip it received Bristol Fighters and the bias in its role changed to that of a Fighter Squadron with reconnaissance as its secondary duty. At all times it took the fight to the enemy and scored rapidly. In one month, May 1918, it destroyed 81 enemy aircraft and one balloon. This role remained the Squadron's task until hostilities ceased in November 1918, when 22 Squadron went on into Germany to form part of the Army Occupation until the summer of 1919. It then returned to the United Kingdom and was disbanded at Ford at the end of the year.

22 Squadron was re-formed on 24 July 1923 at the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment, Martlesham Heath. Its task was to test and report on every new type of aircraft, civil and military, produced by the British aircraft industry, and of foreign designs ordered for use by the RAF. Nominally it had a war role as a light bomber squadron with de-Havilland D.H.9A3. However, the Squadron was entirely occupied in its testing role throughout its existence at Martlesham Heath and all the types that entered RAF service, or airliner or club service in the 1920's and early 1930's went through the hands of 22 Squadron.

This role came to an end on 1 May 1934 when 22 Squadron was re-formed at Donibristle as a torpedo bomber squadron with Vickers Vildebeest. The Squadron was assigned to the Home Fleet, In October 1935 the Abyssinian crisis forced the Squadron overseas to Malta; however, war did not break out and the Squadron returned to the United Kingdom in September 1936. In 1938 it moved to Thorney Island. The Vildebeest was still with the Squadron when World War 2 broke out, and was immediately used for anti-submarine patrols over the Channel.

22 Squadron brought the Bristol Beaufort into operational service; receiving the first aircraft in November 1939 and, after an intense work up at North Coates in Lincolnshire, the Squadron resumed operations in April 1940, beginning with mine-laying sorties. It moved to RAF Thorney Island where torpedo operations were resumed in August. In order to cover a wider area of sea the Squadron sent out detachments, to RAF Abbotsinch (to test the Torpedo with Wings), then to St Eval, being the most regular.

It was from here that the Squadron made many attacks on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in Brest. During one of these, on 6 April 1941. Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell and his crew made a daring and courageous penetration of the formidable defences and hit the Gneisenau with a torpedo just before being shot to pieces. The Gneisenau was out of action for nine months and Flying Officer Campbell was awarded the VC, posthumously. Throughout 1941 the Squadron was on the attack constantly and when the year ended it had sunk over 100,000 tons of enemy shipping.

22 Squadron was now taken off operations and split up, many of the aircrew joining No 86 Squadron and the ground crew began the long to journey to Ceylon from where 22 Squadron was to operate next. By May 1942 the Squadron was ready, still with Beaufort Mk 1s, to operate with the fleet. By now, however, there was no Japanese presence in the Indian Ocean and the Squadron began a dreary routine of anti-shipping patrols, convoy patrols and air-sea rescue sorties. This continued for two whole years with no action whatsoever. In May 1944 the Beauforts gave place to Bristol Beaufighters and the Squadron moved away from Ceylon to take part in the fighting in Burma. It flew strikes against Japanese coastal shipping and also on river traffic, principally on the Irrawaddy, using torpedoes at first but later, much more effectively with rockets. The tempo built up and in early 1945 22 Squadron was fully in action; flying many sorties each available day and seeing results for its efforts. The climax came in May with the recapture of Rangoon after which there was little Japanese shipping requiring attention. With the war ending in September, the Squadron disbanded at Gannavarum on 30 September 1945.

On 1 May 1946 89 Squadron at Seletar was renumbered 22 Squadron but it existed, with de-Havilland Mosquitoes, for only three months before dissolving again on 15 August of that year. 22 Squadron was reformed at Thorney Island on 15 February 1955.

The History of 22 Squadron from 1955 to 2002.