April when nine Beauforts set out to lay mines off the mouth of the River Elbe. In this role, the unit flew sorties over the North Sea from North Coates, Thorney Island, St Eval and Portreath. In April 1941, a pilot of the unit, F/O Kenneth Campbell, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for a daring attack on the in Brest harbour. In 1942, the unit was posted to North Africa before being moved to South East Asia, where it converted to the Bristol Beaufighter. No. 22 Squadron continued its anti-shipping role, this time using rockets. The squadron disbanded for the third time a month after war's end. Search and rescue (1955–2015) Sycamore years Reformed again in February 1955 with the Bristol Sycamore HC.12 at RAF Thorney Island, the squadron took on the Search and Rescue role with this helicopter until the Westland Whirlwind replaced it in June 1955. The squadron performed military search and rescue until it was handed over to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Bristow Helicopters in October 2015. Whirlwind years The squadron was initially equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR.2s until August 1962, these were later replaced by the Whirlwind HAR.10s from August 1962. The squadron was based at RAF Thorney Island. June 1955 - June 1956 - HQ at RAF Thorney Island Unknown Flight - RAF Valley, Anglesey Unknown Flight - RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk Unknown Flight - RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk June 1956 - April 1974 - HQ at RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall Unknown Flight - RAF Chivenor, Devon Unknown Flight - RAF Felixstowe, Suffolk Unknown Flight - RAF Tangmere, West Sussex Unknown Flight - RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex Unknown Flight - RAF Valley, Anglesey Unknown Flight - RAF Manston, Kent Unknown Flight - RAF Coltishall, Norfolk April 1974 - January 1976 - HQ at RAF Thorney Island Unknown Flight - RAF Valley, Anglesey Unknown Flight - RAF Chivenor, Devon B flight - RAF Coltishall, Norfolk Unknown Flight - RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire January 1976 - June 1976 - HQ at RAF Finningley Unknown Flight - RAF Valley, Anglesey Unknown Flight - RAF Chivenor, Devon Unknown Flight - RAF Brawdy, Pembrokeshire Unknown Flight - RAF Leuchars, Fife Unknown Flight - RAF Manston, Kent Unknown Flight - RAF Leconfield, East Riding of Yorkshire Wessex years The squadron was re-equipped with Westland Wessex's from June 1976 its headquarters were at RAF Finningley and had flights at: 'A'