22 Squadron was formed on 20 April 1936 at Richmond, New South Wales, as part of the Citizen Air Force (CAF).

Equipped with Hawker Demons and de Havilland Gipsy Moths, two-thirds of its personnel were part-time CAF members and one third belonged to the Permanent Air Force (PAF).

22 Squadron was called upon to undertake patrols along the eastern seaboard following the attack on Sydney Harbour in May and June 1942.

Twice during June aircraft from the squadron attacked Japanese submarines, inflicting damage but failing to sink them.

[5] It deployed to Port Moresby in New Guinea in October 1942 where it flew in support of Australian Army operations against the Japanese around Buna and Gona.

[7] A member of the squadron, Flight Lieutenant Bill Newton, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) – the Commonwealth's highest military decoration – for his actions while flying a Boston on two separate missions between 16 and 18 March 1943.

[6] From here, the squadron conducted operations throughout the South West Pacific Area, including targets in the Philippines.

Later in the month, the majority of the squadron's Bostons were badly damaged or destroyed in a Japanese bombing raid.

[6] The squadron's first operation on the new aircraft type came in mid-February when nine Beaufighters were sent to attack Tandao in the Celebes Sea.

On 19 April 1948, the squadron was reformed at Bankstown, New South Wales, as part of the CAF but with a cadre of PAF members.

22 Squadron undertook its own training and carried out various duties including air defence and naval and ground support tasks.

In June 1960, when CAF flying operations ceased, the squadron was converted to a non-flying role supporting RAAF activities in the Sydney region.