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The squadron was originally formed as 89 Gliding School (GS) in March 1944 at Christchurch. Christchurch airfield was not unfamiliar with gliding operations as during the war years it was used by Mr Philip Wills and crews to test radar responses on gliders over the Channel area off the Dorset coast, in conjunction with RAF Ringstead. When first formed the school was equipped with Dagling Mk Is and later with Cadet Mk Is and Mk IIs.

In 1946 the school took part in the Battle of Britain display at RAF Holmeslet South with a Cadet Mk I which was the only aircraft to fly during the day due to low cloud.

Cadet Mk Is were withdrawn in 1949/1950 and two seater training began with the introduction of T21 Sedburgh and Cadet Mk III aircraft. In 1950 the school was visited by the Commandant from RAF Staff College, Air Cdre J N T Stevenson, he was accompanied by Wg Cdr Engineer of the Royal Indian Air Force and Major A Montuori of the Italian Air Force, the school had been chosen to show these officers the new two seater aircraft and give instruction on running a gliding school.

The school entered the National Gliding Championship at Great Hucklow, Derbyshire in 1953 with a T21 and a self built retrieve trailer. They made the longest two seater flight of 60 miles to Leicester Aerodrome, piloted by the CO Sqn Ldr F R E Haytor MBE, accompanied by a civilian instructor, Derreck Goddard.

The unit entered the Nationals at Lasham in 1954 with the same aircraft and pilot and recorded a flight of 73 miles to Weymouth.

In 1955/1956 the school was redesignated 622 GS and was parented by RAF Sopley (Southern Radar).

Christchurch Airfield was closed in 1963 and 622 GS moved to Old Sarum, temporarily parented by RAF Chilmark. During its time at Christchurch the unit maintained one of the highest and consistent outputs of Proficiencies over 20 years and continued to do so in its early years at Old Sarum.

The Civil Air Patrol awarded a Certificate to the school in 1974 in recognition of a course run for them through the auspices of the International Air Cadet Exchange.

The RAF relinquished Old Sarum in 1978 and 622 VGS was then relocated to RAF Upavon, where it is currently based. 622 VGS share the airfield with the Wyvern Gliding Club, part of the Army GSA. The RAF left Upavon, and the Army took over control in 1993, although the airfield is still used by the RAF Hercules C 130's for field strip landing SCT to this day. RAF Upavon was the originating station of the RAF's Central Flying School in 1912, and prior to closure was the HQ of No 1 Group RAF. It is now the Base for the Army HQ of Doctrine and Training, in addition to being the HQ of the Army Adjutant General.

In January 1985, the school was re-equipped with the Grob 103 Viking T Mk 1 GRP aircraft at the same time as the final flights were made using the Mk IIIs and Sedburgh aircraft. A further boost in performance came in 1990, with the introduction of the new purpose built Munster Van Gelder winch, which bestowed a major improvement in power and performance over the old WW2 vintage Eagle winches. Additionally, the new Airfield Control Caravan and modern transport provided by the RAF have also increased comfort and efficiency.

The school owns its own residential accomodation, and also has modern offices, briefing rooms and crew rooms inside the hangar.

The school currently serves ATC and CCF cadets from Hants & IOW, Dorset & Wilts, Surrey, Middlesex and Sussex Wings as well as many School CCF Units. 622 VGS has always been a major supplier of pilots to the RAF, and Civil Aviation, indeed one ex-622 member flew as a member of the RAF "Red Arrows" team.

622 VGS won the Marshal Trophy for the best winch launched VGS in the UK in 1990, under the leadership of Sqn Ldr Colin Tarrant, and has traditionally been a leader in its class.

Aircraft - Vintage

Aircraft - GRP - Current Types

Viking T Mk 1

Valiant

last modified 04/18/08