Thread by @SeaSpitfires, In July 1940, HSL 121, the last of twenty-two 64ft High Speed [...]

Stephen Fisher

SeaSpitfires

In July 1940, HSL 121, the last of twenty-two 64ft High Speed Launches built by British Power Boat for rescue work, entered service with the RAF. She was just in time for the #BattleofBritain.

A short #AirSeaRescue thread.

Bob Fenton, http://www.ournewhaven.org.uk/page_id__3150.aspx

In July 1940, HSL 121, the last of twenty-two 64ft High Speed Launches built by British Power Boat for rescue work, entered service with the RAF. She was just in time for the #BattleofBritain. A short #AirSeaRescue thread.Bob Fenton, http://www.ournewhaven.org.uk/page_id__3150.aspx

Books show a misleading variety of HSLs in service during the #BattleofBritain, when in fact even the emblematic British Power Boat 63ft ‘Whaleback’ didn’t enter service until late October. Only the 64ft boat was available in the summer of 1940.

Keith Burns & Peter North.

Books show a misleading variety of HSLs in service during the #BattleofBritain, when in fact even the emblematic British Power Boat 63ft ‘Whaleback’ didn’t enter service until late October. Only the 64ft boat was available in the summer of 1940. Keith Burns & Peter North.

These boats were distributed at flying boat bases around the country and the Empire, which meant that only 10 were on service on Britain’s east and south coasts in the summer of 1940, the only dedicated rescue launches available. HSL 102 is the only survivor of this class today.

Future wars had always been anticipated to take place on the continent. Now the RAF would find themselves fighting over water, a conflict they were ill prepared for. A 'Sea Rescue Organisation' was hurriedly formed in August, but it was too late to make much difference.

Pilots had little in the way of survival apparatus. Their dinghies were poor quality (if they even had them), they lacked signalling equipment like flares or dye to stain the water – even their lifejackets were dull green and hard to spot in the sea.

IWM EQU 4629

Pilots had little in the way of survival apparatus. Their dinghies were poor quality (if they even had them), they lacked signalling equipment like flares or dye to stain the water – even their lifejackets were dull green and hard to spot in the sea. IWM EQU 4629

Nor was there a managed plan for rescuing pilots. Squadrons were responsible for their own crews and there was no established communications network to alert and direct the HSLs.

Tony Hullat

Nor was there a managed plan for rescuing pilots. Squadrons were responsible for their own crews and there was no established communications network to alert and direct the HSLs. Tony Hullat

This lack of preparedness meant that losses were heavy. Some 200 men were lost over the North Sea and English Channel. Less than a fifth of aircrew who ditched or baled out over the sea were subsequently rescued, mostly by ad hoc means.

Tooveys

This lack of preparedness meant that losses were heavy. Some 200 men were lost over the North Sea and English Channel. Less than a fifth of aircrew who ditched or baled out over the sea were subsequently rescued, mostly by ad hoc means. Tooveys

Fortunately it led to lasting change. In January 1941 the Air Sea Rescue Service was formed. With the motto The Sea Shall Not Have Them and the new 63ft boats entering service that summer inspiring their badge, by the war’s end, ASR had saved over 13,000 lives worldwide.

Finit

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