RAF Search and Rescue

摘要

As perceptively noted by Prince William in his foreword, the RAF provided a formal search and rescue capability from February 1941 (the establishment of the service, initially with a primary co-ordination/co-operation role) through to the force's disbandment in February 2016. This volume reviews the whole period, starting with the frightening statistic that, in the last three weeks of 1940, 220 RAF aircrew went missing or were killed at sea. The Directorate of Air Sea Rescue Services - soon renamed the RAF Air Sea Rescue Service - was established at Northwood and squadrons allocated the role. Most were equipped with the Westland Lysander, although it was too small to carry Lindholme gear.