Air Ministry

This was written and published 1942. What I always find fascinating about volumes like this one that were written during the War and at a time when things were not going well, is the optimism expressed that they were going to win. Germany would be defeated. This volume explains the efforts made & being developed by the Navy & Air Force to rescue aviators who were forced to land in the water off the coasts of England & France. The rescue boats are described within the limits of not revealing too much to the enemy. The rescue floats that were anchoured in the Channel are described and an actual photograph of the interior is included. The real delights here are the many anecdotes of rescues, some coming after the fliers were in the water for days. Great stuff.

What is not revealed in this pamphlet is that the RAF had no rescue system or plans for one in development at the beginning of the war. In fact, there was no rescue system during the Battle of Britain whereas the Germans did have a rescue service combining amphibian planes and fast motor launches to pull downed pilots from the cold Channel to fly & fight another day.… (meer)