RAF AIR SEA Rescue HSL Chronicles

This is a collection of anecdotes, recollections and reports of the brave crews of the RAF Air Sea Rescue High Speed Launches during WWII.

These crews operated wherever the RAF and her allies flew over seas and oceans and provided a vital rescue service for aircrew who had to ‘ditch’ so that they were rescued as soon as possible.

The crews would turn out in all weathers and their primary objective was not only to obviously save lives but also to get the aircrew back to their bases as soon as possible, so they could continue their vital efforts in the war against the Axis powers. A fast recovery service was also important to prevent aircrew from suffering from hypothermia once in the sea.

The areas the RAF Air Sea Rescue HSLs operated in were extensive, not just in the coastal areas around the UK, but also in the Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia.