During World War 2, both the RAF and the Luftwaffe lost a large number of pilots at sea.
The Germans used the Heinkel He 59 float planes that could land on water, in addition to boats.
The German sea rescue service, orSeenotdienst, was more successful than the Allied effort.
They also enlisted the help of local rescue societies to increase their reach.
TheSeenotdienstwas a humanitarian service that did not discriminate between pilots belonging to the Luftwaffe and the enemy air force.
British airplanes carried no such thing.
Their fighters carried only lifejackets which were little help against the cold.
In 1940, the Luftwaffe developed a floating rescue buoy calledRettungsbojeand anchored several of these on the English Channel.
TheRettungsbojewere square or hexagonal in shape with a floor space of about 43 square feet.
The buoy was anchored to the bottom of the sea by a rope.
Over fifty of these buoys were placed in the English Channel during 1940.
The cabin had room for four persons, but in an emergency several more could cram inside.
Batteries powered electrical lights, and if those ran out, kerosene lamps took over.
Food could also be prepared on a alcohol stove.
Games, stationery, playing cards, etc.
afforded diversion until rescue was effected.
A radio transmitter allowed the stranded airmen to send out SOS signals.
Many of these buoys became dislodged from their anchor and got stranded on the beach.
By spring of 1943, the British had four squadrons each with twenty aircrafts dedicated to air-rescue.
