Rescue boats during the battle of England (September 1940)

[Platon Alexiades]

A number of rescue boats were stationed in the Channel during the Battle of England. Their mission was to pick up Luftwaffe pilots who were shot down in the sea. Is there any information on which boats were involved and any details on them? Were they under the control of the Luftwaffe or the Kriegsmarine? Finally, did they carry Enigma coding machines?

I believe they were probably just equipped with a shortwave radio but I may be wrong?

Many thanks.

Platon

[Urs Heßling]

hello, Platon,

Their mission was to pick up Luftwaffe pilots who were shot down in the sea.

I venture to say that their mission was to pick up all airmen regardless of nation, not only Luftwaffe pilots ... and they did

Is there any information on which boats were involved and any details on them?

Thanks to our member redfort , there is this : Seenotdienst Kanal

greetings, Urs

[Platon Alexiades]

Hello Urs,

Many thanks for the quick answer! Regarding the size of most rescue boats (10-20 GRT range), I suspect that that any idea by the British to pinch an Enigma machine from one of them would have been fruitless.

Best regards,

Platon