6th February 1941 – the Sea Rescues Directorate (soon renamed ‘Air/Sea Rescue Services’) is formed responsible for co-ordinating all searches for aircraft and crew, for the development and dropping of equipment to located aircrew to increase chance of survival until rescue, provision of marine craft to effect rescues and training of aircrew in how to survive ditching. The Directorate had Sea Rescue Officers attached to each of the four Coastal Command Groups..4 coastal command group picture