19th July 1940
Still only 14 launches in service. In just three weeks over 220 aircrew were killed or missing, the majority over the sea. As a result Vice Admiral Dover and AOC 11 Group formed a local ‘combined service’ involving the RAF, Navy and Lysander planes borrowed from the Army. This was formalised in August as a ‘Sea Rescue Organisation’ with Navy operating rescue craft and the RAF the search planes. Where possible the Walrus seaplane was also used to pick up survivors.