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Travel Bag
Details
- Canvas 400 gr/m2
- Size 55 x 32 x 15 cm
- Khaki
Tony's 5th E.R.S bag
€229.00
Tax included
Travel Bag
Details
- Canvas 400 gr/m2
- Size 55 x 32 x 15 cm
- Khaki
Livraison et retour
Guide des tailles
During World War II, the RAF developed an Air Sea Rescue system to recover the crews of fighters and bombers that fell in the English Channel. This operation was based on a collaboration between planes and ships that relayed the position of a crew, and then boats and seaplanes from Walrus alerted the crew and headed for the reported position to recover the men. In 1943, when the US Army Air Corps began to lose crews at sea, it decided to set up its own air-sea rescue operation.
On 8 May 1944, representatives of the RAF and the 8th Air Force decided that the 65th Fighter Wing would be responsible for sea rescue.
Aircraft, mechanics, pilots and all necessary equipment were borrowed from other fighter groups. Mainly made up of "War Weary" aircraft and based at Boxted airfield in North-East London, the 5th ERS started to operate with 90 men including 25 pilots from 16 different units with no hangar and almost no tools, however, only one week after the creation of the unit, the "B" Detachment of the 65th Fighter Wing flew its first mission.
Following a bomber formation, two P-47 "Thunderbolts" of the RHS took off from Boxted. The planes followed the bombers on the Chanel, listening for any distress call. When a call for help came in, a P-47 would orbit the crash site. The fighter would drop flares or a small dinghy, then return to base to refuel and be replaced by another P-47. The other original Thunderbolt would remain on standby in case any other incidents occurred. So, all the time that bomber formations were flying over the English Channel, there were two P-47s in the air keeping watch.
The planes were identified by red, white and blue striped noses and yellow striped tails. The group's radio call sign was "Teamwork." The pilots were given the nickname "Seagulls." Later, the group would receive Catalina seaplanes to assist in rescues.
In total, 938 men were rescued by this unit.
