Air Sea Rescue – Lincolnshire
22 Air Sea Rescue Unit - 22 Motor Launch Unit – 22 Marine Craft Unit
These Units were established in August 1939 and disbanded in December 1945. In the early stages of WW2 they were based at Grimsby. From October 1940 the 22 Air Sea Rescue Unit moved the Immingham Dock where they remained till December 1945. Immingham was a more suitable location with deeper water which enabled the boats to operate at all states of the tide and 24 hours a day.
I am not clear as to the difference between 22 Motor Launch Unit and 22 Marine Craft Unit
Be that as it may it appears that the 22 Motor Launch Unit was based at Grimsby throughout World War II and 22 Marine Craft Unit was part of 16 Group Coastal Command with similar Units further up the coast at Blyth and Bridlington.
Pre war
On 16 Dec 1937 a Mk1 High Speed Launch HSL 103 was sent from RAF Calshot to RAF North Coates. Prior to the numbering of wartime Air Sea Rescue Units launches were allocated to RAF Stations but HSL 103 was based at nearby at Grimsby.
Air Sea Rescue Launch HSL 102 restored
1939
The base at Grimsby, designated No 22 ASRU, was established in August 1939 under the control of RAF North Coates and a second Mk 1 HSL 111 was allotted to the unit.
1940
In October 1940 the next batch of boats to arrive at 22 ASRU were the British Power Boat Company's 63ft Mk 2 Whaleback HSLs 141, 142, and 144 . In the early stages of the war RAF rescue craft were unarmed. Light armament was soon added when these craft came under attack from German aircraft. In late 1940 HSL 111 was damaged by enemy action and later struck off charge
Air Sea Rescue HSL Launch cutaway
1941
1941 In November 1941 HSL 103 left Grimsby to return returning to Calshot.
278 Sqn sent a detached flight to RAF North Coates in Nov 1941 to carry out air-sea rescue operations; equipped with Westland Lysander Air Sea Rescue aircraft to operate in conjunction with 22 MCU.
Westland Lysander ASR
1942
By May 1942, HSL 141 had left the unit and was replaced by 3 more Mk 2 Whaleback HSLs 131,139, and 188. The unit was very active during 1942 operating on a regular basis in all weathers
1943
In March 1943 the 63ft Whaleback HSLs 2559, 2560 together with the much larger British Power Boat Mk 3 type of 68ft HSL, 2579 arrived to replace 131, 144, and 188. These were supplemented in June 1942 by HSL 2594 and a Thornycroft HSL 2503.
By Dec 1943 they had been joined by Mk 3 HSLs 2677 and 2678.
Throughout the year the unit's boats were replaced with other newer and larger craft better suited to the harsh and unpredictable North Sea weather.
1943 was another busy year for the unit with about 66 call outs involving approx 550 hours at sea
Air Sea Rescue Launch HSL 2576
1944
In 1944 the much larger Vosper HSLs 2571, 2572 and 2573 arrived at 22 ASRU. Although slower with a top speed of 24.5 knots on main engines they could also cruise on auxiliaries thus increasing their range.
These three were again replaced later that year by three more Vospers 2574, 2576 and 2578. Two Thornycrofts also joined them, 2612 and 2664 and in October the HSL 125 was transferred from RAF Gorleston, Yarmouth. By 22 Oct 1944 22 ASRU was a six boat base
From 1 May 1944 to 6 September 1944 280 Squadron RAF with Vickers Warwick I equipped for the ASR roll carrying airborne lifeboats were stationed at RAF Strubby in Lincolnshire.
Vickers Warwick with Airborne Lifeboat
1945
1945 saw a significant reduction in call outs as the Allies began to advance into Germany with damaged aircraft now able to land in Allied held territory. No new boats arrived at 22 ASRU during 1945 and the Unit was finally disbanded on the 16 Dec 1945.
However in July 1947 1110 Marine Craft Unit took up the ASR role at Grimsby/Immingham where they remained until February 1958.
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103 Squadron Ditching Rescues
There are only three 103 Squadron crews that survived a ditching and were rescued :-
02-Aug-41 – Hamburg – Wellington – X3204 - Sgt RK Kitney - Ditched on return - Short of fuel on return. Ditched in North Sea 40 miles from Humber. Rescued up by naval launch. Probably an HSL from Immingham
10-Feb-41 – Hanover – Wellington – T2610 – Sgt WR Crich - Return - Port engine failed. Ditched off east coast. Crew rescued by Danish freighter in passing convoy
13-Apr-43 - La Spezia – Lancaster – W4318 – Sgt JS Stoneman - Ditched on return - Hit by flak twice. Ditched in Channel 50 miles off Falmouth due to shortage of fuel. Rescued by a naval vessel.
There were no 576 Squadron crews that were rescued after ditching
Air Sea Rescue Launch HSL 128
Air Sea Rescue Launch HSL 185
Air Sea Rescue Launch HSL 2586 Thornycroft
Compiled by David Fell. Photos from a variety of sources
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