Rescue Buoys

[Durand]

Hallo,

As I understand it, the Germans deployed rescue buoys along the Atlantic and Channel coasts of France beginning during the summer of 1940. The buoys ("Rettungsbojen Generalluftzeugmeister" and called by the British "Lobster Pots") were anchored at various locations to be used by Luftwaffe pilots who came down over the channel. I have read that the buoys contained up to four bunks. Were any other provisions stored on them? How many airmen were saved by using these buoys? How many buoys were deployed and were they used beyond 1940? Can anyone please provide photos of these "Rettungsbojen"?

Regards,

Durand

[Navy]

The correct number of produced buoys is not known. I only read that there was a bouy with the Nr.62 stranded on Vlieland (12.1940).
Inside this buoys there were 4 bunks, Food, fresh water, signal gadget, clothings, a wooden hammer and stoppers (to close holes from a gun), a pump and some other things.
How many pilots?; I dont know.
By the way, they are also called "Udet-Boje"

Navy

[Korbius]

These Rettungsbojen sound really interesting, hopefully somebody posts a pic of it. I bet that they served to the downed British pilots as well.

[Dan Reinbold]

I knew I had a picture of one of the "rescue buoys"...it is from the Time Life series on WWII - The Battle of Britain.

Cheers....

Dan

[kobold]

one of these bouys featured in an old black and white movie
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) .


an allied bomber crew is shot down and is helped by the dutch resistance.
they finally get away in a small boat and hide in one of the german bouys, where they find a couple of german pilots waiting to be rescued also!
They take the germans prisoner and radio for help.
The british turn up and take the bouy in tow as one fo the british is badly wounded and hey cant move him up the bouy's ladder.



dave

[Durand]

Hallo,

My thanks to all who contributed. Dan, the photo is great.

Does anybody know how far the buoy extended below the waterline?

Regards,

Durand

[moses]

this is interesting stuff, i had never heard of it before

any more photos, particularly of the inside?

how far off the coast were they anchored?

[Navy]

The bouys were coulered light grey under water and yellow over the water line. On the tower they had four red crosses on white ground and the words "Rettungsboje Generalluftzeugmeister Nr. ..".
Since Mai 1941 the four red crosses changed to red squares on white ground with the same text. That was a sign becouse the bouys are not under the protection of the Geneve Convention.

Navy

[Chrissie j]

Hi ya does anyone know what the actual sizes are or thave a drawing for this float so I can make a 1:24th scale model to accompany my RAF Cuckoo float.

Thanks again

Chris