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RAF Air/Sea Rescue & Marine Craft Section
1940 to 1944
From 1940 to 1944 the RAF operated an Air/Sea Rescue and Marine Craft Section with the key task of saving pilots and aircrew shot down in the waters around Malta. They operated from St Paul's Bay, covering northern searches, Sliema (the Strand) covering north of Grand Harbour, and Kalafrana, covering the southern sector. In total 273 people were picked up from the sea, unfortunately not all of them survived their accident. Not only did the ASR pick-up Allied airmen but also Axis airmen.
![]() Model of High Speed Launch 128 |
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![]() HSL 107 at speed |
![]() Scoreboard (pick-ups) for HSL107 |
![]() Origin of Scoreboard for HSL107 displayed in the UK |
![]() Scoreboard for HSL107 in the UK |
![]() HSL 128 at speed |
![]() Scoreboard (pick-ups) for HSL128 |
![]() Kalafrana South Slip in 1927 |
![]() Kalafrana North Slip in 1927 |
![]() Kalafrana aerial view |
![]() Kalafrana aerial view |
![]() ASRP1235 on the slip at Kalafrana |
![]() HSL166 on the slipway at Kalafrana |
![]() HSL100 berthed at the Sliema (the Strand) Base |
![]() Props and rudders, the business end! |

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