In 1941 the Air Ministry asked the Institution if it could open more stations on the west coast of Ireland for the help of aeroplanes which were forced down by bad weather, failure of fuel or injury in battle, as they flew in from the Atlantic.

Since Eire was a neutral country the Air Force could not place its own rescuelaunches on her coasts, but the life-boats in Eire were part of the single life-boat fleet of the British Isles, and the Institution was able, with the consent of the Eirean Government, to do what the Air Ministry asked of it.

In August, 1941, it opened a new station at Killybegs, County Donegal, placing there a motor life-boat from its reserve fleet.

Next year it opened ten more stations on the west coast of Eire, and others on the west coasts of England, Scotland and Wales. By the spring of 1944 there were forty new stations.

Life-boats from the reserve fleet could not be spared for these stations, except Killybegs, and it was impossible to build new boats. Instead the Institution equipped motor fishing boats, paid their skippers retaining fees, and rewarded them and their crews for all launches to the help of ships or aeroplanes in distress as if they had been life-boatmen. These boats were known as auxiliary rescueboats.

The auxiliary rescue-boat stations were closed shortly after the war ended.

The last to be closed was Valentia, in November, 1946. The geographical distribution of the auxiliary rescue-boat stations was as follows : England.

Heysham, Lancashire.

Millom, Cumberland.

Puckaster Cove, Isle of Wight.

Scotland.

Ardfern, Argyllshire.

Badachro, Gairloch.

Carloway, Isle of Lewis.

Helmsdale, Sutherland.

Isle of Whithorn, Wigtownshire.

Lochinver, Sutherland.

Lossiemouth, Elginshire.

Lybster, Caithness-shire.

Mallaig, Inverness-shire.

Muasdale, Cantyre ; Argyllshire.

Portmahomack, Ross-shire.

Portree, Isle of Skye.

Scalasaig, Colonsay.

Scalpay, Inverness-shire.

Scourie, Sutherland.

Shieldaig, Ross-shire.

Southend, Cantyre ; Argyllshire.

Staffin, Isle of Skye.

Ullapool, Cromarty.

Wales.

Aberdovey, Merionethshire.

Amlwch, Anglesey.

Llanerchymor, Flintshire.

Port Madoc, Caernarvonshire.

E i r e Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry.

Blacksod, Co. Mayo.

Castletownbere, Co. Cork.

Courtown, Co. Wexford.

Dingle, Co. Kerry.

Downings, Co. Donegal.

Gola Island, Co. Donegal.

Inishbofin, Co. Galway.

Malin Head, Co. Donegal.

Meenlaragh, Co. Donegal.

Teelin, Co. Donegal.

Tory Island, Co. Donegal.

Valentia, Co. Kerry..