The defeat of Germany's air attack on this country in the autumn of 1940, known as the Battle of Britain, lasted, according to the official accounts, from August 8th. to October 31st. During these 85 days life-boats were launched to the rescue 264 times. Of these launches 131, or nearly half were to aircraft down in the sea.

The busiest period of the battle for life-boats was the first 29 days, from August 8th. to September 5th. During those days there were 76 launches to aircraft out of a total of 118 launches.

One hundred of the 131 launches were on the east, south-east and south coasts, from Skegness, Lincolnshire, where there were five, to Weymouth, Dorset, where there were four. The other 31 launches were at widely scattered parts, on the east coast of Scotland, in the north east of England, in Devon in Wales, on the Mersey, in the Isle of Man, and on the cast coast of Eire, where there was one launch.

The stations which put out most often to aircraft were Selsey, with 15 launches, and Margate, with 14.

As the result of these launches during the Battle of Britain 10 British and 8 German airmen were rescued..