Air Sea Rescue

The Royal Air Force maintains a round the clock, year round search and rescue service covering the United Kingdom and a large area of the surrounding sea. When a scramble call comes in, whether it is a ship in distress, military or civilian air crews in trouble, a climber lost on a snow covered mountain-side or a fire on an oil rig, RAF Rescue is there to provide assistance, day or night and whatever the conditions. This programme traces the origins of the rescue service from World War One until recent times, from the Flying Boats through to the sophisticated helicopters now in service, including Real Life footage of dramatic and dangerous rescues recorded on film by the rescue teams.