P47 Thunderbolt Sea-Air Rescue equipment

May 1944: An old P-47 Razorback armed with lifeboats and smoke markers circles above a ditched B-17 crew - the USAAF Air Sea Rescue unit detachment B of the 65th fighter wing, later known as the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron was born.

In May 1944, members of the RAF and the 8th Air Force, USAAF consulted about an Air Sea Rescue unit. As a result, detachment “B” of the 65th fighter wing, led by Captain Bob Gerhart, was formed. With 25 pilots, ground crew and basic equipment. Stationed at Boxted UK, two P-47 Thunderbolts accompanied each of the USAAF heavy bombers flying over the channel and responded to distress calls from the bomber crews involved. One of the Jugs flew to the named position and circled over the accident site. Dinghies and smoke markers, mounted under the wings, could be dropped to assist. The second P-47 continued to accompany the bombers to respond to further calls for help.

When Catalinas became available, the unit was moved to Halesworth and officially designated to 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron.

In total, more than 900 crew members were said to have been rescued by the 5thers.

The unit initially had no aircraft at its disposal. Col. Hub Zemke, commander of 56^th FG (“Zemke’s Wolf Pack”), donated war-weary Thunderbolts that were no longer suitable for combat use.

This conversion set includes 2 underwing dingy packs and one smokemarker carrier with flares.

No decals