Given this situation, flight controllers in the South were ordered not to vector aircraft over the channel. This contributed to a reduction in the loss of airmen by drowning. Not only were fighter pilots lost at sea but also returning bomber crews. On 22 August 1940, an emergency meeting was held under the chairmanship of Air Marshal Harris from Bomber Command to address the shortcomings of the Air Sea Rescue service. This set in motion the development of a dedicated Air Sea Rescue Service which only came into effect in February 1941 when a Rescue Directorate was established. Once again operationalizing the service took a long time and it was only operational by the end of 1941. The service rapidly expanded and many airmen who otherwise would have certainly drowned were rescued. Elsewhere several Air Sea Rescue Squadrons were formed for service. These include 282 Squadron that was formed on 01 January 1943 and operated initially from Scotland and later from South-west England and 283 Squadron who was formed on 11 February 1943 and provided cover for most parts of the Mediterranean. Unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 October 1953. MALTA MEMORIAL The Malta Memorial commemorates 2 291 airmen who lost their lives during the Second World War whilst serving with the Commonwealth Air Forces flying from bases in Austria, Italy, Sicily, islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, West Africa, Yugoslavia and Gibraltar, and who have no known grave. 172 of those commemorated are South Africans. The Memorial was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 3 May 1954. OBITUARIES BENONI Lgr Deek Fishwick BLOEMFONTEIN Lgr JJ Rogers CAPE TOWN Lgr S.T. Ireland DURBAN Lgr Bev van Niekerk EAST LONDON Lgr Philllip Sorrenson.
National President. Phil Sorensen was one of the "Triple Pillars" of the East London Branch. The other two pillars (the late, great Dave
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Attendees at the funeral of Lgr Syd Ireland, Lgr’s Pierre Fourie, Johan Johnson and William Roberts.
