U-boat rescues and rescue buoys
 

Were these buoys successful for the Luftwaffe and how often did U-boats manage to pluck their flying allies from the sea?

http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/t...-udet-buoy.jpg

Nah, they were really never practical, and U-boats had very little involvement in air rescue, mostly because that took place in areas where U-boats were very unlikely to be (e.g. the channel). This was only compounded by the fact that the Luftwaffe lacked true long-ranged aircraft, and Goering refused to properly cooperate with the Kriegsmarine and more or less intentionally kept his aircraft from maritime operations.

I know that they were used early in the battle of Britain but it was mostly Luftwaffe sea rescue craft that would land and pick them up.

Later in the battle the R.A.F. would strafe them and sink them so they didn't last too long.

Can you imagine being inside that thing, bobbing in the channel with 2 or 3 others? You'd be ankle deep in vomit.

A massive failure :DL

Better than bobbing in the ocean with only your flight suit and life jacket protecting you from the elements and keeping you afloat.

(rolls eyes). Obviously. Was just noting that the rig seems designed to cause motion sickness.

What were the odds of even landing parachute wise near one of those things ?

EWW! God, that's a horrible thought...:dead:

Meh, been ankle deep in worse, multiple times.

Im sure they had a door to puke out of, If you puked inside your just lazy! And many of Messerschmitt's ran out of fuel on their return flight so ditching next to one wouldn't be that far fetched

As far as I read, many times the British would also come to "collect" the occupants.

better than being dead though. In latter parts of the war preferable to going home for some.

Certainly preferable to being sent to the eastern front as a result of your failings on the western front.