An He 59 of the German air rescue service, spotted perhaps during the invasion of Denmark and Norway. The picture was supposedly taken in Aabenraa, the photographer's home town, but the background does not seem to match. Photo by: T Christesen / National Museum of Denmark

Rescue demonstration by He 59s of the paramilitary Seenotdienst, presumably near their base on Norderney Island. D-AGUI is c/n 1511. The obsolete biplanes were converted to He 59N rescue aircraft by the Bachmann company in Ribnitz. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

He 59 rescue aircraft of Seenotstaffel 9 was forced down by friendly flak. There is a large hole in the upper wing. Photo by: E Mäkinen / SA-kuva

A rescue aircraft of the Seenotdienst (literally, sea emergency service) at Schellingwoude, near Amsterdam. Until 25 November 1940 this was a paramilitary organisation, hence the civil registration and the so-called Reichsdienst flag on the tailfin. A He 115 is on the left.

The last picture of a floatplane. The photo source is positive that this vist to Vlissingen (Flushing) took place on 30 June 1940. The paramilitary Seenotdienst plane departed at 6 pm and the next morning at 3 am it left Norderney, Germany to be shot down by Spitfires off Hartlepool while searching for an He 115 crew. Photo from: Gemeentearchief Vlissingen

'On 30 June 1940 at 1100 h the Heinkel seaplane D-ASAM landed on the bathing beach in front of Boulevard Evertsen. At 1800 h it took off again.' Photo 204659 confirms that it is indeed D-ASAM and if the date is correct, it is seen here one day before becoming the first Seenotdienst (sea emergency service) He 59 to be shot down by the Royal Air Force, despite the Red Cross markings. Britain argued ambulance aircraft were not covered by the Geneva Convention. Photo from: Gemeentearchief Vlissingen