 Helicopters were first introduced to the role of air-sea rescue in the 1940s.The United States Coast Guard (USCG) was the first agency to evaluate the potential of helicopter rescue assistance, beginning in 1938.USCG Commander William J. Kossler witnessed a helicopter demonstration flight by Igor Sikorsky, flying the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, equipped with pontoons for water landings and at once saw the advantages of helicopter-equipped search and rescue squadrons.