Whitby No 1, and Runswick, York- shire.—18th October, 1939. The coastguard reported a vessel firing signals six miles north of Whitby. A moderate N.E. wind was blowing with a choppy sea. At 7.45 P.M. the motor life-boat was launched. The night was very dark, and there was danger from floating mines. The life-boat searched without result, and returned to her station at 9.30 P.M. News of the signals had also been received at Runswick, and at 8.10 P.M. the motor life-boat was launched. She also failed to find any vessel in need of help, and returned to her station at 11 P.M.

Later it was learned that the signals had been made by the crew of a German bombing aeroplane. She had been shot down two days before, and two of her crew of four had been killed. The other two, one severely injured in the leg, had taken to their rubber collapsible boat on the evening of 17th October. They came ashore at Whitby on the morning of the 19th, having been afloat for thirty-six hours. They believed them- selves to be in the Fiiih of Forth.— Rewards: Whitby, £14 2s.; Runswick, £30 16s..