LERWICK'S 27 HOURS' SEARCH.

Lerwick, and Aith, Shetlands.—4th October, 1939. In the morning a Royal Air Force aeroplane came down on the sea about twenty-five miles N.E.

of the N.E. corner of Unst Island, and a pinnace went out to her help. On the following day at 5.10 P.M. the Air Wing- Commander asked through the Senior Naval Officer that the life-boat should search for the pinnace which had not returned. A whole S.E. gale was blowing, with a very heavy sea. The night was cold and very dark. The Aith motor life-boat was asked to keep a wireless watch and the Lerwick motor life-boat, Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched at 5.50 P.M. The weather was too bad for aeroplanes to take part in the search. The life-boat searched all the night, without finding the pinnace and was recalled by wireless from Aith at 8.20 A.M. the following morning, 6th October. She arrived back at 2.50 P.M. on that day. She had been out for twenty-one hours.

Meanwhile, at 11.45 A.M. on the same day, 6th October, the coastguard had re- ported to the Aith life-boat station that the pinnace had been seen several miles off Flugga. The North Unst Light- house undertook to act as shore radio station, and as efforts to get into touch with the Lerwick boat failed, the Aith motor life-boat The Rankin was launched at 12.5 P.M. After a sixty miles run she began her search, but without result. By arrangement the life-boat was recalled at 8 A.M. on the morning of the 7th October, as Admir- alty craft and the Royal Air Force had started an extensive search. The life- boat reached her station at 3.30 P.M.

She had been out for over twenty-seven hours. The aeroplane which was the cause of the launches was found and towed to safety, and the pinnace eventually arrived at Lerwick on the 8th October, after having been seen by an aeroplane ninety miles off the land.— Rewards: Lerwick, £20 14*.; Aith, £26 ISs..