Weymouth, Dorset.—At 9.20 P.M.

* on the 14th October, 1939, the coastguard reported that the Shambles Lightship had fired guns and rockets.

A strong E. wind was blowing, with a moderate sea and rain. At 10 P.M. the motor life-boat William and Clara Ryland was launched, and learnt from the lightship that an aeroplane had come down two miles to the north-east.

The lightship's boat had already put off to the rescue, manned by four men.

The life-boat found this boat two miles away. She had already succeeded in rescuing the crew of four of the aeroplane —a very fine piece of work in the darkness and rain with a strong wind blowing—and was putting them aboard a destroyer. She was herself waterlogged, so the life-boat took on board the four men and brought them back to the lightship, returning to her station at 2.15 A.M.—Rewards, £13 2*. Qd..