SEARCHING FOR AIRMEN Margate, and Ramsgate, Kent. — Shortly after 7.30 on the night of the 20th of November, 1947, the R.A.F. at Manston reported to the coastguard that a Wellington aeroplane was down in the sea north-east of North Foreland.

The Margate motor life-boat, Lord Southborough, Civil Service No. 1, was launched at 8.28 with the bowman in charge, and the pilot boat, which was at sea, with the life-boat's second cox- swain on board, joined in the search.

A moderate south-westerly breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. The in- formation had also been given by the coastguard to Ramsgate, and at 8.10 the motor life-boat Prudential had put out. A second report indicated that the aeroplane might have crashed off Birchington, and a wireless message was sent to the Margate life-boat to cruise in that area. About 9 o'clock she saw red flares near Margate Sands Beacon. Then, by the light of flares dropped by aircraft, she saw men in a rubber dinghy. She could not get to them owing to the shallow water on the sands, so signalled H.M.S. Franklin to send a small boat. This boat, piloted by a life-boatman, and held in the beam of the Margate pilot boat's searchlight, rescued four airmen and took them to the Franklin. The life- boat got back to her station at 2.30 the following morning.

In the meantime the Ramsgate life-boat, having searched and found nothing, spoke the North Goodwin Light-vessel and learned of the rescue, but as one 'man was reported still missing she made a further, but fruit- less, search before returning to her station at 2.10 next morning. A letter of thanks was sent to the Margate coxswain by the Royal Air Force.— Rewards, Margate, "£26 1*5. 6d.; Ramsgate, £18 15*. 6d..