Lerwick, Shetlands.—At 12.20 in the afternoon of the 23rd of July, 1948, the coastguard telephoned that a Lancaster bomber, which had a crew of eight, was in distress forty-six miles south-east of Kirkabister Lighthouse. At 3.19 the coastguard reported that a rubber dinghy had "been seen forty-eight miles south-east of the lighthouse and that No.

18 Group Royal Air Force had asked for the services of the life-boat. The motor life-boat Lady Jane and Martha Ryland was launched at 3.40 in a fresh west- south-west breeze with a choppy sea, and an aeroplane guided her. In the meantime a Sea Otter seaplane had landed on the sea and rescued the men from the dinghy, but could not take off again, and H.M.S. Welcome, which was already at sea, arrived just before the life-boat, took the Sea Otter in tow, and took the eight rescued men on board. As she was not needed the life- boat returned to her station, arriving at 2.25 the next morning. Head- quarters No. 18 Group, R.A.F., sent their thanks to the life-boat station.— Rewards, £22. (See Page 199.).