Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Aberyst- wyth, Cardiganshire, Barmouth, Meri- onethshire, and Pwllheli, Caernarvon- shire.

At 3.19 in the afternoon of the 5th of May, 1952, the Fishguard coast- guard telephoned to the Fishguard life-boat station a call from No. 19 Group R.A.F., at Plymouth, that a pilot of a Meteor aeroplane was baling out six miles east of Strumble Head.

A little later the position was given as Newport Bay, and at 3.50 the life-boat M.O.Y.E., on temporary duty at the station, was launched, and went in search of the pilot. A light south- westerly breeze was blowing, and the sea was smooth.

At four o'clock the New Quay coastguard informed the Aberystwyth life-boat station, giving the airman's position as about seventeen miles west of Aberystwyth. The life-boat- men assembled, but the life-boat Aguila Wren was not launched at once because other vague positions were given. At 4.35 the R.A.F. at Pem- broke Dock said that the position was between Strumble Head and Newport, but could not confirm it. At 7.30 the Fishguard life-boat, which had found nothing, was recalled and reached her station again at nine o'clock that night. At 7.55 the Tenby coastguard asked for the Aberystwyth life-boat saying that the aeroplane appeared to be off Towyn, and at 8.17 the Aguila Wren was launched.

Meanwhile, at 6.33, the Barmouth coastguard had passed to the Bar- mouth life-boat station a message from the Air Traffic Control at Preston that the pilot had baled out near Towyn.

The coastguard later gave the position as between one and two miles off Towyn, and at 7.55 the life-boat The Chieftain put out, with the second coxswain in command.

At 8.4 the Holyhead coastguard told the Pwllheli life-boat station that the area of search had moved towards Pwllheli. He gave a position four miles south-south-east of Pwllheli, and at 8.20 the life-boat Manchester and Salford XXIX was launched. She found nothing. No trace of the pilot or aeroplane was found by the Aber- ystwyth and Barmouth life-boats, and all the life-boats were recalled to their stations at dusk. Barmouth arrived at 11.30 that night, Pwllheli at 11.45 and Aberyswyth at 11.50. The New Quay honorary secretary had sent out two shore boats in the afternoon.

They too had found nothing. Five days later, on the 10th of May, thebody of the pilot was found on Abererch beach. — Rewards: Fish- guard, £12 6s.; Aberystwyth, £16 8*.; Barmouth, £10 Is.; Pwllheli, £8 Is..