Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 10.6 on the morning of the 20th of July, 1952, the coastguard telephoned that No. 18 Group, Royal Air Force, at Inver- keithing had reported that an air search was being made off Whitby for a missing Meteor aircraft. At 10.45 a message from Northallerton stated that a vessel had picked up part of an aircraft three miles south-east of Whitby. At 11.0 the No. 1 life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched, with the second coxswain in charge.

She searched widely in a calm sea, with a light south-westerly breeze blowing, in company with H.M. trawler Bernicia.

The trawler picked up the body of a pilot, which was taken on board the life-boat. The life-boat then resumed the search, but found nothing and reached her station again at 1.20 in the afternoon. At 1.30 the coast- guard reported that aircraft were dropping smoke flares three miles east by north of Whitby, and twelve min- utes later the life-boat was again launched. She searched in company with the trawler, but found nothing.

At 4.30 the search was abandoned, and the life-boat reached her station at 5.47 that evening. The Scar- borough life-boat was also launched, but was not needed.—Rewards, 1st service, £8 17s. 6d.; 2nd service, £12 8s. 6d..