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A Royal Air Force Rescue Launch

Anstruther, Fifeshlre. — About two o'clock on the afternoon of the 15th of December, 1955, the coastguard rang up to say that a Royal Air Force rescue launch had picked up a badly injured airman from an R.A.F. heli- copter, which during a training flight from Leuchars with a crew of two had crashed after hitting Bell Rock light- house. The launch was making for Anstrutlier, and the R.A.F. had asked if a doctor could be taken to her. At 2.15 the life-boat James and Ruby Jackson put out, with a doctor on board, and searched for the R.A.F.

launch in a heavy swell. There was a light south-westerly breeze, and the tide was flooding. The life-boat found the launch off Crail and put the doctor and a member of the life-boat crew aboard. The launch went to Anstru- ther, where an ambulance was waiting, arriving about three o'clock, but the airman died. The life-boat returned to her station, which she reached again at four o'clock. The Arbroath and Montrose life-boats and two heli- copters searched for the other man, but did not find him.—Rewards to the crew, £9; rewards to the helpers on shore, etc., £10 14s..