Torbay, Devon. At 2.10 on the morn- ing of the 20th of March,1961, the coast- guard informed the honorary secretary that a 30-feet ex R.A.F. launch with two men on board was overdue on a passage from Portland to Torquay and that he had arranged for an air search at first light. At five o'clock the honorary secre- tary decided to launch the life-boat Prin- cess Alexandra of Kent. When she put out at 5.20 there was a light north-north- easterly breeze with a choppy sea and it was just after low water. The coxswain, appreciating that the launch would have drifted seawards if her engine had failed, set a course for Berry Head. Two hours later Beer coastguard reported a vessel resembling the launch five to six miles off Beer Head, and the coxswain altered course accordingly. Shortly after the position had been amended a Shackle- ton aircraft, taking part in the search, dropped a flare to indicate the where- abouts of the casualty. At 8.25 the life- boat went alongside the launch and found that she had engine trouble and that her crew had effected temporary re- pairs. The life-boat escorted the launch on her way to Torquay, but during the passage the engine again failed and the launch was taken in tow for the final seven miles. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.40..