In the House of Commons in April the Secretary of State for Defence was asked how many times in the last three years the helicopter then at Manston, Kent, had been used to assist in sea rescue operations, and how many people had been rescued by it.

The reply was that fully detailed records were available only for the two years to 31st March, 1969. During this period Manston helicopters took part in sea rescue operations on 100 occasions and 47 people were brought ashore. The following is an analysis of these incidents: A'—Use of a helicopter probably essential for the saving of life (8 lives involved) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 B—Helicopter used to bring people ashore, but this not essential for the saving of life (39 people involved) .. .. .. .. ..16 C—Rescue already effected by other means .. .. .. .. .. 22 D—Other rescue facilities available when the helicopter arrived and no rescue action therefore required .. .. .. .. ..11 E—People believed to be in danger but not so when helicopter arrived 20 F—Drifting wreckage or empty boats adrift .. .. .. .. 5 G—Abortive searches .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 H—False alarms .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 I—Malicious hoaxes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 100 In 1966, when the question of air/sea and mountain rescue units was raised in the House of Commons, it was reported that about 85 per cent, of those rescued were civilians. 'The helicopter organisation, the marine craft units and the mountain rescue teams exist to meet Service requirements, and the assis- tance they give to the general public is generally speaking ... a by-product, although a very large one.'.