AFTER a fortnight of incessant rain, the weather changed for the better, and on 17th July, 1972, everything seemed set fair for a successful lifeboat week. The piece de resistance was to be a display by a Royal Navy helicopter from No.

771 Squadron, H.M.S. Osprey, Portland, in conjunction with our ILB. This was to take place on the Wednesday afternoon, operations and weather permitting, and the details were worked out between an officer from the squadron and Mr. Peter Gill, our first helmsman.

It was a fine day and Lyme Regis was crowded with holiday makers, many of whom had assembled on the north wall of the Cobb, fromwhich vantage area they could watch the display at close quarters. Our own crew consisted of three very experienced members, Mr. Gill, Mr.

Brian Miller and Mr. John Chase.

Purpose of the demonstration was to show the need for close co-operation between helicopters * This interesting report was sent in by Major-General K. W.

Jelf, C.B.E., honorary secretary of the Lyme Regis ILB, which is a Dell Quay dory type.and life-boats. To mark the conclusion, the helicopter flew eastwards across the harbour towards the life-boat, which was standing off about 100 yards from the wall. It was then to have fired a flare and released a streamer, before flying off to its base at Portland.

As it approached at a height of about 40 feet, suddenly above the noise of the life-boat engines, a slight change of note was heard in one of its engines. Mr. Gill immediately slammed down both throttles and, seconds later, the helicopter pancaked into the sea, throwing up great clouds of spray as the rotor arms thrashed through the water. When the rotors finally stopped, the ILB crew found themselves within 15 feet of the machine.

As soon as they could sum up the situation, they picked up two members of the helicopter crew from the water and two from the cabin, leaving the captain on board at the controls.

They then attached a line to the tail of the aircraft, which was sinking, and towed it, stern first, for about 200 yards, to beach it on a sandy bottom.

Before long two relief helicopters arrived from Portland. These collected the crews and retrieved certain equipment. Meanwhile, as the tide receded, a tractor arrived and towed the casualty to above the high water mark.

In next to no time, or so it seemed, police reinforcements arrived from Bridport and Dorchester to control the rapidly increasing crowds, while firemen and appliances began to hose down the aircraft and thus minimise the corrosive effects of salt water. In the evening naval detachments from Portland arrived to mount guard over the aircraft until it could be lifted on to a transporter which, a couple of days later, took it away for repair.The captain of H.M.S. Osprey wrote: 'Now that the excitement has died down, and my aircraft is safely at the air repair yard, I want to express my thanks for the prompt and efficient way your crew helped last Wednesday.

The aircraft will probably fly again after refurbishing, thanks to your towing it ashore quickly and without allowing it to capsize.

Although I cannot promise to support your lifeboat week next year in quite such a spectacular manner, I am sure you realise how grateful I am for your efficiency!' To the helmsman and crew, the Director of die R.N.L.I., Captain Nigel Dixon, R.N., wrote: 'Your prompt reaction in anticipating an accident when the helicopter was heard to be in trouble undoubtedly averted a tragedy. The efficient manner in which you rescued the helicopter's crew and then towed the helicopter ashore, is also highly commendable and I send you an expression of the Institution's sincere appreciation. I add my personal thanks for the excellent service performed by you all on this occasion.'.