Overdue LATE ON THE EVENING of Thursday June 14, 1979, Fife Police informed Forth Coastguard that a flashing light was being investigated in Largo Bay and that a 9ft dinghy with three anglers on board had been reported overdue.

Police and Elie Coastguard mobile started a search ashore and at 0019 on June 15 the help of Kinghorn D class ILB was requested. Vessels in the area were asked to keep a sharp lookout for the missing dinghy.

It was a bright moonlight night, so that visibility was fair. A moderate breeze, force 4, was blowing from the north east, the sea was choppy and the tide was low water springs.

Manned by Helmsman F. Boston and Crew Member G. Tulloch, Kinghorn ILB launched at 0040 and had reached Largo Bay 20 minutes later.

By 0234 a helicopter from RAF Leuchars was airborne and the tide had risen enough for Anstruther lifeboat, the 37ft Oakley The Doctors, to launch.

An initial research area was established between the lines Methil to Fidra and Bass Rock to Elie Ness and a coordinated search was begun by Anstruther lifeboat, HMS Stubbington, the lighthouse tender Pharos and the helicopter, while Kinghorn ILB continued her search of Largo Bay and the adjacent coastline. North Berwick Coastguard lookout was manned and Dunbar mobile searched the coast from Dunbar to Fidra.

At 0458 HMS Stubbington reported the recovery of two bodies a few milesto the north west of Bass Rock. A thorough search was made of the area and at 0720 North Berwick D class ILB was launched to search Craigleith Island, Bass Rock and the North Berwick foreshore. No sign was found of the missing third man, however, and at 0753 the search was abandoned.

Lifeboat and ILBs returned to their stations, Kinghorn ILB being once more rehoused and ready for service at 0820, North Berwick ILB at 0850 and The Doctors at 0920.

For this service a letter signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Dr R. M.

L. Weir, honorary secretary of Kinghorn ILB station, conveying the appreciation of the Institution to Helmsman F. Boston and Crew Member G. Tulloch, who were at sea, engaged in the search for survivors, for more than seven hours..