Understatement of great magnitude We are grateful to L. J. Robertson who, in his letter in the autumn journal, puts so succinctly our own feelings towards the manner of the rescue reports: '. . . understatement of great magnitude . . . unvarnished descriptions of hair-raising feats . . .' What is never mentioned is the mind-numbing noise of gale force winds and seas on rocky coasts. We marvel the men can think clearly at all.—MARY K. CASHMORE, 19 Charingworth Road, Solihull, West Midlands.

Helicopter rescues I have recently received and read with high interest your spring issue of THE LIFEBOAT, including the comments on helicopters and lifeboats in Patrick Howarth's 'Notes of the Quarter'.

In 1978 the US Coast Guard responded to nearly 78,000 calls for assistance ranging from the routine to life threatening incidents. Our rescue stations responded to 69 per cent of the cases with lifeboats while air stations accounted for nine per cent. Despite these disproportionate figures we have found that the helicopter has indeed added a very valuable asset to the rescue business. Our experience shows that it performs well as an entity but even more so as a team in concert with the lifeboat. Our planning includes acquisitions of both lifeboats and helicopters. Patrick Howarth correctly concludes that the lifeboat is hardly obsolete. I appreciate his kind words describing the US Coast Guard as 'highly efficient'. However, do not short yourselves. The RNLI has an enviable record of performance and equipment, and deserves the respect of lifesaving organisations worldwide.— EARLE L. SULLIVAN, Captain, US Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Search and Rescue Division, US Coast Guard, Washington DC, USA.

From a letter written by Captain Sullivan to John Atterton, at that time acting director of the RNLI.—EDITOR.

Women's Work . . .

I have read with great interest Ray Kipling's article in the last issue of THE LIFEBOAT on the part played by women in the history of the RNLI and noted his reference to a reserve crew of women at Coverack during the first world war. As you know, I am deeply interested in all aspects of lifeboat history and know of at least three occasions when women have gone out on service in offshore lifeboats.

The first occasion was at Newcastle, Co. Down. Before she named Newcastle's new lifeboat, Farnley, in 1882, the Countess Annesley recalled the time when the station's lifeboat had been launched with a scratch crew to go to the help of a fishing boat; in that scratch crew she herself had taken the helm.

The second occasion was when Penmon lifeboat was launched on service on September 26, 1911, with Mrs Burton, wife of the local honorary secretary, taking the tiller and acting on the instructions of Coxswain Pritchard.

The third occasion was at Lowestoft when the lifeboat was launched on service on August 28, 1946, with a woman volunteer making up the crew. The lifeboat went to the help of a yacht with seven people on board; the yacht, which was being swept by heavy seas, was escorted into harbour.—JEFF MORRIS, 14 Medina Road, Foleshill, Coventry.

Would it not be nice if all lady crew members were collectively known as 'RNLI's Grace Darlings'?—GERALD BYSH, 7 Apple Tree Lane, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Part of the RNLI I would like you to know how much 1 appreciated the welcome given to me by the coxswain of Selsey lifeboat, Michael Grant.

By chance I happened to be in Selsey when a practice launch was taking place. 1 mentioned to someone that I was a Shoreline member. Shortly afterwards this splendid silvermedalled coxswain came up, shook me by the hand and asked if my husband and I would like to come to the boathouse at the end of the slipway to watch the launch. I was thrilled. There was such a friendly feeling among them all and it was wonderful how they made you feel part of the RNLI. Thank you.—JEAN SNOWDON, Mrs, Gentian Cottage, Old Mill Place, Pulborough, Sussex.

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