LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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December (1)

GIRVAN, AYRSHIRE. At about 9.30 in the mornmg of the 7th October, 1942, a military aeroplane crashed into the sea about four miles, N.N.W. of Girvan. The sea was calm, with a light westerly wind. The Fraserburgh motor fishing boat Primrose, which was already at sea, picked up two airmen. Two others were rescued by a rescue launch. - Rewards, a letter of thanks to the master of the Primrose, William Goodbrand, and his crew.

ST. AGNES, SCILLY ISLES. At about 10.45 in the morning of the 1st November, 1942, a Hurricane aeroplane crashed into the sea about a quarter of a mile south by west from Camper Drizzle Point, St. Agnes. Smoke was seen pouring from it. The weather was fine and the sea smooth. Boats put out both from St. Agnes and St. Mary’s, five in all, manned by sixteen men. One of them rescued the pilot who was only half conscious.

It was then only ten minutes after the crash.

Two of the boats which went out belonged to the war department, and were manned by their regular crews. To those no rewards were made. One of the men did not desire to have a money reward, and to him a letter of thanks was sent. - Rewards to the remaining men, £5 10s. and £1 14s. 6d. for fuel used.

ABERYSTWYTH, CARDIGANSHIRE. At about 4.15 in the afternoon of the 6th November, 1942, the coastguard saw an aeroplane crash into the sea half a mile off Wallog, some three miles N.N.E. of Aberystwyth Castle.

A S.S.E. wind was blowing, with a rough sea.

The coastguard ran and told the owner of the motor boat Emerald Star, which had just returned from fishing. With a crew of four the motor boat put out, and found the aeroplane with her tail above water at 4.45 P.M.

She picked up one airman and two bodies.

The Aberystwyth and Barmouth life-boats both put out, but were not needed. - Rewards, £5 14s. and 6s. for fuel used.

(See Aberystwyth and Barmouth, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 51.) AILSA CRAIG, AYRSHIRE. On the 7th November, 1942, the Buckie motor fishing boat Frugality was out fishing when an Anson aeroplane, whose engines had failed, circled round her and came down in the sea one and a half miles away, three miles E.S.E. of Ailsa Craig. The sea was moderate with afresh wind. The master of the fishing boat cut away and buoyed his gear, made for the aeroplane’s dinghy and rescued the crew of five airmen. He gave them a meal and took them to Ayr. - Rewards, £2 for fuel.

FARA, ORKNEYS. At about 2.20 in the afternoon of the 11th November, 1942, an aeroplane exploded in the air, and the pilot came down by parachute in Fara Sound.

the accident was seen by the coastguard.

A man put out in his motor boat about 2.45, rescued the pilot at 3 o’clock and landed him on Fara. - Rewards, £1.

BEER, DEVON. At 6.5 in the evening of the 12th November, 1942, the Beer Head coastguard learned that the motor fishing boat Florence May, of Beer, with one man aboard, had not returned. A light N.N.E.

wind was blowing, with a slight sea, and visibility was poor. The fishing boat Sylvia, with a crew of two, put out at 6.30, but could not find the missing boat, and returned at 8.50 P.M. An R.A.F. speed boat also searched without success. A further search was arranged, and at daybreak the following morning the Sylvia again put out and also the fishing boat Gem, with a crew of two.

Aeroplanes searched, but failed to see the missing boat, and the Gem found her at anchor, with a broken propeller shaft, ten miles S.S.E. of Beer, and towed her to Beer, arriving at 12.20 P.M. - Rewards, £7 12s. 6d.

CLOVELLY, DEVON. At about 2 in the afternoon of the 30th November, 1942, a small motor trawler, a mile to the north of Clovelly, put up a distress signal. She was The Pansy, on passage from Appledore to Padstow. She had been bought by the bowman of the Padstow life-boat, and he was taking her to Padstow with the help of two other men. These two men were not sailors and were sea-sick. The engine had broken down, and the anchor chain was not long enough to allow the boat to anchor. A squally fresh north wind was blowing. The Clovelly life-boat coxswain and a former second-mechanic put out in a rowing boat, boarded The Pansy, got her engine going, and brought her into Clovelly HIarbour.- Rewards, £1 18s.

CADGWITH, CORNWALL. At 3.40 in the morning of the 1st December, 1942, calls for help were heard from the sea about half a mile south of Cadgwith Cove. The sea was calm. A coastguard officer and another man put out in a rowing dinghy and found the fishing boat Willie, of Falmouth. Her crew were father and son. The father had collapsed. The coastguard officer at  once returned ashore in the dinghy to get further help, and sent it out again with two other men on board. The sick man was brought ashore and the doctor found that he had had a stroke. - Rewards, £4.