Launches 26. Lives rescued 21.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 3.8 in the afternoon of the 18th of January, l944, a report was received through the military and the coastguard that a Martinet aeroplane, which had been towing a target, had fallen into the sea between Stein Head and Burrow Head. A strong south-west wind was blowing, with a rough sea. The Whithorn auxiliary rescue-boat was at once launched. She reached the position given, although she was continually shipping seas, in twenty minutes from receipt of the news and before an air-sea rescue boat reached it, but only wreckage was found. The men in the aeroplane were lost. The R.A.F. and the military authorities both thanked the crew of the rescue-boat. - Rewards, £5 14s. and 8s. 8d. for fuel used.

VALENTIA, Co. KERRY. At 2.55 in the morning of the 27th of February, 1944, the local coastwatcher rang up the honorary agent to say that an aeroplane was in the sea at Skelligs Rock, ten miles from the Portmagee entrance to Valentia Harbour. A strong north-east wind was blowing, a heavy sea running and it was intensely cold. The Valentia auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard was launched at four o’clock. Off Bray Head the wind approached gale force and the heavy seas made it necessary to keep the pump going all the time. No sign of life was seen. The rescue-boat made a determined effort, in very difficult conditions, to reach the Skelligs, but at 5.10 the skipper decided to return. He had to fight hard to make the harbour entrance at Portmagee, and the boat arrived back at 7.15 that evening. - Rewards, £9 8s. and 18s. 8d. for fuel used.

VALENTIA, Co. KERRY. At 7.35 in the morning of the 1st of April, 1944, the coast life-saving service No. 1 man informed the honorary agent that coastwatchers had telephoned that a fishing boat was in distress off Bray Head. An east-south-east wind was blowing. The weather was cold and dry.

The Valentia auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard was launched at eight o’clock.

About the same time it was learned that a cable-ship had taken the fishing boat in tow and was bringing her to the lighthouse entrance to the harbour. The boat was the Rearcha na Fairughe, with a crew of four.

Her propeller was fouled by nets ; her sails torn. She had been drifting helplessly out to sea. The cable-ship brought her into harbour and there she was taken over by the rescue-boat, which towed her to the pier, arriving about nine o’clock. Her propeller was cleared and she was able to go home under her own power. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. and 3s.

2d. for fuel used.

SCALASAIG, COLONSAY, ARGYLLSHIRE. At 11.30 in the morning of the 1st of April, 1944, two boys saw a Wellington aeroplane, which was on fire, crash and disappear into the sea five miles south-south-east from Colonsay Pier. A fresh south-east wind was blowing, with a moderately rough sea. The auxiliary rescue-boat Glasard put out at 11.50. Fortyfive minutes later she picked up an inflated rubber buoy, and on reaching the position at 12.50 she found the body of an airman.

Artificial respiration was applied, but without success. The search was continued. At 1.25 the Glasard transferred the airman to an R.A.F. boat, which proceeded to Colonsay Pier where a doctor found that the man was dead. Having found nothing further the Glasard returned, arriving at 2.15 P.M. A Catalina aeroplane, the Portaskaig life-boat and R.A.F. launches took part in the search.

Later in the day an aeroplane was seen dropping smoke-floats three miles east of Colonsay Pier and the auxiliary rescue-boat put out again at 4.50, but found nothing.

Two air-sea rescue launches also went out, and after learning that they also had seen nothing the rescue-boat returned, leaving the launches to continue the search. - Rewards, first launch, £3 10s. and 16s. 4d. for fuel used ; second launch, £3 5s. and 4s. 6d. for fuel used.

(See Port Askaig, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 19.)

MILLOM, CUMBERLAND. At 2.5 in the morning of the 13th of April, 1944, the coastguard, who was also skipper of the auxiliary rescue-boat, saw distress signals from an aeroplane four to five miles in a southerly direction from Haverigg Point. A light south-east wind was blowing, with a light swell. Having arranged for the look-out to be manned he left the station and went by car to Haverigg, manned the rescue-boat Hearts of Oak and took her out, but the airmen had been rescued a few minutes earlier by a high-speed launch from Fleetwood. The rescue-boat returned at 1.30, when the tide was favourable. - Rewards, £3 15s., with £1 2s. 6d. for fuel and car hire. (See Barrow, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 21.)

PUCKCASTER COVE, ISLE OF WIGHT. On Sunday, the 30th of April, 1944, the honorary agent, Mr. Uffa Fox, the famous yachtdesigner and yachtsman, received news by telephone from the Royal Observer Corps, Niton, that a fighter aeroplane, returning from France, had crashed into the sea some five miles south-west of St. Catherine’s Lighthouse.

The tide was ebbing, with a squally south-west wind blowing and a moderately rough sea. Mr. Fox, with the aid of his wife and maid, launched the l6-feet self-baling auxiliary rescue-boat. He put out alone under oars, and guided by Typhoon aeroplanes had got to within a mile of the airman, when a Walrus aeroplane alighted on the sea and rescued the man. Mr. Fox, who was engaged for two hours, rowed twelve miles. - No rewards desired.

LLANERCHYMOR, FLINTSHIRE. At one o’clock in the afternoon of the 19th of May, 1944, the Mostyn Police reported that a Spitfire aeroplane had crashed into the sea near the South Hoyle Buoy in the Dee channel.

The weather was fine, with a moderate sea running and a moderate northerly wind. As the Rhyl life-boat had been launched no action was taken. About two o’clock it was learned from an ironworks at Mostyn that the correct position was near the lighthouse at Talacre and that the tail of the aeroplane could be seen. The Llanerchymor auxiliary rescue-boat was at once launched, as she could reach the position in half an hour.

She made a thorough search, but found no sign of the aeroplane or pilot. As the tide made she abandoned the search and returned, arriving at 8.40 that evening. - Rewards, £1 18s. and £1 for fuel used. (See Rhyl, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 24.)

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 4.20 in the afternoon of the 28th of May, 1944, the coastguard saw an Anson aeroplane lose height rapidly over Portyerrock Bay, drop smoke bombs and burn a white flare. A light westerly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The skipper of the Isle of Whithorn auxiliary rescue-boat was at once informed and put out, but the aeroplane recovered when just above the sea and eventually landed safely. The rescue boat arrived back at 5.20. - Rewards, £1 17s. 6d. and 4s.

3d. for fuel used.

LLANERCHYMOR, FLINTSHIRE. On the evening of the 31st of May, 1944, it was reported to the Greenfield police that two persons were surrounded on a sandbank at the extreme southern point of Salisbury Bank in the River Dee. A fresh southerly wind was blowing, with a moderate sea, and the tide was rising. The police informed the skipper of the Llanerchymor auxiliary rescueboat, and he launched her at about six o’clock with a crew of two. They took with them a small boat. They found on the island bank two boys who had landed from their boat.

She had been holed, but they had managed to patch her up. The rescue-boat escorted them to the dock at Greenfield and then returned to her moorings at nine o’clock.- Rewards, £1 18s. and 4s. 6d. for fuel used.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 3.30 in the afternoon of the 12th of June, 1944, information was received from the naval officer in charge, Stranraer, that an aeroplane had reported a rubber dinghy with men in it one and a half miles north-north-east from Portyer rock and that an aeroplane was missing. A fresh south-west wind was blowing. The sea was moderately rough.

The Whithorn auxiliary rescue-boat put out.

She soon reached the position given. She found nothing ; searched a wide area and still found nothing ; and owing to the weather made for Garlieston, where she arrived at 6.30 that evening. Her crew left her there until the following day. - Rewards, £2 11s.

6d., with 13s. 6d. for fuel used and 2s. 6d. for fares.

VALENTIA, Co. KERRY. At noon on the 13th of June, 1944, it was reported that the local motor fishing boat Lobster had failed to return from the previous night’s fishing. A fairly strong westerly wind was blowing, with a choppy sea. A report also came from Bray Head coastwatching station that a boat was drifting towards the cliffs at the back of Portmagee, and that another boat was going in that direction. The auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard put out at 1.20 P.M. and on reaching a position north of Puffin Island at about 2.30 found that another boat had taken the Lobster, which had been disabled by an engine breakdown, in tow. Her crew were exhausted, having been drifting close to the cliff for about six hours and using oars to keep clear of rocks. All three boats made for Portmagee, where the Lobster’s net was cleared of fish. The rescue-boat got back at 6 P.M. - Rewards, £2 10s. and 11s. 8d. for fuel used. (See also “Services by Shoreboats.” Portmagee, page 62.)

LLANERCHYMOR, FLINTSHIRE. In response to a telephone call from the Mostyn harbour master, and a distress signal shewn by the schooner Ellie Park, the auxiliary rescue-boat, manned by a crew of two, put out at two in the afternoon of the 14th of June, 1944. A north-west gale was blowing and the sea was rough. The rescue-boat found that a seaman had been blown out to sea in a small ship’s boat in the River Dee Estuary opposite Mostyn. She rescued him, and took him and his boat back to the schooner, which was anchored off Mostyn Tipping. The rescueboat reached her moorings again at sixthat evening. - Rewards, £1 5s., with £1 for loss of fishing and 6s. 6d. for fuel used.

PUCKASTER COVE, ISLE OF WIGHT. On the evening of the 3rd of July, 1944, a Typhoon aeroplane was seen to crash and a parachute to descend into the sea some twelve miles off shore, in a south-easterly direction from Puckaster Cove. A big steep sea was running and the wind was blowing hard from the west. The auxiliary rescueboat, with Mr. Uffa Fox in command, was manned and put out, but she found that the pilot had been picked up by a steamer. Two air-sea rescue boats and a Walrus amphibious aeroplane also put out.

As the rescue-boat neared the land again she saw a beach landing craft smothered in spray. On board were three American naval men, who were very worried, as they had no protection and no knowledge of their position.

When the two boats got into smoother water a man from the rescue-boat boarded the landing craft, and the two boats came into Puckaster Cove, where hospitality was given to the American naval men. - No rewards desired.

MALIN HEAD, CO. DONEGAL. At 10.10 in the evening of the 13th of July, 1944, information was received from Buncrana that a burning aeroplane had crashed into the sea to the east of Inishtrahull. A westerly wind was blowing, with rain, but the sea was calm.

Manned by a crew of four the auxiliary rescue-boat put out at 10.30. When she reached the position given, five hundred yards east of Inishtrahull, she found a destroyer and a corvette were already on the scene.

The destroyer had picked up five airmen from their rubber dinghy and it was learned later that three other men who had baled out had been rescued by another corvette. The rescue boat reached her moorings again at three o’clock next morning. - Rewards, £5 and 16s. 10d. for fuel used. (See Portrush, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 28.)

LLANERCHYMOR, FLINTSHIRE. At 11.20 in the morning of the 17th of July, 1944, the skipper of the auxiliary rescue boat saw an aeroplane crash into the River Dee about a mile south-east of Llanerchymor. The weather was fine and the sea calm. The auxiliary rescue-boat put out with a crew of three. Two young men who were out in a sailing dinghy had gone at once to the rescue and picked up one airman, wearing a life-jacket. The rescue-boat picked up the other airman, who was without a life-jacket and had swum or drifted some distance away.

She returned to the dinghy, took on board the man it had rescued and, with the dinghy in tow, made for Llanerchymor, arriving at 12.30. - Rewards, £2 17s. 6d. with 4s. 6d. for fuel used and £1 2s. 6d. for loss of fishing.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 11.40 on the night of the 17th of July, 1944, the Observer Corps, Ayr, enquired whether information had been received of an aeroplane which had crashed in the sea to the south of Creetown. A moderate south-east wind was blowing, with a rather rough sea. Enquiries were made, and it was found, through the naval officer in charge at Stranraer, that Air- Sea Rescue, at Liverpool, had reported an aeroplane down two miles east of Garlieston.

The auxiliary rescue-boat put out at midnight.

Another message was received that an aeroplane was circling the position given and the rescue-boat was on the spot when the aeroplane dropped a flare. She made a thorough but unsuccessful search and arrived back at five o’clock next morning. - Rewards, £5, with 17s. 6d. for fuel used.

LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE. About 9.15 in the morning of the 22nd of July, 1944, the coastguard reported that the motor fishing boat Nyo was in difficulties. Her engine had broken down and she had anchored near the entrance to the harbour. The northerly wind was light, but a heavy swell was running.

The auxiliary rescue-boat Snowdrop was launched with a crew of five and found that the fishing boat had hoisted sail and had drifted near to some rocks. She helped her into harbour. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d. and £1 for fuel used.

LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE. At 12.30 in the afternoon of the 22nd of July, 1944, the coastguard reported that a British Wellington aeroplane had exploded in the air and crashed into the sea one mile east of Covesea Lighthouse. She was partly submerged. A light northerly wind was blowing, with a moderate swell. The auxiliary rescue-boat Snowdrop was launched and searched ten miles along the coast. She found the bodies of two of the seven members of the air crew.

All seven had lost their lives. - Rewards, £3 2s. 6d., with £2 for anchor lost and £1 for fuel used.

LLANERCHYMOR, FLINTSHIRE. As a result of information given by the Mostyn police, and confirmed by the Hoylake coastguard, the auxiliary rescue-boat was launched about four in the afternoon of the 24th of July, 1944, to search for a Spitfire aeroplane, which had crashed into the sea off Talacre, River Dee. The weather was fine with a light north-east wind and a smooth sea. On her way the rescue-boat met a fishing boat and learned that the aeroplane had nose-dived into deep water. As the fishing boat had already searched for the pilot without result, the rescue-boat turned back, bringing the fishing boat with her. They reached Llanerchymor at six o’clock, The Rhyl life-boat had also put out, but found nothing. - Rewards, £1 5s. and 6s. 6d. for fuel used. (See Rhyl, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 28.) MALIN HEAD, CO. DONEGAL. On receipt of a report that the fishing boat St. Cecelin was missing, the auxiliary rescue-boat, manned by a crew of four, put out at 9.30 in the morning of the 6th of August, 1944. There was a dense fog, but the sea was calm. In spite of the fog the rescue-boat found the missing boat at Inishtrahull, seven miles from the mainland. She had a crew of eight. The rescue-boat brought her into Malin Head,where they arrived at 2.30 that afternoon.

The Portrush life-boat also put out. - Rewards, £2 10s. and 14s. 4d. for fuel used.

(See Portrush, “Accounts of Services by Life-boats,” page 31.)

MALIN HEAD, Co. DONEGAL. On the morning of the 10th of September, 1944, a message was received from the Malin Head wireless station that an object, apparently a small boat or raft, had been seen about six miles away in a south-westerly direction.

The weather was good, the sea smooth.

Manned by a crew of four, the auxiliary rescue-boat put out at midday. She found an upturned motor boat surrounded by a mass of wreckage and coated with fuel oil. It appeared to have been wrecked by a mine or other submarine action some days before.

The rescue-boat was unable to get near, so she left the wrecked boat and returned, arriving at three o’clock that afternoon. - Rewards, £2 10s. and 10s. for fuel used.

VALENTIA, Co. KERRY. On the night of the 25th of October, 1944, the Valentia auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard was returning from fishing, when about midnight she saw flares about three miles north-west of Wireless Point. A light northerly wind was blowing, but a heavy swell was running. The rescue-boat found the Cahirciveen motor fishing boat Naomh Sean, with a crew of four.

Her engine had broken down. The S t .

Bernard took her in tow, but the rope parted.

With difficulty it was again made fast and the St. Bernard towed the Naomh Sean to Renard Pier, arriving at 3.5 in the morning.

- Rewards, £7 10s., with 13s. 3d. for fuel and 12s. for damaged tow-ropes.

VALENTIA, Co. KERRY. While the Valentia auxiliary rescue-boat St. Bernard was returning from fishing on the night of the 7th of November, 1944, her skipper saw a flare about two miles north-east of Bray Head.

A strong ebb tide was running, with a very heavy sea. The wind was north-west, but veered to south-west. The rescue-boat found the motor fishing boat Spray, of Valentia, with a crew of six. Her nets had fouled her propeller. She had been taken in tow by a Cahirciveen fishing boat, but the rope broke and the tow was abandoned on account of the heavy seas. At 9.30 the rescue-boat took the Spray in tow and at some risk and with considerable difficulty brought her into Valentia at 3.30 next morning. - Rewards, £7 10s. and £1 4s. 6d. for fuel used.

ISLE OF WHITHORN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. At 11.40 in the morning of Sunday the 19th of November, 1944, a coastguard on his way to take over watching duties heard an aeroplane about five miles west of Burrow Head. Her engine appeared to be missing and he saw what he thought to be a parachute coming down. A light north-west wind was blowing, with a moderate sea. The Whithorn auxiliary rescue-boat put out at 12.15. She searched but found nothing and returned at 4.15 that afternoon. Later it was learned that an aeroplane had been exercising and that no accident had occurred. - Rewards, £2 17s. and 9s.

for fuel used.

INISHBOFIN, Co. GALWAY. On the 28th of December, 1944, unusual air activity was seen twelve miles west of the island of Inishark.

The sea was calm, but the west-south west wind was strong. The Inishbofin auxiliary rescue-boat put out at about two in the afternoon and was guided by an aeroplane, but all that she found was burning flares on the water. After searching for some time the rescue-boat returned, arriving at seven o’clock that night. - Rewards, £7 2s. 6d. and £1 6s. for fuel used.