COASTAL PATROL PLANES SAVE SEAMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 302, 22 December 1939, Page 7

COASTAL PATROL PLANES SAVE SEAMEN.

ADRIFT ON RAFT.

Guided Warship To Rescue

During Gale.

MERITORIOUS EFFORTS

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(■Received 30.30 a.m.)

LONDON, December 21

Crossing the North Sea en route to an important objective 200 miles away, a Royal Air Force Coastal Command 'plane discovered six men clinging to a raft. The flyers ensured their rescue, and then the 'plane continued its mission.

The men on the raft were survivors of the Swedish steamer Lister (13GG tons). It was essential for the aircraft to fly on to its objective, but it first flashed a reassuring message to those on the raft and sent a radio message to its base, giving the raft's position.

A second 'plane immediately set out to watch the raft while the Admiralty ordered a destroyer to the rescue. A gale sprang up, driving the raft fast to the leeward.

The second 'plane searched for 100 miles before finding the raft, and it was then necessary to divert the destroyer from its original course. The 'plane was obliged to guide the destroyer by firing flares into the sea, owing to bad visibility, but the airmen eventually saw the destroyer pick up the six survivors. * About 200 miles away, another coastal 'plane sighted a solitary seaman on another raft. The pilot deviated 00 miles from his course to find a merchant vessel, which rescued the seaman.