Summary: Film shows a typical air-sea rescue incident.
Description: Coastguard observers spot a parachute descending seawards and before it has touched the surface the control room has been contacted and a rescue operation is under way. Launches leave harbour as a Lysander takes off. Meanwhile the unlucky pilot climbs into his dinghy and waits. The coastguard observers radio his new position as he begins to drift. The ASR launches break formation as they speed out to search the area then the patrolling Lysander spots the pilot and circles overhead. An ASR launch retrieves the pilot from his dinghy and the soundtrack breaks into "Rule Britannia". That evening the pilot, sitting in his club and listening to the news on the wireless, raises his glass as he hears the words "a successful raid, only two shot down and one is safe".
Production Details: Crown Film Unit (Production company)
Lee, Jack (Production individual)
Kelly, Graham White "Skeets"19131970Second World War cameraman (RAF Film Production Unit); later an accomplished film cameraman. Killed shooting aerial footage for the film Zeppelin in 1970. (Production individual)
Stone, Sidney (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Spence, J (person)
Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
Coastguard Service (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Westland Lysander (object name)
arts, British - music: Arne, Thomas & Rule Britannia (object name)
equipment, British air - survival: dinghy (object name)
operations, British air - rescue: air-sea (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - assistance: Air-Sea Rescue Launch (object name)
GB, England & Hawkinge, Kent <aerodrome> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 674 ft; Running time: 7 mins
