Raf rescue launch tragedy sept 1969

[hollydog]

September 1969 RAF pinnacle 1386 capsized above the Pan Bush rocks while heading into Amble harbour, a number of men were saved but tragically 3 lives were lost despite the heroic efforts of the RNLI, RAF Helicopters, divers and local fishermen. The rescue is well documented elsewhere on the internet and I will try to highlight some less well known images from the time.

Image 1 is a series of searchlight images during the rescue when one crewman was trapped inside - he was saved by divers wading out from the rocks at low tide and cutting a hole in the hull some hours later

[hollydog]

RAF Whirlwind air sea rescue from RAF Acklington 4 miles away searching for the missing 3 crew members the next day, sadly they were found by the early afternoon on the rocks nearby.

[hollydog]

Newspaper cutting of the tragedy

[hollydog]

David Ashton recovering in the sick bay at RAF Acklington, and the wreckage along the breakwater next day

[hollydog]

Wreckage

[hollydog]

The first gallantry medals given by the RNLI for action involving inshore rescue boats were awarded to Robert Stewart and Andrew Scott ( top photo)
Photo below shows Coxswain William Henderson and Crewman James Stewart who were also awarded Bronze medals for their part in the rescue.

RNLI thanks on vellum were presented to five other Amble crewmen - John Connell, Ronald Falkous, Ronald Sabiston, Hugh Matthews and crew member H Matthews (from newspaper cutting)

[hollydog]

Another cutting from 1974 with some of the RNLI crewmen involved and a couple of others in an article about Amble Lifeboat station, not sure if the forum's scan resolution settings will be high enough for it to be read though!