RAF Boats

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128_1 RAF HSL (Whaleback) 128 on rescue accompanied by Shorts Sunderland

2757_1 2757 Homeward Bound for Christmas - Reproduced by kind premission of the artist Dennis Pannett G of AV A

d_day At 16.10hrs on June 5th 1944, HSL's of the RAF Air Sea Rescue Service cleared the entrance to Plymouth Sound and set course for (135) Rendezvous. Arrived R. P. off Alderney at 22.50hrs. Our Mission was to guide the Airborne Forces to their Landing Points in Normandy, St Mere Eglise etc. This was the begining of Operation Overlord. The first aircraft, with gliders and parachutists, passed over us and turned to commence landing at 00.05hrs on June 6th "D Day" From a painting by Alan R Bruce, Past President Air Sea Rescue & Marine Craft Sections Club, Royal Air Force

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1264_1 Pinnace 1264 on cradle up slip - Stephen Bone, 1944

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2757_2 At speed. Copy of painting. (Courtesy of Steve Crossley)

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stornoway_1 Stornoway, the fish quay beyond - Stephen Bone, 1943

123_1 RAF HSL (Whaleback) 123 on Thames at London Bridge. - John Edgar Platt, 1942

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2699_1 HSL 2699 Crest (Courtesy of William Shaw via his son Tommy Shaw)

124-130-132 1942

2552_1 Painting by skipper of HSL 2552, R A Vickaby. A copy was given to each crew member, apparantly the skipper stopped the boat at sea and he got into a dinghy to take an initial pencil drawing. (Courtesy of Peter Randall, Son-in-law of John Thorpe who saw wartime service on HSL 2552)