SAR 60

On the 31st January 1953, 12 Dragonfly HR1/HR3 helicopters from 705 Naval Air Squadron based ay RNAS Gosport/HMS Siskin responded to urgent requests for help following extensive flooding in east Anglia and in the Netherlands.

They assisted in helping to save over 840 people with one pilot in seven hours of flying accounted for 111 rescues whilst another saved 102 people. For their efforts the Commanding Officer of the 705 Sqn Lt Cdr HR Spedding received the MBE and Aircrewman IS Craig received the BEM.

Thus was born Royal Navy helicopter Search and Rescue which in 2013 celebrates its 60th anniversary of saving lives.

From these humble beginnings the Royal Navy swiftly introduced this first SAR helicopter to 7 bases around the UK:

• RNAS Anthorn/HMS Nuthatch in Cumbria
• RNAS Brawdy/HMS Goldcrest in Wales
• RNAS Eglinton/HMS Gannet in Northern Ireland
• RNAS Ford/HMS Peregrine in Susse
• RNAS Lossiemouth/HMS Fulmar in Scotland
• RNAS Gosport/HMS Siskin in Hampshire
• RNAS Culdrose/HMS Seahawk in Cornwall.

Although this first British built Dragonfly helicopter would see further updates, the introduction of the Whirlwind HAR1/3 for SAR allowed greater range of 300nm, speed of 106mph and increased rescue capability, culminating in the Whirlwind HAR9 which could rescue 8 people.

The more capable Wessex HAS Mk1 entered service in 1964 with a range of 478nm, a top speed of 132mph and could rescue 16 people.

Theses aircraft were quickly used to save lives, most notably 2 SAS canoeists in difficulties off south Wales in March 1963 with the pilot Lt RE Smith receiving an MBE for his actions. A Wessex HAS1 was used by 706 Sqn to rescue the lighthouse keeper from the Longships lighthouse off Lands End in March 1968 with the pilot Lieutenant D Blythe receiving a MBE for his efforts.

Although the Wessex continued to provide SAR with the latest variant the HU Mk5 entered service in 1977, the newly introduced Sea King HAS1 primarily intended for Anti Submarine duties was also used for longer range SAR due to its increased range of 598nm and greater endurance of 4 hours.

One aircraft from RNAS Culdrose was involved in the daring rescue of the crew from the Danish SS Merc Enterprise which had capsized in heavy seas south of Plymouth in January 1974.

With waves of 50 feet and severe winds of 70mph, the crew managed to save many of the survivors with the pilots Lt Cdr DS Mallock and Lt AR Baker RAN (Royal Australian Navy exchange pilot) receiving the AFC and the rear crew POACMN DJD Fowles, DJ Jackson and LACMN AT Williams the AFM.

This potent force of Wessex and Sea King were directly involved in increasing number of rescues that by its increased capacity warranted the richly deserved gallantry awards for their efforts.

These included:

• Rescue of a crewman from a MV in distress in the English Channel on 7 September 1974 (following the crash of the first Wessex onboard HMS Ark Royal) for which LACMN RA Higginson received the QGM
• Rescue of the crew from the MV Lovat, south of the Lizard on 25 January 1975 for which LACMN PNA Gibbs received the GM 
• Rescue of crew from oil rig Orion aground off Guernsey on 2 February 1978 for which Lt GJ Tilsley, Lt RG Davidson, Lt P Crudgington and Lt AJ Eagles received the AFC 
• Rescue of crew from trawler Ben Asdale at Maenporth, Cornwall on 31 December 1978 for which the Lt Cdr MJ Norman and Lt AJM Hogg received the AFC 
• Rescue of crews during the Fastnet race on 14-16 August 1979 for which Lt J Grayson received the AFC 
• Rescue of the crew from the ditched Wessex III south of Portland Bill on 27 June 1980 for which POACMN TG Williams received the QGM 
• Rescue of the crew from a barge off Lymington which had overturned on10 October 1980 for which LACMN JP Spencer received the QGM 
• Just over a year later, now A/POACMN JP Spencer received a bar to his QGM for his part in the rescue of the crew from the stricken Ecuadorian MV Benita off Portland Bill on 13 December 1981
• Rescue of the crew from the trawler Petit Forban sinking off Beachy Head on 22 February 1983 for which POACMN JS Coleman received the QGM 
• Rescue of the crew from the yacht Oggie in distress 70nm south of Plymouth on 23 January 1984 for which Lt SW Marlow received the QGM for his efforts 
• Rescue of the celebrity Simon Le Bon and crew from the yachts Drum England and Mr Cube on 12 August 1985, POACMN L Slater received the GM 
• Rescue of a young boy washed into the harbour at Porthleven, Cornwall on 6 August 1987, LACMN I Penhaligon received the QGM

The introduction the Sea King HU Mk5 for SAR in April 1988 was another step forward in allowing the now lighter aircraft following the removal of the ASW equipment to carry even more fuel for long range operations.

With much greater space for specialist rescue and medical equipment plus increased the passenger space, this aircraft is now the backbone of RN SAR fleet.

The following notable rescues have been conducted by 771 NAS based at RNAS Culdrose/HMS Seahawk, 772 NAS based at RNAS Portland/HMS Osprey and Gannet SAR flight based at RNAS Prestwick/HMS Gannet:

• For the double rescue of crew from the Spanish trawler Ivan Antonio followed by the Korean MV Secil Japan at the infamous Hells Mouth near Gwithian, Cornwall in March 1989 CPOACMN JPR Grinney received the AFM 
• For the extremely challenging rescue of crew from Pakistan MV Muree in October 1989, POACMN D Wallace and SW Wright received the GM 
• For the rescue of crew from the yacht Sandpiper off Weymouth, Dorset on 12 August 1992, LACMN B Buggins received the QGM 
• For the rescue of the crew of the yacht Sine Seorra 30nm off Guernsey on 30 August 1992, LACMN I Chambers received the AFM 
• For the rescue of the crew from the MV Igloo Lion off Guernsey on 25 October 1992, Lt MIP Langley received the AFC and POACMN A Rogers received the AFM 
• For the rescue of 2 crewman from a stricken Belgian trawler LeBauche off the Cornish coast on 6 February 1996, POACMN PJ Warrington received the QGM 
• For the numerous rescues of people caught in the flooding at Boscastle, Cornwall in August 2004, Lt Cdr M Ford received the AFC and WOACMN R Yeomans received the QGM 
• For the rescue of the crew from the MSC Napoli in the English Channel in January 2007, POACMN J O’Donnell received the QGM 
• For the rescue of 3 men trapped on the notorious Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis, Scotland in May 2007, Lt M Lanni received the AFC 
• For the rescue the crew from the ferry Riverdance that was beached off Blackpool in January 2008, Lt M Paulet received the AFC and for this as well the rescue of a man in Loch Long, Scotland in June 2007, LACMN K Regan received the QGM
• For the rescue of a group of climbers caught in an avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mor, Scotland in January 2009, Lt Cdr A Murray received the AFC 
• For the rescue of an injured fisherman from the Spanish trawler Pesca des Verdes, in November 2009, CPOACMN D Rigg received the QGM 
• For the rescue of the crew from the burning trawler Trevessa off Lands End in December 2009, POACMN D Lacy received the QGM 
• For the rescue of the crew from the yacht Andriette, 80nm south west of the Isles of Scilly in July 2011, Sgt A Russell RM received the GM 
• For the rescue of an injured climber from Beinn Sgulaird, 10nm NE Oban in December 2011, Lt Cdr C Sweeney received the AFC

The Royal Navy is delighted to be able to celebrate the 60th anniversary of helicopter Search and Rescue around the UK from its 7 different bases and by 9 different Squadrons/Flights since 1953.

The Royal Navy currently provides two different Search and Rescue units, 771 Naval Air Squadron and Gannet SAR Flight based at RNAS Culdrose/HMS Seahawk and RNAS Prestwick/HMS Gannet respectively.