LAUNCH 2579 WAS SKIPPERD BY JIM POPEYE MARTINSON MY LATE FATHER IN LAW HE SERVED IN THE AUXILLARY AIR FORCE FROM 1930 TO 1945 FIRST WITH 606 SQU CO DURHAM TRANSFERRING TO AIRSEA RESCUE 1942

said barrycrb 2007.09.02 at 12:23:57 PDT

Was anybody out there at the MCU in Gibraltar between 1975 and 1977

said mkevn 2007.07.20 at 02:30:44 PDT

Hi John My father (Stan Varnham)aka "Geordie" served in the M.C.S. from the war till 1966 as a Flt.Sgt. coxswain in Gib ,Butterworth,Penang, Peel, Invergordon/Allness,Cypru s.Aden, Malta,Gan,Bridlington and Felixtowe.Anyone remember him? I posted some photos here: http://community.webshots.com/user/heilander49 Enjoy,

said heilander49 2007.05.09 at 19:17:18 PDT

hi john great site ! last year I purchased RSC Petard from the mod(one of the spitfire class) with Petard I got full drawings and operations manual, Petard was in service mainly on the west coast of scotland, but she did go int Pembroke on a few occasions and was decommisioned from Pembroke regards matt

said izaxmatt 2005.11.26 at 13:54:22 PST

John This is a very good site. The 2 photos of HMAFV Bridlington (1) and (2) were both taken in Gibraltar. Couldn't date them though.

said scaplehorn079 2004.12.19 at 16:07:10 PST

John, Thanks for a great website. I

said daveparky 2004.01.05 at 16:47:22 PST

My Dad is constructing a model of a 68' Vosper RTTL from a plan by Vic Smeed. He would be very grateful if anybody out there has any information concerning they type and layout of the deck planking, the construction of the armoured door on the wheelhouse and whether or not there was a cabin in fron of the winch housing or not. His plan shows a cabin, but he thinks that he saw some of this type of craft with no cabin. Regards, Andy Thompson

said andyt1964 2003.10.14 at 07:46:40 PDT

Served 1102 Falmouth 1966 68/69-70 also Gan 67/68 Mountbatton 65/66 Newhaven 1965/66 Great Days, anyone remembering me get in touch

said tmp88 2003.04.10 at 13:38:30 PDT

Too young to have served during the war but interested in 'proper' boats. Would like to find out the history of Whaleback 63ft H.S.L. No 2548 which I have just located in damaged condition and fitted with two large diesel engines.

said 2002.05.03 at 06:59:36 PDT

Was at 1101 MCU,Fowey,Cornwall & 1111 MCU Lyme Regis,Dorest in 1957/1958 as Air Wireless Fitter. Anyone out there also served during this time?

said 2002.01.08 at 13:37:53 PST

elec/mech at 1107 MCU Newhaven 1970/71 just before demob. Any old pals still bobbing around on the surface of time from that era give me a jingle.

said 2002.01.01 at 16:27:11 PST

I was a marine mechanic on several GS Pinnaces 1262/1373/1374 at1102MCU Falmouth

said 2001.12.12 at 14:46:01 PST

I arrived at Felixstowe 1954 posted to 1103 MCU on rejoining RAF,later detached to Gorleston also Sheerness dockyard,the film sea shall nothave them was made at felixstowe extra bods required by the company were paid £1per day.Ialso did a stint at RAF.Seletar prior to the pull out when I were posted home to MT Batten.

said 2001.12.09 at 12:37:08 PST

Any information about the crews or Skipper would be appreciated The Skipper being the senior operations officer was allowed to take over the first 68 footer allocated to Grimsby, her number was 2579 and we shall hear quite a lot of her as the story goes on. Later 2594 and 2560 were sent up to relieve the other “whalebacks” which were sent south where short run boats with speed was the order of the day. 2579 was handed over by an officer of the ferrying service and as she sped up the river every eye was watching and criticizing her lines speed and general look. At first no one seemed very happy, the new craft was big, cumbersome and looked top heavy, she did not have the sweeping lines of the “Whaleback” type. The Skipper did not seem very happy especially when she came alongside with a not to gentle BUMP, and more especially when the ferrying officer remarked, “That the wheelhouse and wireless cabin make a ruddy fine mains “1”, but the Skipper was prepared to reserve his judgment until he had tried her out. The next and last day that 144 was stand-by boat 2579 was handed over, the inventory of each boat was checked and the two boats were swapped, as it were. 144 was lying at the jetty, the ferrying officer went on board in a cold blooded manner implying, Well, here is another for down south, lets get on with it. To the Skipper and her crew it was a different matter and as 144 sailed down the river a quiet murmur of “Good Luck 144” was heard but nothing more was said until she was out of sight when the Skipper remarked, “I don’t think any ferrying officer has a soul otherwise he wouldn’t do the job.

said paul 2001.10.28 at 19:30:33 PST

Served on 2747 & 2749 @ 1107 MCU RAF Newhaven in the 50s

said bob 2001.10.24 at 12:52:58 PDT

My Dad, Jack (John Leslie)Hockney, served in the Airsea Rescue during ww2 (Launch 128)in Malta and towards the end of the war, in Scotland. Although he's just turned 80- I'm sure he'd be glad to hear any news of old comrades who might still be around. Can you Help? Regards, Tony Hockney (Cape Town, South Africa)

said 2001.06.25 at 05:55:56 PDT

My Dad, Jack (John Leslie)Hockney, served in the Airsea Rescue during ww2 (Launch 128)in Malta and towards the end of the war, in Scotland. Although he's just turned 80- I'm sure he'd be glad to hear any news of old comrades who might still be around. Can you Help? Regards, Tony Hockney (Cape Town, South Africa)

said 2001.06.25 at 05:53:04 PDT