WW II Rescue craft.

[capt_birdseye]

Was there a type of wooden hulled craft that was 'dropped' by parachute in WW II and were could I find a picture of one ?
I have been told they could be Sailed once the downed aircrew were on-board. Also, if they did exist, who was the designer ? Cheers ! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[reginaldon]

There were indeed - not sure if they were wooden hulled - does google help?
The crew of Navy planes and crew of other RAF planes had their own K type rubber dinghy - I had one. together with Para. & Mae West, when I took a trip in a Barracuda.

 

[Goldie]

I can't point you to a picture, but I believe that the airborne lifeboats were possibly designed by Uffa Fox, may well have been cold moulded and that the Fairey Atalanta may well have been a post war development of the design. I think the Vickers Warwick was one aircraft equipped to carry these lifeboats, as may have been certain Lancaster variants. In addition to sails, I believe that they may have been equipped with small engines. This might give you a few leads to 'Google', but have you tried the RAF Museum or the Air Historical Branch at MOD?

 

[LORDNELSON]

See http://www.uffafox.com/uffabiog.htm

 

[Evadne]

If I remember rightly there is one in the Classic boat museum, Newport, on the Isle of Wight.

 

[aitchw]

As has been stated, it was Uffa Fox who designed it and it is reported to be the design he was most proud of.

 

[Stellina]

A news item from 10 November 2000

Airborne Lifeboat Restoration

The Classic Boat Museum at Newport has acquired an Airborne Lifeboat which they hope to restore to original condition. The Uffa Fox plan archive has been scoured to establish the exact model of the boat and it is now confirmed as a Mark 1. Several items of interest have been loaned to the museum including an original survival handbook.

 

[Evadne]

I thought I remembered seeing it there last year, there was certainly a lot of information about it, including photos of the trials off the Isle of Wight.

 

[ValleyForge]

I think I have a picture of one being rowed (paddled) around a Sunderland - that was an aluminium version- will dig my book out & check. The Atalanta was designed by Alan Vines, and 'refined' by Uffa.

 

[tillergirl]

Not sure if this was the Uffa Fox design http://navigator.rafmuseum.org/results.do?view=detail&pos=50

 

[Jonathanpaul]

http://home.hccnet.nl/l.meulstee/gibsongirl/gibsongirl2.html

Try this link for more info.

 

[jimd]

I read an article not long ago about planes patrolling between Scotland and Iceland carrying these boats . The crews were using them to carry smuggled nylons & booze until they had to drop one. When the lifeboat was picked up by a patrolling ship the the people it was dropped for was roaring drunk.

 

[capt_birdseye]

Can anybody tell me if, and where, any MoD ID would have been on any Rescue craft ? Carved into the Transom or where ?

 

[GrahamC]

These craft were double ended not unlike the International Canoe and had a pronounced tumbelhome, there were two engines possibly Coventry Victor petrol and also carried a rig. There was one at Cramond on the Firth of Forth that eventaully sank and was abandoned i
This one had a Bermudian rig , untill recently the remains could be seen at low water on the River Almond. Cramond Boat Club may have archive pictures, I will ask around
Cheers
Graham