Airbourne Lifeboats

My first recollection of Airborne Lifeboats was when a Lancaster had one underslung the bomb bay when Hastings TG613 ditched in the sea in the Med on 22nd July 1953, this was not dropped though as a USAF Albatross from Wheelus AFB was on the scene and partly effected the rescue until a RN Destroyer finished the job.

Whilst I was stationed on 201 Squadron at RAF St Mawgan (1960-63) we did have an airborne lifeboat positioned in #402 hangar with all the kit within. I do not recall this ever being used, to get to know how these were fitted to the bomb bay you would need to speak to both a Rigger and an Armourer.

I do know both, so if anyone wants more info send me your email address and I will pass it on to the parties concerned……….

Shackletons carried lifeboats.
“Avro Shackleton” by Barry Jones shows three pictures of Shackletons with lifeboats fitted on a modified bomb bay/door
The lifeboats were never used, although about fifty were built.
They were replaced by the Lindholme Gear.

thanks for all the info guys.

when I get back to the UK, I’m going to have get down the library a bit smartish methinks.

Lifeboats

Refer “B17 Flying Fortress Story” by Roger Freeman & David
Osbourne for details of SB17’s with illustrations re lifeboats-
pages 60-62 refers.

dakota2

Lancaster ASR 3 carried a lifeboat.

Grumpos

Was there a version of the Lancaster which could carry a lifeboat?

Model Air Sea Rescue

Academy Models have a Kit of a B-17 Air Sea Rescue. Although there is a description about ASR in the text about the kit – i can’t tell you if the actual model is during or post-war. It does seem to suggest though that it’s a SB-17G.

It’s Kit number 2165 in 1/72.Academy Models

Snippets from the text suggest that:

The original boat carried (British Mark II) could carry 7, so with large US bomber crews in ’44 they designed a larger boat, which was dropped from upto 1500ft. These started operating in ’45.

The Putnam volume on Fairey shows a Barracuda carrying a lifeboat. The text states however, that Barras only carried them experimentaly.

Grumpos

Here it is guy´s

After shifting through my library I found this gem in the book Lockheed Hudson In World War Two by Andrew Hendrie. Three squadrons of Hudsons were utilized in ASR role with lifeboats. Nos. 279, 280 and 281 squadrons. No.279 converted to Warwicks in 1944.

‘Frank Goff who joined 279 squadron in November 1943 gives this account: “The airborne lifeboat was developed by Uffa Fox and I believe manufactured at Littlehampton. They were very strong – divided into many watertight compartments with an air canopy fore and aft. Two Seagull engines mounted inboard provided power and sails were also carried. The boats were carried outside the the aircraft with bomb doors removed; there was very little ground clearance and it knocked about fifteen per cent off the performance. We ususally reserved the boats for long range work escorted by fighters of the Dutch coast. The longest trip made by a rescued crew was by New Zealanders from a Mosquito of Norway whoo defied a force nine gales and finally sailed into Lerwick – it was too rough for search vessels to look for them! The procedure was to drop a smoke marker up wind from the dinghy and then drop the boat from 700ft on its three parachutes which should relese in hitting the sea. The boats were extremely well-designed although occasionally the engines went U/S and survivours were induced to going flat out instead of going for longer range with one engine at half throttle.” ‘

Drop speed seem to vary according to cicumstances. In this book I found speeds from 120 up to 140 knots.

First operational deployment of the Hudson/lifeboat combination was on the 17th of February 1943

The lifeboat seems to have been making about seven knots under power.

Does this answear you questions Geedee?

There is (was?) one displayed in the RAF Museum. It was near the ‘crew in a dingy’ display. I can’t recall any details except that it seemed rather shallow for the open sea.
mmitch.

Lanc lifeboats

The latest (?) FlyPast has an article on Lancasters. In it, it describes lifeboat missions and a test drop.

I don’t recall the boats ever pictured as fitting IN the bombbay…

The chutes would detach upon landing in the water.

No info on your other questions. But the article in FP may discuss. I don’t have it handy…

Interesting questions….Unforturnatly I don´t have the answears to all you questions, but here are the ones I know.

2. The lifeboat was not a standard thing. It was spcifically designed to the airdrop role with a very strong hull.

3. Yes there were some speed and hight limits. I can´t remember them. All the lifeboats drifted down in parachutes.

6. Others I know about are Hudsons and B 17’s

Hope someone else can fill into the gaps