LANDS END (ST.JUST)
Friday 3rd October to Sunday 5th October

This week-end Fly-In to Cornwall was extremely well planned and organised by Roger Richardson-Bunbury. The event involved ten Squadron aircraft flying down to St. Just airfield on Friday, but for various reasons only seven aircraft actually flew in. Members who flew in were Michael and Eve Bonham Cozens in Bonanza G-MAPR, Denis Stanley and Bernard Maslin in Cessna 172 G-BUAN, Tony and Jill Ashmead in Pulsar G-BYJL, Roger Richardson-Bunbury in Cessna 172 G-BZZD, Michael and Charmian Ryan in Tobago TB10 G-BOIT, Phil and Sue Moore in Auster G-ASZE, and Philip and Anne Cardew in Cessna 172 G-BCZM. Those who came by car were Carol Richardson-Bunbury, Nigel and Alison de Candole, Dick and Mags Roberts, Arthur Record and Beryl Stones and Ron and Jan Dobree-Carey (provider of Squadron ‘tilly’).

Members stayed at the Lands End Hotel which was very comfortable with the most excellent views out to sea towards the Longships lighthouse, but we couldn’t quite see America.

The highlight of the week end was a flight to St Marys in the Scilly Isles by the seven aircraft on the Saturday. Car borne members were distributed amongst the aircraft spare seats, Arthur Record flying in G-BUAN, Beryl Stones and Jan Dobree-Carey in G-BCZM, Ron Dobree-Carey in G-BZZD, Dick and Mags Roberts in G-MAPR and Gregory Moor in G-ASZE.

The fastest aircraft led the flight and the slowest last. Air traffic control was very strict, everything to be repeated by pilots and heights and courses given were to be strictly adhered to. The weather was pretty good with just the odd shower and a fairly strong wind.

Four aircraft had landed at St Marys, the fifth just about to, the sixth overhead, when we heard with dismay the "MAYDAY" call from Bernard Maslin’s aircraft G-BUAN with Denis Stanley and Arthur Record aboard. He reported a fuel problem, his position he gave as about 2 to 3 miles south east of the eastern islands and this was followed by "Ditching Ditching Ditching".

Phil Moore in his Auster was overhead St Marys when he was diverted to search for the downed aircraft, but he and his crew were unable to spot any survivors. A fishing boat was nearby and after it had gathered in its nets it approached the floating aircrew. Various times have been given by the media as to how long they were in the water, but it seems to average out at about 15-20 minutes which is quite long enough in the English channel.

From all accounts Bernard Maslin as P.1. made a classic ditching but the windscreen was forced in and the cabin filled with water as the aircraft sank quickly. Bernard, Arthur and Denis are to be congratulated on escaping with their lives from that perilous environment. Arthur damaged two fingers after trapping them in the sinking Cessna’s elevator before being hauled into the fishing boat. The SAR chopper from Culdrose arrived and transferred them from the fishing boat to Treliske Hospital in Truro where they were checked over with minor hypothermia for a few hours. Arthur and Denis were later released but Bernard who had swallowed a lot of sea water when struggling to evacuate the aircraft with a painful knee problem, was detained for further observation. He has a chest infection from swallowing the sea water and his heart is being constantly monitored.

Meanwhile back on St Marys the rest of us had a very anxious wait until the lifeboat cox’n who happened to be there with his mobile phone got into contact with the fishing boat, Semper Allegro, skipper Julian Puckey from Newlyn, and learned that the three had been picked up and were all well. The relief was enormous because the Squadron is very close knit and it would have been tragic to have lost a member - let alone three.

After a brief look round St Marys, the surviving aircraft flew back to St Just without further incident and returned to the hotel to prepare for the Squadron Dinner that night. It need hardly be said that when Arthur and Denis appeared at the Dinner the cheers could have been heard from far away and the champagne was soon flowing. Naturally there was a certain amount of ribald humour about the incident and the Dinner went with a swing. One could comment on the successful outcome of the ditching in that there was 240 years of experience between the three of the survivors, and that once the Navy has trained you – you stay trained !

The following day all flew and drove back to Bodmin ‘International Airport’ to have a final lunch and then disperse homewards.

Cornish Squadron members are frequently calling on Bernard Maslin to cheer him up at Treliske, and one can be sure that the nurses are raising his morale.

Postscript.
The actual circumstances of the ditching of the Cessna gives one pause for thought. Bernard was lucky in being able to glide the Cessna to ditch close to the boat – it was the ONLY boat in sight. If there had not been a boat around, the outcome may well have been very different. As every SAR pilot knows, it is very difficult to spot survivors in the water, particularly when the sea is choppy. Gregory Moor has come up with the suggestion that pilots flying over the sea should attach dye markers to their lifejackets. It is possible to obtain these as a separate accessory. Our old Mae Wests used to contain dye markers and a signalling mirror – both of which were very effective, and for those of a nervous disposition and allergic to sharp teeth – shark repellent !
Some lifejackets have a pull out hood which prevents loss of body heat through the top of the head and which prevents water being dashed into the face from wind driven spray. Finally if you want to be certain of being found – buy an ELT.

Report and photographs by Ron Dobree-Carey - apart from the ‘Three Angels’ photo taken by Treliske nurses for which many thanks.

Any views expressed by the author are his own and may not reflect those of the Squadron or the FAA.