Rescue Pilot by Jerry Grayson

Author:Jerry Grayson [Grayson, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472917959
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

10

A PLEASANT SURPRISE

ONE DAY AN ADMIRAL CAME to Culdrose. I dusted off my dark blue suit, marched smartly towards him, saluted and shook his proffered hand. With his other he handed me a neatly rolled piece of paper in a bow. It read:

COMMENDATION

Lieutenant J. Grayson, Royal Navy

771 Naval Air Squadron

On 31 July, 1978 the duty Wessex 1 SAR crew from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose was scrambled to the area of Trevose Head, North Cornwall to rescue four men trapped at the base of a 100 foot cliff.

The weather was poor with a 20 knot northerly wind, heavy rain and a cloud base level with the clifftop. On arrival at the scene the four men were found to be on a ledge just above the heavy surf, inside a small cove opening to the West.

Hovering the helicopter close to the cliff was extremely difficult as the downdraughts were severe and the cliff face vertical. Two attempts were made and, on the first occasion, the pilot, Lieutenant GRAYSON, had to initiate overshoot action, pulling full power to avoid being thrown against the cliffs. A successful hover was achieved with a reasonable power margin on the second attempt.

The diver, Leading Aircrewman GIBBS, was lowered and immediately began to spin at a fast rate due to strong air currents; this was only controlled when the winchman, Leading Aircrewman HARRIS quickly lowered the diver into the water. Leading Aircrewman GIBBS then swam through 10 foot high waves and heavy surf to reach the ledge. As he swam to the ledge the helicopter wash inched close to the cliff to lessen the bight on the inch wire.

After climbing on to the ledge, Leading Aircrewman GIBBS released the winch hook and a stretcher was lowered from the helicopter. Leading Aircrewman GIBBS then assessed the injuries and, after much difficulty, one injured man was stretcher-lifted to the helicopter and three shocked but uninjured men were double-lifted to the clifftop. The injured man was flown, in visibility of 1,000 metres and a cloud base of 150 feet to Truro Hospital.

I commend Lieutenant GRAYSON for the courage and professional skill which he displayed during this rescue.

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