What is going on here?

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   Can anyone enlighten me with this?
What looks like a MASB and a moored medical station (for downed Pilots?) there seems to be civilian personnel aboard.

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Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: What is going on here? Posted: 30 November 2007 at 11:49am
	Can anyone enlighten me with this? What looks like a MASB and a moored medical station (for downed Pilots?) there seems to be civilian personnel aboard.
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

clive Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 December 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 379	Post Options Post Reply Quote clive Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 1:04pm
	I have a page from motorboat and yachting june 1942 (an article on MASB '32) there is a picture of one of these craft. The description of the picture reads 'A rescue float near the Goodwin Sands' while in the text it says 'A red and yellow refuge float' I hope this helps... Edited by clive
	masbie something in the water. www.freewebs.com/masb32/

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 1:48pm
	Thank you Clive, I am wondering whether this may be a 'test', I note the prow of another craft and that civilians are about - an intriguing shot - not too sure of the White Ensign - could that be an RAF Jack?
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

tramontana Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 April 2007 Status: Offline Points: 418	Post Options Post Reply Quote tramontana Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 1:49pm
	He has the look of one of them ther' Boffins unless he is from the Secret Services, could be an Agent re S as in S32 Clive

tramontana Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 April 2007 Status: Offline Points: 418	Post Options Post Reply Quote tramontana Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 1:55pm
	On reflection they look more like Builders reps or Test people as Pioneer indicated, it looks like a Navy crew to me.

northeastuser Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 June 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 446	Post Options Post Reply Quote northeastuser Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 2:24pm
	That’s defiantly one of the emergency life rafts that were station around the coast. The idea being that any plane unable to make it home would ditch near one of these and wait for the crew to be picked up. I believe the only air man ever rescued from one of these was German! They were painted bright yellow. The Scottish maritime museum has one of the last remaining examples in their car park. Perhaps this is at wars end and their bringing it back in? Alternatively perhaps its being deployed. Also if this was shot at sea then there must have been at least 3 craft. Well unless the photographer could walk on water. Edited by northeastuser

northeastuser Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 June 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 446	Post Options Post Reply Quote northeastuser Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 2:34pm
	Note how someone’s jumped aboard and checked below before mooring her alongside to allow the boffins access. Perhaps its routine check and re-supply drop with some ‘boffins’ along to see how its holding up.

Pioneer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Pioneer Joined: 07 December 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 675	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pioneer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 2:35pm
	Thank you gentlemen - settled a few answers - definately a moored Rescue Craft then - I wonder how many there were dotted around the Coast? I would not think this being at the War's end - the MASB appears to be lightly armed - but it could be being deployed or - considering the civilians - under Trials?
	Pioneer - Forum Moderator

dgray Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 November 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 580	Post Options Post Reply Quote dgray Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 3:26pm
	English ones were apparently known as 'Cuckoos' and German ones were called 'Lobster pots'. The one in the photo is apparently ASR 10 and there were three 'Cuckoos' located off Great Yarmouth , serviced by Gorleston ASR craft. Source ' Crash Boats of Gorleston' by Tony Oliver. ISBN 1-903953-84-7 £10 from Woodfield Publishing. A great read.
	Don Only a number, not even a name. How shall posterity hear of thy fame?

johnk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 November 2007 at 3:52pm
	Hi all, Very interesting piece above, had heard about these things before. How is 32 coming along?, JohnK