I was lucky enough to be the SAR skipper out of Ice Station Kilo at the time. Had just finished pre-flight and asked the crew chief to top up the tanks and headed back to the mess. Had not finished the first cuppa when scrambled for this ditching. Became airborne and almost overflew the scene straight away. Helo was on top and winching the guys before our second pass, and was on the way home with the crew within minutes!!!
I believe the Helo was doing a SARex only miles from the ditch site!!!
If I remember right the ditching was almost on extended centre line, only a few miles from a runway at Lossie. Very hard decision to ditch so close to home, but as mentioned the Mighty Hunter would not have made the distance, so a very good call.
We climbed, put 40000lbs of JetA1 back into the north sea, and returned to Kinloss. Unfortunately our flight was too short and we continued on SAR, and the Crew Chief was miffed that he had to refuel again!!!
Ahhh those were the days......Still miss that Scrufs Bar!!!!
Don