There were many teething troubles with the lifeboat, its gear and understanding of to use them. The ground and aircraft crews needed training and practice in their use and deployment. A significant operation for 279 squadron took place on 17th February 1943 when one of their Hudsons undertook their first traing drop of an airborne lifeboat. There must have been many of these as the ground and air crews learnt how to manage the new invention.
- The lifeboat had to have all appropriate gear and stores, in the correct place and secured for the flight and drop.
- The rockets which disconnected the parachutes, deployed the lifelines and drogue (sea anchor) had to be armed and checked.
- The parachutes and all of their lines and the lifeboat slings had to be packed clear of equipment and the lifeboat structure so that they would deploy correctly.
- The lifeboat, weighing three quarters of a ton, had to be attached safely and securely to the aircraft. This included making sure there was a good seal to the aircraft to prevent turbulence impacting the flight and the lifeboat equipment. The lifeboat was held to the aircraft by a single ‘hook’ built into the lifeboat structure.
