Airborne Lifeboats Mark II and IIA – Around 241 Mark II / Mark IIA lifeboats were built – about half the number of Mark I/IA.
The Mark I design was constrained by the original aircraft chosen to carry it – the Hudson. Once the larger Warwick became available it meant a larger lifeboat could be considered, although in the meantime the Mark IA was fitted to the Warwick.
Several competitive designs were produced against a detailed RAF specification incorporating lessons from the Mark I/Mark IA. The chosen Mark II design by Uffa Fox incorporated aspects from many of the unsuccessful submissions. It was later modified, as the Mark IIA, so that it could be fitted to the Lancaster as that aircraft was made available. The modifications were restricted to reshaping the gunwale (top edge) to fit the Lancaster fuselage. Indeed all of the Mark IIA lifeboats for the Lancaster were built originally as Mark II for the Warwick and modified.
The Mark II was substantially larger than the Mark I. Construction was three layers of mahogany planks again on close framing.
The single propeller was driven by an Austin 8hp engine. The propeller was cleverly positioned in a ‘tunnel’ in the hull so that it did not protrude beneath the hull. This mitigated the risk of getting lines caught around it. The idea can be seen in this photograph of a Mark II being built.
From RAF records, for the Mk. IIA fitted on a Lancaster ASR. Mk. III:
(a) The lifeboat may be dropped at any speed up to 138 m.p.h. (120 knots) I.A.S. provided the aircraft is in straight and level flight, without sideslip.
(b) The lifeboat may be jettisoned at any speed up to the limiting speed of the aircraft.
| Mark II | |
|---|---|
| Service | RAF |
| Aeroplane | II – Warwick IIA – Lancaster |
| Capacity (people) | 10 |
| Top Speed (knots) | 7 |
| Endurance (days) | 7 |
| Length overall | 30′ 2″ |
| Length waterline | 30′ 0″ |
| Beam | 6′ 0″ |
| Draft | 11″ |
| Displacement (tons) | 0.75 |
| Max All Up Weight (lbs) | 3942 |
| Constructions | Treble skin mahogany. |
| Engine | One 4 cylinder Austin Marine 8hp, propeller in tunnel |
| Number Built | II – 144 IIA – 97 (MkIIA were all rebuilt from MkII) |
| Operational | 1944 |
| 1st Rescue Drop | 1944 |
| Notes | |
Deck Layout
The lifeboats carried emergency equipment, a radio, waterproof suits, rations and medical supplies in watertight lockers.
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Crew Instructions
The lifeboat included an instruction book to teach aircrew the rudiments of sailing.
(Click on the image to read the booklet)
Videos
| Type | Description | Designs |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Mark IIA on a Lancaster, British Pathe Gazette Video about lost weather plane and Mark IIA on a Lancaster. Good shot on the ground but nothing in the air. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9cmLTZKiqM | Mark IIA |
| Website | Mark IIA lifeboat restoration, Facebook group Facebook page documenting restoration of Mark IIA lifeboat saved from Duxford Museum by the daughter of the owner in the 1960s, when as ‘Centipede’ the boat was used on the North Norfolk coast. The page ... | Mark IIA |
Gallery
