Lady Sybil H Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Hi everyone Myself Sharon and my husband Richard are in the process of buying a WW2 heritage boat. She is called Lady Sybil H - she was built in 1932 by Harland & Wolfe, Belfast, yes the same company that built the Titanic. We know her boat number during the War was 26, as during restoration the plate was visible. I found a photo online on the following page that shows a Pinnace in the War with the same number 26 see the link to that page here [TABLE=width: 497] [TR] [TD] https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/502/air-sea-rescue/ I contacted the Forces War Records, their response was that they are given lots of photos so can not say if this is her or not !!!! We have seen many images online of other Pinnace's with numbers like 17, 25.. etc Would a boat have kept the same number, would there have been other boats with the same number ... I hope you guys can help us in our research. Any further history of this type of boat would be appreciated thank you all Sharon & Richard Evans[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 How to turn a lot of us green with envy at one post! Welcome The more photos the better, please. Have you tried Coastal Motorboat Heritage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 (edited) Your link shows a different class of vessel - I think it shows a number 26XX with the XX being covered by grime. The attached image shows what I believe she looked like during the war (there is another image showing slightly altered superstructure - possibly altered postwar?). EDIT: 17 is in fact a Mk1 vessel - superstructure has minor differences to 26 (Mk2). I'm posting this so that any members who are knowledgeable on these might be able to assist you better. Well done for saving her! Edited August 17, 2017 by N.O.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Aha - difference in superstructure may be Mk 2 v Mk3 - see here: http://www.rafboats.co.uk/pin56menu.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Sharon - if you click on Mk2 in the link above, and then click Specification, you will see there were just two built - Nos 25 and 26. Nos 27 - 31 were Mk3. Mk3 had two engines, Mk2 had one so ties up with your single engined hull. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 If you click on Mk1 (another single-engined hull), this shows yet another style of superstructure, pictures of which have been associated with info on Lady Syb. The 26 definitely pins it to a Mk2 though, and you should be able to confirm by evidence from the old superstructure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Do you have the RAF logbooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 I can't be of any use to you with information that you require but I do remember that there were always four RAF Pinnaces stationed in Falmouth during the early 1950's and that they were always moored up in the harbour. If they had to have any work done on them, they were brought ashore on a hard concrete standing next to what was then Taylors Garage but is now Trago. I think that the concrete standing was laid down during the war prior to the invasion in June 1944, I am guessing by the Americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hair Bear Posted August 16, 2017 Share Posted August 16, 2017 Just for future reference, is 'Envy Green' the same as 'Deep Bronze Green', or under these circumstances will any shade of green be acceptable?:-D Love to see some pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 17, 2017 Share Posted August 17, 2017 This might lead you to the service Record Card for 26: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/default/archive-collection/marine-craft-records.aspx From there a search of websites for followers of individual units might yield some archive photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 (edited) I've just found two books in my father's collection (pilot with RAF Coastal Command WW2) which I highly recommend you track down - The first majors on vessels, and will give you a good understanding of the uses of the 56ft and other pinnaces within RAF Coastal Command: The RAF Air Sea Rescue Service 1918 - 1986 by Sutherland & Canwell The second majors on aircraft and the WW2 period, but is a good companion to the above, and both I think would be essential 'cabin' books for your vessel: Coastal Command at War by Bowyer Edited August 18, 2017 by N.O.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneck Posted August 19, 2017 Share Posted August 19, 2017 I take it that you have seen this one down in Rye harbour, its an old news article, but she is still there. http://www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/rye-boat-s-heroic-past-1-4602613 There used to be another one moored next to us on the Hamble but that was 8 years ago and I don't have any details on her, I'll see if I can dig out some pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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