Talk:Ben Doran

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

At that time, Gilbert Harrison was the harbourmaster in Lerwick and I have a press cutting which reads that he sent a telegram to the Air Ministry in London, requesting that an Airship be sent to attempt to rescue the men. A man before his time ! as helicopters had not yet been invented.Needless to say, they made an ar*e of it and replied that the weather was too bad for an aeroplane ! to take off
Heimdal 17:10, 16 December 2007 (MST)

I'll have to listen to the tape by CJW again. I'm almost certain that he mentioned an seaplane being dispatched, with the intention of dropping life rafts, but that the aircraft either didn't take off, or was delayed by weather en route, and turned back.
I'm sure if I listen to that tape again there will be a lot more info I can add. Oddrun's just found it, clever girl, so I'll listen to it when I get home today and see what it says. :-)
Robbie 21:13, 16 December 2007 (MST)

Listened to the tape again and added the info that was there. It doesn't say on the tape how the request was made for air assistance, but we can assume that the article you've found indicates that. We need to find a way to integrate that info as well.
Speaking about a man before his time.. One of the fishermen interviewed on the tape said that the only thing which could have saved the men was 'A Helicopter'. That was recorded about 1950, when there were damned few helicopters in existence.. I'll try to find a way to include that bit as well.
Robbie 11:37, 17 December 2007 (MST)