Flight Lieutenant Tom Fletcher, who died on March 10 aged 95, was the RAF's most decorated air-sea rescue pilot.
An example of Fletcher's heroism ...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On December 14 1942, six men were spotted adrift on a raft 10 miles east of Dover. Fletcher touched down in the rough seas even though he knew that it would be impossible to take off again.
In failing light he made three passes, picking up the men one by one – although several of them were swept from the raft. Even as his Walrus started to take in water he succeeded in recovering one of the survivors. By now it was completely dark, and Fletcher reluctantly abandoned the search and started to taxi towards Dover. The aircraft continued to ship water, and it took him almost two hours to make the harbor – where the harbor master reprimanded him for not getting permission to bring his sinking aircraft into port.
The survivors for whom Fletcher had gone to such lengths and risk of life for were German sailors.</div></div>
More... obituary
An example of Fletcher's heroism ...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On December 14 1942, six men were spotted adrift on a raft 10 miles east of Dover. Fletcher touched down in the rough seas even though he knew that it would be impossible to take off again.
In failing light he made three passes, picking up the men one by one – although several of them were swept from the raft. Even as his Walrus started to take in water he succeeded in recovering one of the survivors. By now it was completely dark, and Fletcher reluctantly abandoned the search and started to taxi towards Dover. The aircraft continued to ship water, and it took him almost two hours to make the harbor – where the harbor master reprimanded him for not getting permission to bring his sinking aircraft into port.
The survivors for whom Fletcher had gone to such lengths and risk of life for were German sailors.</div></div>
More... obituary
