BOOKS

Royal Air Force Rescue Boats of World War Two in Two Volumes. Text by Geoffrey D. Philborough with Illustrations by John Pritchard

RAF Marine Craft Class Directory Appendix G 63ft BPB Whalebacks compiled by Terry Holtham

Sailors in the RAF by Keith Beardow. A good place to start learning about RAF Marine Craft

The RAF Air Sea Rescue Service 1918-1986 by Jon Sutherland & Diane Canwell. A good place to follow up exploring the topic from the book above 

Air Sea Rescue in World War Two by Alan Rowe. Personal account of an RN crew member of Rescue Motor Launches in the North Sea

The History of Royal Air Force Marine Craft 1918 – 1986 complied by Geoffrey D. Philborough in three volumes. Vol 1 excellent on pre WWII  – Seaplane Tenders, Lawrence of Arabia and 100 Class. Vol 2, Basically WWII. Vol 3, Post WWII. First part of each Vol is mainly personal accounts with the second part being official documents, especially by RAF MARINE CRAFT policy committee.

A drop in the Ocean by Jim Burtt-Smith and John French. A personal accounts of Air Crews who ditched to become members of the Goldfish Club

Air Sea Rescue Radio Waves by Percy Yates. The story of one mans experiences performing ASR work both in home waters and the Far East

RAF Air Sea Rescue HSL Chronicles by D Yates. Compilation of different rescues

Nor Fish, Nor Fowl by Colin Yorke, A personal account that covers RAF Marine Branch history from early 1930ies to early 1960ies. Please email admin@asrwhaleback.com if you would like a copy.

Coastal Forces at War by David Jefferson

Fast Attack Craft the evolution of Design and Tactics by Keiren Phelan and Martin H Brice. A good account of the early development of the boats

Strike Craft by Antony Preston

Fast Fighting Boats 1870 – 1945 by Harald Fock. Lots of technical details

Royal Navy Motor Gun Boat Haynes Owners Workshop Manual. Does what it says on the cover

Fast Boats Flying Boats by Adrian Rance

Another Life Lawrence After Arabia by Andrew R.B. Simpson. A must read for Lawrence fans but also for anyone who wishes to understand the development of small fast WORKING boats.

The Battle of the Narrow Seas by Lt CDR Peter Scott. Great stories of MTBs and MGBs but nothing on MASB

Felixstowe at War by Phillip Hadwen. Lots of interesting pictures

Around Felixstowe by Land, Sea and Air by Neil Wylie, John Smith and Peter White. Again good pictures

Air Sea Rescue during the Siege of Malta by Bill Jackson. Malta’s ASR boats were probably the most successful of any ASR units in WWII.

Frayed Lifelines by Frank Leighton, More on Malta

The Sea shall not Have Them by John Harris who also wrote A Funny Place to Hold A War a novel about RAF Marine Craft airman in West Africa.

Crash Boats of Gorleston by Tony Overill

RAF Air Sea Rescue A reminiscences of local people of events during World War II connected with No 24 Air Sea Rescue Unit Royal Air Force Gorleston

Shot Down and in the Drink by Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork published by The National Archives 2005

Beyond Courage by Norman Franks published by Grub Street 2003

Boat in the Blue by W.D. Pereira published Line One 1985

Airman at the Helm by Eric Blackman published by Kenneth Mason 1979

Mayday….Calling Mayday by Joyce Millard published in 1995

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FILMS

“The Sea Shall Not Have Them” 1954
“For Those in Peril” 1944