| Members Memories |
Torrey Canyon - 1967 in 1967
written by Ian Harding
 During my time at RAF Mount Batten, we were required to select a detachment of crews and ASR launches to assist in a Joint Services Operation to protect and clear the coastal area affected by the giant oil slick developed by the ruptured tanks of the severely damaged super tanker Torrey Canyon.
On our arrival I was impressed by the combined attitude of everyone involved throughout the entire Newlyn community.
My task was to ensure that our launches were appropriately manned and that the crews were accommodated and suitably equipt to meet with task requirements. Working and liaising with my service counterparts was made easy by the professional standards they all demonstrated to get the job done.
The local residents were absolutely stunned at the way we co-ordinated our efforts without any `disharmony`.
One particular piece of brilliant service innovation was a mobile laundry unit, supplied by the Army,located in the town square, which was not only used by the crews and beach clearance parties to remove the oil from affected clothing but by most of the residents who supplied accommodation to the members of the Combined Services; many residents made their homes available to our requests for accommodation.
My base was a small caravan on the pier of Newlyn Harbour and each day we would receive countless postal suggestions from the general public (and retired military personnel)advising us how to quickly eliminate the problem.
Prior to the eventual bombing of the ship by Hunter aircraft we attempted
igniting a `super wick`contained within a specially constructed raft which had been towed into the oil slick. As this had been erected to the suggested design of a retired Admiral the dubious lighting up honour was given to one of our ASR launch Skippers who lay prone on the bow of the launch armed with a box of Swan Vestas Matches. His attempts to anticipate the heavy sea swell lifting the launch to alarming heights above `the wick`, combined with the gusting winds which extinguished those matches he managed to light, quickly exhausted his supply and patience - and he reluctantly adopted a more successful method of using a signal flare. The wick ignited and sadly sank. The rest is history.
Overall the joint operation was genuinely a success and an experience which I shall never forget. FltLt JB Meek and `Jack Dusty` are two names I shall always remember together with the many friends we all made during our stay.
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