Netko wrote in
:

The vessel in the attached photo is probably not a prime example of
the boat-builder's craft but at least it's on-topic here.

It's a member of the RAF's Cuckoo class of unmanned (and unpowered)
air-sea rescue vessels, of which 16 were moored in the English Channel
during WW2. The idea was that aircraft which couldn't make it home
would ditch nearby, the crew would clamber aboard and await rescue.
The boats had 6 bunks, dry clothing, food and water, signal flares
etc. They don't seem to have been used much in practice although,
allegedly, German E-boats visited occasionally to borrow some of the
stores.

I'd never heard of such things until I came across this particular
example a few months ago at the Irvine site of the Scottish Maritime
Museum. It's the only survivor and is serialled ASR10.

Attachment decoded: Cuckoo1.jpg
--HW.D033D7F3000DF77BB01029BF--


Nice shot, glad to see one saved.
I can,t remember offhand, where read it, but I can recall
of a bomber crew that made use of one, and before the rescue
were picked up by the Germans,
(now going to have to try and find the reference..cause it will bug me
until I do.)