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SAR: RAF Helicopter Search and Rescue - A Pilot’s Account
Jake Watson is an accomplished military pilot, flying Sea King Search and Rescue helicopters for the Royal Air Force. In the course of his flying career he flew over three hundred rescue missions, day and night, in all weather conditions and in all environments. Jake left the Service in 2007 as a Squadron Leader, active front-line pilot, and the Commanding Officer of one of the six RAF Search and Rescue bases in the UK. This is Jake’s story.
Alone, in the dark, in a life threatening situation, injured, or just lost, is not a nice place to be. A bright yellow Sea King coming over the horizon might just be the thing to make your day a whole lot better.
The UK’s moors, mountains, coastlines and sea routes are patrolled and protected, day and night, in all weathers by the crews of the Royal Air Force’s Search and Rescue helicopters. On rescue sorties, the crew of four are given very short notice to use anything at their disposal, usually just themselves and the helicopter, to save life. The task could be a stranded yachtsman, miles out in the North Atlantic, an injured climber, crag-fast in a blizzard, a fisherman suffering a heart attack on the North Sea’s Dogger Bank, or a missing child in the Peak District. The possibilities are endless and the challenges often uniquely complex. It is a job that requires great skill, nerve and courage to face the unknown and the unpredictable. This book is an emotive, personal account of the missions flown by Jake and his crews. The highs and the lows, the heartbreak and the elation are all evident alongside the tenacious and professional approach in the story told behind each rescue mission. Take an enigmatic journey with Jake through the range of search and rescue sorties eloquently described in ‘SAR’, or why not have a brief preview first with the ‘Look Inside’ feature.
“SAR is a compelling read that brings to life the high drama of Search and Rescue. Jake Watson recreates with stunning clarity missions that to the average civilian are beyond terrifying, blending hope and joy with sadness and despair, detailing those quick-fire decisions and vital seconds that can make the difference between life and death. There are anecdotes that give the reader an insight into what goes on behind-the scenes; camaraderie, laughter and a tremendous team spirit.
This is an excellent read that doesn't shy away from the sadness that can surround a rescue that ends without a life saved as well as the ecstasy that is the reward for a successful operation.” – Editor, The Rotherham Advertiser.
“SAR is a wholly absorbing and thought provoking book which captured my attention at the very beginning and held that attention right through to the end, chiefly because it is a truly outstanding piece of writing with content that will absorb and fascinate in turns. It contained some truly wonderful incidents and was narrated in a completely natural way.” – Sarah Jennings, Author, Literary Consultant, Critic.
Jake Watson lives in Devon with his wife and two children. SAR is his first book.
Alone, in the dark, in a life threatening situation, injured, or just lost, is not a nice place to be. A bright yellow Sea King coming over the horizon might just be the thing to make your day a whole lot better.
The UK’s moors, mountains, coastlines and sea routes are patrolled and protected, day and night, in all weathers by the crews of the Royal Air Force’s Search and Rescue helicopters. On rescue sorties, the crew of four are given very short notice to use anything at their disposal, usually just themselves and the helicopter, to save life. The task could be a stranded yachtsman, miles out in the North Atlantic, an injured climber, crag-fast in a blizzard, a fisherman suffering a heart attack on the North Sea’s Dogger Bank, or a missing child in the Peak District. The possibilities are endless and the challenges often uniquely complex. It is a job that requires great skill, nerve and courage to face the unknown and the unpredictable. This book is an emotive, personal account of the missions flown by Jake and his crews. The highs and the lows, the heartbreak and the elation are all evident alongside the tenacious and professional approach in the story told behind each rescue mission. Take an enigmatic journey with Jake through the range of search and rescue sorties eloquently described in ‘SAR’, or why not have a brief preview first with the ‘Look Inside’ feature.
“SAR is a compelling read that brings to life the high drama of Search and Rescue. Jake Watson recreates with stunning clarity missions that to the average civilian are beyond terrifying, blending hope and joy with sadness and despair, detailing those quick-fire decisions and vital seconds that can make the difference between life and death. There are anecdotes that give the reader an insight into what goes on behind-the scenes; camaraderie, laughter and a tremendous team spirit.
This is an excellent read that doesn't shy away from the sadness that can surround a rescue that ends without a life saved as well as the ecstasy that is the reward for a successful operation.” – Editor, The Rotherham Advertiser.
“SAR is a wholly absorbing and thought provoking book which captured my attention at the very beginning and held that attention right through to the end, chiefly because it is a truly outstanding piece of writing with content that will absorb and fascinate in turns. It contained some truly wonderful incidents and was narrated in a completely natural way.” – Sarah Jennings, Author, Literary Consultant, Critic.
Jake Watson lives in Devon with his wife and two children. SAR is his first book.
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2014
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