Rescue Pilot: Cheating the Sea

by Jerry Grayson

Jerry Grayson is an ordinary man who chose an extraordinary career. At age seventeen, he became the youngest helicopter pilot to ever serve in the Royal Navy. By age twenty-five, he was the most decorated peacetime naval pilot in history.

For the Navy's Search and Rescue pilots, getting to work is both an adventure and an ordeal. Whether rescuing a wounded fighter pilot who has ditched in the sea, saving desperate survivors from a sinking ship, or picking up a grievously ill crewman from the deck of a nuclear-armed submarine that is playing a cat-and-mouse game with the Soviet navy, Jerry Grayson has lived a life of unparalleled excitement and adventure.

His finest hour came during the infamous Fastnet Yacht Race of 1979, in which twenty-five yachts were lost. When a catastrophic storm enveloped the competitors, he and his crew pushed their Wessex helicopter to its absolute limit and put their own lives at risk, flying into hurricane-force winds to winch shipwrecked sailors from heaving tempestuous seas. An investiture at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty the Queen was the result.

Being a rescue pilot is a fast-paced career because there is no choice. Lives are at stake and pilots must move and think fast. Jerry Grayson's inside view of this heroic service is as inspirational as it is celebratory. Excitingly told, frequently funny, but also very poignant, Jerry's story is not an account of just one man's deeds, it is a salute to all the men and women he worked with who were able to turn tragedies into triumphs.

Foreword by HRH the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm.

Genres: Nonfiction, Aviation, Audiobook, Memoir, Biography, Military Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2015

Reviews

[Giles Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. These are the memoirs of a former Search-and-Rescue (SAR) helicopter pilot. In each chapter he recounts particular stories of his time in the navy (especially his time as an SAR pilot), and subsequent career as a civilian pilot after leaving the Navy. The chapters jumps about chronologically and he doesn't attempt to cover anything outside his flying career. He appears to have been a phenomenal pilot. His account of the rescues taking place during the disastrous Fastnet Race in 1979 are the highlight for me but there are so many interesting and incredible stories here, it's difficult to choose.

[Martin Mostek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lively written account about life and adventures, and funny mis-adventures of course, of Royal Navy helicopter pilot. Grayson spent most of his carrier in uniform as Search and Rescue pilot in Cornwall. He was one of first who raced to locate and evacuate crews of yachts badly mangled by summer storm and gale-force winds during disatrous Fastnet race in 1979. He shares also various lighter moments of his service, some poignant memories and his succesfull business after he left Navy. No surprise - always with helicopter strapped to his back as he is fond to say.

[LibraryKath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Jerry Grayson on Conversations with Richard Fidler a while back and put this book on my TBR pile because he was so interesting to listen to. I just finished the audiobook and really enjoyed it. It's fun and informal but also gives a lot of insight into a military life. He seems the kind of man I would want to lead a rescue for me if I ever needed it!

[Mr Michael R Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an easy read, it is however a compelling story, the Fastnet rescue brings back memories to those of us who live in Cornwall.
Sadly 771 Squadron is no longer on stand-by, no longer seen overhead but this book, a really good read, recalls the time when these young men put their lives at risk to save others.

[James Yong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and easy to follow book on Grayson’s experience in the Navy and his personal recollections of transitioning into a civilian role and what followed.

Experience what Grayson felt and the challenges facing a SAR pilot.

[Vendea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 And that was going into it with interest in the subject matter. Definitely interesting, just a bit dry at times. The last few chapters where he talked about engine malfunctions were the most entertaining.

[Kay Schrock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just an average book. Not bad, but not particularly riveting. I am not big into flying so the technical side of that just doesn't interest me. I feel like this book was written for pilots or flying enthusiasts.

[Ryan van Zyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's a great and simple story of the times and tales of a SAR (Search and Rescue) pilot in the British Navy. The stories are gripping and diverse in nature.

[Ant Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

A well written account of a very interesting subject. A easy read and very difficult to put down once started

[Maddy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book of Grayson’s life and career as a pilot. Some great stories and close calls along the way.

[Paul Grosvenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Easy listening.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the career of a helicopter pilot in the British Navy. It is written with a dry sense of humour that brings light moments to some rather serious situations. It was a quick read but one that I really enjoyed and would recommend and even read again myself.

[Candice Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly far from my normal genre of dragons and mistborn this book is fascinating. Jerry expertly describes the alien world of a navy aviator on an aircraft carrier. I really bored my other half with my "did you know facts" truely interesting. The second part of the book focuses on Jerrys years as a search and rescue pilot. His stories - humble and humorous give you an inspiring appreciation for these intelligent and courageous crews. A truely unusual gem and well worth the read!!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun to read. It is the story of a British helicopter pilot, Jerry Grayson, and his multiple jobs flying, including his work in the British navy where he hunted submarines and did search and rescue. It also covers his post military work in the private sector which included many flying tasks, but where he ended up specializing in assisting in the making films (from BMW commercials to assisting in the making of James Bond movies). Definitely a "page turner".

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really giving it 4.5⭐️, really enjoyed the book it was well written and I can relate to the Cornish coastline and how dangerous it is. Certainly had a great SAR career and having stayed close to Culdrose on several occasions the book really brought the place alive as to what they do there!
Well worth a read as its a military book about humanitarian side here in the UK! Sadly military SAR is a thing of the past on our coastline and certainly makes a difference on the lizard in Cornwall!

[Salty Turtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I can safely say that I have never wanted to be a helicopter pilot so much in my life! It was fascinating, frequently funny and a rare glimpse into the life of a truly exceptional group of people.