National 12 redwing sail 317

[thedodger]

Just seen her picture on Dan Snow's 'Dig WW" where she rescued US airmen from a B17 that crash landed on Loch Neagh in Northern Ireland.
The story 'On Saturday morning, 12 September 1942, Mrs Nellie Benson, wife of Reverend Richard Benson, and her nineteen-year-old daughter, Elisabeth were preparing to go sailing in their Uffa Fox design 12ft dinghy, Redwing. The dinghy had a 21ft mast, a racing centreboard and was well rigged. Mrs Benson, who was in her late fifties, was an excellent helmswoman. Elisabeth was also an excellent sailor and both ladies were looking forward to a pleasant day's sailing in Lough Foyle. It was a lovely end of summer's day with a light breeze blowing from the south and Elisabeth, who had recently come back from boarding school, was bending to check one of the pulleys when her mother's gasp drew her attention.
Looking in the direction her mother was pointing, Elisabeth was just in time to see a great B-17 bomber plane slap onto the surface of the choppy water. Quickly the two women launched the Redwing, and shortly they were emerging from the harbour only to find that the plane was sinking fast. Out on the far side of the lough they could see a small yellow inflatable with four men in it. Nellie Benson, who had a heart condition and should not really have been put in that position, nonetheless judged the tide exactly right. Crossing at an angle, and despite the fact it was quite a difficult manoeuvre against a 7-knot out-going tide, the two plucky women sailed towards the inflatable. When they came sideways alongside it, Elisabeth made it fast to the port side with the bow painter. 
You can see a picture of them by watching on iplayer