An urgent request for help was given to the Royal Navy after the extensive North Sea flooding of East Anglia and the Netherlands on the night of 31 January 1953 . 12 Dragonfly HR .1 and HR .3 helicopters were dispatched from 705 Naval Air Squadron from their base at RNAS Gosport ( HMS Siskin ) . During the 7 hours flying in response to the floods 840 people were rescued ; one single pilot was responsible for 111 of these , and another 102 . For the life-saving efforts the Commanding Officer , Lt Cdr HR Spedding , was awarded the MBE and Aircrewman IS Craig the British Empire Medal
North Sea flooding
North Sea flood of 1953
History of Royal Navy Helicopter Search and Rescue