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Post Info TOPIC: RAF Vulcan Aircraft Bomber Raid On The Falklands Islands Airstrip During The Argentinian Occupation
Vic41


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RAF Vulcan Aircraft Bomber Raid On The Falklands Islands Airstrip During The Argentinian Occupation
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This will be of interest to those of us who remember the Falklands war in 1982. 

 

 I wonder how many of you knew the story. I certainly had not heard about it. It took

place at the opening of the Falklands war, as a task force sailed towards the Falklands

to regain control after the Argentinian invasion and occupation. In order to minimise

the air threat to the task force, it was necessary to make the airstrip on the island unusable.

The RAF brass proposed an audacious plan -- to send a Vulcan bomber down to drop

ordinary bombs on it, rather than the nuclear variety they were originally designed to

deliver. It makes a gripping story and I won't spoil it for you by revealing whether or

not they were successful.  See this link; (Speakers On)

http://www.youtube.com/embed/40knj0qg_Us?feature=player_

 

 
 
 
 


-- Edited by Vic41 on Saturday 4th of January 2014 10:26:51 PM

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Plendo


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Thanks Vic,

I knew of this raid, it is well documented in the history of the Falklands War, but I had no idea of the complexity or difficulty of the raid.

I always thought of the Vulcan as high tech, with a long range. O how wrong we can be.



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Vic41


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My pc has reached it's download limit Plendo, so is on go slow until tomorrow, I haven't been able to view the video but will tomorrow.

Yes they certainly look liked a mean machine, good for their time I suppose.



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Plendo


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Well woth watching Vic.

Yes they were good for their time, the trouble was the relationship between their time and this particular excercise.



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spida


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I flew from NZ to Argentine in 1987. On the way back we landed to refuel right down south and either side of the runway there were bomb craters. We were met with armed soldiers, not allowed to take any photos and were marched into the terminal until the plane was ready to leave - about 1.5 hours.

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Yuglamron


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One fact not generally known was the debacle of retro fitting the in flight air to air refuelling on the Hercules transport planes that did the troop and logistical work. Flying men and supplies from the UK to the Falklands.

It was such a rush job the contractors quality control systems were pathetic and whilst refuelling the flight decks were awash with aviation fuel.

Not a nice way to have to fly an aircraft. Peoples lives were on the line so the pilots and flight crews just did what they do. They carried on regardless and flew with fuel having to be mopped up and the aircraft a flying incendiary device.

I saw the results after the war ended and they used water to show the brass how much fuel was going into the flight decks. I reckon I use less when having a shower.

Some very brave aircrew.



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Vic41


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What an amazing story, amazing RAF hero's and amazing if not antiquated aircraft and support aircraft, long download but well worth it.

Apart from the skills and courage required, certainly done on a "wing and a prayer" with the tools they had, thank goodness luck was on their side.

 



-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 5th of January 2014 12:31:34 PM

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Ontos45


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Watched 1/2 of it today, will watch rest later (d/l limited) but sounds very informative and in away, exciting.

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Vic41


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Ontos45 wrote:

Watched 1/2 of it today, will watch rest later (d/l limited) but sounds very informative and in away, exciting.

The Chiefs of Air Staff had only given the mission a 40% chance of being successful but it was as we know, remarkable men and flying machines, the set up with the Victor Refuelling aircraft was amazing too. 



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Big Gorilla


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Just watched it. Amazing story. The old Vulcan must have been a thirsty old beast !! Typical for early jets.  Maybe it had short range fuel tanks..



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Big Gorilla


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spida wrote:

I flew from NZ to Argentine in 1987. On the way back we landed to refuel right down south and either side of the runway there were bomb craters. We were met with armed soldiers, not allowed to take any photos and were marched into the terminal until the plane was ready to leave - about 1.5 hours.

 I've been on that flight as a passenger in an Aerolineas Argentinas 747 from Buenos Aires to Auckland. The stop was at a military base in the south of the country, not the Falklands, to refuel. The early 747s which we called the Classic, didn't have the range also the westerly winds in that part of the world can have a great affect on fuel burnoff. I was quite surprised when we landed there. I had a window seat and noticed the black top sealed runway was only just wide enough to accommodate the aircraft. Mishandling of a  slight cross wind could have bogged us down on the grass. It made me wary of the airline, allowing it's aircraft to land on an unsuitable runway. Certainly didn't meet the requirements for the Company I worked for... My flight was around 1985 and I don't recall any bomb craters or armed military. Maybe I was too busy checking my underwear after the hairy landing ! biggrin

 

 



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Landfall


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Thanks for posting such an informative and interesting piece of history, Vic.

Really enjoyed it.

Ken

 

 



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johnq


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Thanks for that Vic, appreciated.



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Vic41


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I'm just glad the Brits are on our side, the rest of the campaign was brilliant also, albeit at a cost.

Some Aussie Navy personnel were on the Brit ships as well on exchange.



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landy


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Thanks for sharing vic, Great show.
Landy

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Vic41


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Pleased that I could do so Landy, Johnq and Landfall.  

It was sent to me on an email from a friend, I was glad they sent it to me and I was able to share it, I was unaware of that part of the Falklands ops, must have been a real morale booster to the trapped British citizens there, and a morale wrecker for the Argentinian forces stationed on the island.



-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 5th of January 2014 11:36:37 PM

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