Westland Scout 1982
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I have been trying to post this article here for a while and decided to try again.
I have painted a picture of a pair of Westland Scouts flying over East Falkland in 1982 during the conflict. On the 28th of May 2 Royal Marine pilots were awarded the DFC, one posthumously following an attack by Argentine Pucaras.
Here is a brief synopsis. If my post gets accepted this time I may add further info.
On Friday 28th May 1982, the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was engaged in fierce fighting to take enemy positions in the area of Darwin and Goose Green. Two Gazelles and two Scout helicopters from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines were tasked to support the attack.
From dawn, heedless of enemy ground fire, the two Scouts from B Flight, led by the Flight Commander, Captain Jeff Niblett RM with his air gunner Sergeant John Glaze RM in ‘Delta Tango’ with ‘Delta Romeo’ flown by Lieutenant Richard Nunn RM with his air gunner Sergeant Bill Belcher RM, supported the Battalion by flying vital ammunition forward to the front line and then evacuating casualties to safety. The two Gazelles from M Flight were also committed throughout the battle.
After flying continuously for three and a half hours, it was learnt that the Commanding Officer and others in the battalion’s forward Tactical Headquarters had been severely wounded. Both Scout aircraft were tasked to fly forward once more to evacuate the wounded, taking with them the Battalion Second in Command. Five minutes after take-off from their forward operation base at Camilla Creek House, suddenly and without warning two Argentine Pucara ground attack aircraft attacked both Scouts with cannon and rocket fire. With great flying skill Lieutenant Nunn evaded the first attack but on the second his aircraft was hit and destroyed. Lieutenant Nunn was killed instantly. Sergeant Belcher was seriously wounded but thrown clear. He lost a leg. By employing a combination of exceptional flying skill and superb teamwork with his air gunner Sergeant John Glaze, Captain Niblett successfully evaded a further three cannon and rocket attacks, eventually completing the mission. The crew of ‘Delta Tango’ resolutely continued support and evacuation operations until well after dark. The support given by the aircraft of 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron was vital to the conduct of the attack and was instrumental in the eventual victory. Captain Jeff Niblett RM was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lieutenant Richard Nunn was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This text draws on the citations for both awards published in the London Gazette on 8th October 1982.
I have painted a picture of a pair of Westland Scouts flying over East Falkland in 1982 during the conflict. On the 28th of May 2 Royal Marine pilots were awarded the DFC, one posthumously following an attack by Argentine Pucaras.
Here is a brief synopsis. If my post gets accepted this time I may add further info.
On Friday 28th May 1982, the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was engaged in fierce fighting to take enemy positions in the area of Darwin and Goose Green. Two Gazelles and two Scout helicopters from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines were tasked to support the attack.
From dawn, heedless of enemy ground fire, the two Scouts from B Flight, led by the Flight Commander, Captain Jeff Niblett RM with his air gunner Sergeant John Glaze RM in ‘Delta Tango’ with ‘Delta Romeo’ flown by Lieutenant Richard Nunn RM with his air gunner Sergeant Bill Belcher RM, supported the Battalion by flying vital ammunition forward to the front line and then evacuating casualties to safety. The two Gazelles from M Flight were also committed throughout the battle.
After flying continuously for three and a half hours, it was learnt that the Commanding Officer and others in the battalion’s forward Tactical Headquarters had been severely wounded. Both Scout aircraft were tasked to fly forward once more to evacuate the wounded, taking with them the Battalion Second in Command. Five minutes after take-off from their forward operation base at Camilla Creek House, suddenly and without warning two Argentine Pucara ground attack aircraft attacked both Scouts with cannon and rocket fire. With great flying skill Lieutenant Nunn evaded the first attack but on the second his aircraft was hit and destroyed. Lieutenant Nunn was killed instantly. Sergeant Belcher was seriously wounded but thrown clear. He lost a leg. By employing a combination of exceptional flying skill and superb teamwork with his air gunner Sergeant John Glaze, Captain Niblett successfully evaded a further three cannon and rocket attacks, eventually completing the mission. The crew of ‘Delta Tango’ resolutely continued support and evacuation operations until well after dark. The support given by the aircraft of 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron was vital to the conduct of the attack and was instrumental in the eventual victory. Captain Jeff Niblett RM was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lieutenant Richard Nunn was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. This text draws on the citations for both awards published in the London Gazette on 8th October 1982.
Chief Bottle Washer
I'll let it run under caution, but if you want to sell prints then all bets are off.
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Did they really fly around with the landing light on? 
Originally Posted by ambidextrous
Correct, the wheels were for ground handling purposes only.
The wheels on the Scout were attached by three (?) pins. In Ireland they were removed daily for flight as their weight (20+ pounds each) combined with the floor armour was excessive. I suspect that they would be flown wheels off in the Falklands.
On one ocasion an attempt was made to bomb the Jacobs biscuit factory close to Long Kesh when a wheel had its pins removed but was left on the skid. It landed in Jacobs car park. We had to ask for it back.
On a second occasion an aircraft returned with a "bullet hole" in the stabiliser. However it became apparent that a jacking handle was a perfect fit for the damage and one was missing from the rack in the hangar. It had been left on the engine deck.
Happy days with a fine aircraft.
On one ocasion an attempt was made to bomb the Jacobs biscuit factory close to Long Kesh when a wheel had its pins removed but was left on the skid. It landed in Jacobs car park. We had to ask for it back.
On a second occasion an aircraft returned with a "bullet hole" in the stabiliser. However it became apparent that a jacking handle was a perfect fit for the damage and one was missing from the rack in the hangar. It had been left on the engine deck.
Happy days with a fine aircraft.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Did they really fly around with the landing light on?
L.Light
Wheels
Last edited by SilsoeSid; 6th Oct 2014 at 20:07. Reason: sort
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I can confirm that most if not all scouts used during Op Corporate flew with wheels fitted.
I have looked at some of the photos/slides that I took during the operation and all the scouts have wheels fitted.
Although I cannot confirm the reason why they continued to carry them but I suspect that it was to prevent the fouling of deck space if one went u/s on a ships flight deck. Ratchet in pocket between doors allowed for the aircraft to be moved quickly.
HM
I have looked at some of the photos/slides that I took during the operation and all the scouts have wheels fitted.
Although I cannot confirm the reason why they continued to carry them but I suspect that it was to prevent the fouling of deck space if one went u/s on a ships flight deck. Ratchet in pocket between doors allowed for the aircraft to be moved quickly.
HM
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FWIW, I don't think that's a shadow in the left foreground.
Just a bare patch of turf, pretty common in the Falklands moorland.
I think the landscape in the painting is marvellous. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's Mt Usborne in the very far right background, with the spot that the F4 had the CFIT crash, in later years, just below the cloudbase on the right edge of the painting.
Just a bare patch of turf, pretty common in the Falklands moorland.
I think the landscape in the painting is marvellous. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that's Mt Usborne in the very far right background, with the spot that the F4 had the CFIT crash, in later years, just below the cloudbase on the right edge of the painting.
Last edited by inputshaft; 7th Oct 2014 at 06:25. Reason: Adding smarty pants guess
I think the foreground machine's shadow would be below and outside the viewable frame, but upon closer inspection I think that the further machine's shadow may fall below line of sight, since it looks like there's kind of a depression n the terrain, so ignore my earlier comment!
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
For would, read should 
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Landing Lamps
I flew on Op Corporate and there were times we did fly with lights on. They were not near front lines but usually during transit back and forth to fuel, or base, during the bad weather that we encountered during the op.
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In my humble opinion it is a god picture, worthy of hanging on my office wall, it shows well the wildness of the peat boggy moors and the remoteness of the brooding hills behind , then contrast the movement that can be envisaged by the way the Scouts seem to be banking over to turn, at about 30 ft from the ground
Well done, good action picture, moors and hills like that around Settle/Malham in North Yorkshire, so quiet you can hear a mouse scuttle in the dry grass!
Peter R-B
Lancashire
Well done, good action picture, moors and hills like that around Settle/Malham in North Yorkshire, so quiet you can hear a mouse scuttle in the dry grass!
Peter R-B
Lancashire
