See also
this thread.
You may find
this page on the RN website interesting.....
The National Falklands 25 Commemorative Event in central London on 17 June will culminate in a flypast of aircraft from all three Services at 4.15pm.
The 49 aircraft, including planes or aircrew representing all of the squadrons that took part in the campaign for the Falkland Islands in 1982, will converge over London to salute the veterans marching up The Mall, and then fly over Buckingham Palace where they will be reviewed by HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duke of York and the Prime Minister.
Some of the modern-day aircraft and squadrons seen over London will represent the aircraft and squadrons that served in 1982, but have since been decommissioned or disbanded.
The 27 fixed wing aeroplanes will include Hawks representing the iconic Royal Navy Sea Harriers and Royal Air Force Harriers, the Red Arrows flying a 'Vulcan formation' to represent the contribution of the Vulcan bomber, and the new Typhoon fighter representing the 29 (Fighter) Squadron Phantom jets that provided air defence over Ascension Island.
With the Falklands only 500 miles from Argentina, air cover was provided by Sea Harriers from 800, 801, 809 and 899 Naval Air Squadrons flown by both Royal Navy and RAF pilots, onboard the 2 carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible. The Sea Harriers flew more than 1200 sorties and defended against more than 100 Argentinean attackers without the loss of a single aircraft in air-to-air battle, though 6 were lost due to accident or ground fire. Certainly, without them, it is unlikely that the Falklands could have been retaken.
The Royal Air Force Harriers of 1(Fighter) Squadron also embarked on the carriers provided vital support to the land forces as they crossed the Islands and took Stanley.
Of course, the Typhoon's radar was derived from Blue Vixen, as fitted to the Sea Harrier FA2, and partly a response to the lessons of 1982 (as discussed on the
Sea Jet thread).
Air support from the Royal Air Force was important in providing both logistical and combat air power throughout the conflict. The foothold in Ascension allowed the Nimrod force to patrol the seas ahead of the Fleet providing early warning and initial intelligence gathering right up to the Falkland Islands. The Nimrods of 42, 51, 120, 201 and 206 Squadrons flew some of the longest combat sorties ever mounted.
The first 'Black Buck' mission was flown by Vulcan bombers taking off from Ascension Island on 30 April 82 to attempt to disable the captured Stanley Airport; these punitive air strikes from 44, 50 and 101 Squadrons continued right up until 11 June 82.
Unfortunately the restored Vulcan bomber will not take part in the flypast due to delays to her ready to fly date.
Admiral Peter Wilkinson, Director of the Falklands 25 Commemorations said:
"This is a great loss to the flypast as the Vulcan's 'Black Buck' raids were a great logistical achievement and iconic to the conflict."
The Hercules Force consisting of No 24, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons established a vital link between the UK and Ascension Island before looping forward and providing air drops to the Fleet en route and the ground forces once established ashore. Both the Nimrod and Vulcan missions were supported by often more than 20 VC10 and Victor aircraft from 10, 55 and 57 Squadrons in order to get the one strike or reconnaissance aircraft on target; the airbridge continued for years afterwards.
The 22 rotary wing aircraft will include several Sea Kings, Merlins, and Joint Helicopter Command's Chinook, Lynx and Apache attack helicopters. 2 of the Sea King helicopters flying on 17 June actually served in the Falklands in 1982.
The workhorse of the Campaign was undoubtedly the Sea King helicopter, which provided everything from troop transport to anti-submarine warfare. HRH Prince Andrew flew a Sea King as a Royal Navy pilot and at one point acted as an Exocet missile decoy, one of the dangerous roles these aircraft were often asked to perform. In all, 17 maritime helicopters were lost.
Lieutenant Commander J Wells Royal Navy was a 'baby pilot' flying a Sea King at San Carlos Water, sweeping the sound on the night before D-Day 21 May. On 17 June he will be flying a Merlin and says of his new helicopter;
"If we had anything near this technology back in 1982, then it would have been a much shorter-lived armed conflict.
"Equipment is only half the story though, people and the way they are trained is the other half. Today our training is still second to none, as it was then. It is not very British to tell people how good you are - we prefer to let our actions speak for themselves."
Wells is one of several veteran aircrew at the controls during the flypast.
The Chinook in the fly past of represents the heavy lift Chinook "Bravo November" from 18 (Bomber) Squadron - the only Chinook which was airborne when Atlantic Conveyor was sunk and therefore spared.
She went on to provide sterling service throughout the campaign. Her crew each earned gallantry medals. Two DFCs have been awarded to crew serving in Bravo November in theatres around the world. This charmed aircraft is still in service today and only recently returned from Afghanistan.
Army and Royal Marine pilots flew both Scout and Gazelle helicopters in direct support of troops on the ground, providing vital battlefield communications, re-supply and casualty evacuation. A smaller target than larger support helicopters, the Scouts and Gazelles were often sent into the thick of the battle; as a result, 8 aircraft and their crew were lost, including 1 at the battle for Goose Green.