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Old 1st May 2009, 17:58
  #352 (permalink)  
BTDTGTTShirt
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Sandiago

In answer to your question on Chinook BN the co's door was only replaced after the war. It was lost on the night of 30May/1 June after hitting the water just north of Astancia House. BN was operating in support of the Commando artillary and had just put in 3 105 guns on the slopes of Mt Kent. they came under fire and were egressing at low level in very poor weather and low vis on goggles when they hit the water at about 100 kts. The bow wave from the water strike came right over the cockpit but fortunately did not break through the perspex. The co thinking they had ditched jettisened his door and was about to escape when the skipper called him to help on the collective and between them they they pulled her out. They then returned to San Carlos at medium level with all their lights on because they couldnt get through on the radios and didnt want to get shot down by the AD boys.

The missing door became a recognition feature on the aircraft though. The Brit troops were aware that the Argentinans had CH47's but they were also awere that BN had lost one door. A few days after the Mt Kent mission they were moving troops forward from Goose Green when they flew close to the 105 battery who turned their guns around to attack it on its second run. Fortunately one of the gunners realised that the co's door was missing and called off the attack.

Hope that helps
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