I managed to secure the above image which credits the Gazelle pictured as being XX377 but .. extracts from the
MoD report into the loss of 377 read:
"Gazelle helicopter XX377 of 656 Squadron Army Air Corps, the air element of 5 Infantry Brigade, was tasked to fly signal specialists from Darwin to a Radio Rebroadcast Station on Mount Pleasant Peak. The conditions for the sortie were good with excellent visibility and a full moon."
"As the sortie was to be flown within the airspace of 5 Infantry Brigade on a Brigade mission in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures there was no requirement for report to be made to any outside authority. Consequently there was no prior knowledge of this sortie in the HQ of Commander Land Forces Falkland Islands, Commodore Amphibious Warfare, the Carrier Battle Group (CTG 317.8) or any ship including HMS Cardiff."
"Gazelle XX377 was fitted with IFF but the weight of evidence leaves no doubt that this vital equipment was switched off during the sortie."
"The Gazelle had been called forward from Goose Green and, having collected two passengers and equipment from 5 Infantry Brigade HQ at Darwin, launched at 03:50Z on 6th June. About seven minutes later radio contact was lost and a ball of fire together with the sound of an explosion was reported by those personnel manning the Radio Rebroadcast Station on Mount Pleasant."
"Post Accident Reports embracing forensic evidence and engagement data convinced the Board that HMS Cardiff shot down the Gazelle with a Seadart missile."
My questions are: a) Would there be snow on or within the vicinity of Mount Pleasant in June? and b) If XX377 had been 'skewered' by a Seadart .. would she still have the bulk of her fuselage intact (perhaps if the missile hit the rotors but .. unlikely).
I am wondering therefore if this image is not in fact either XX378 or XW905 both of which crashed in whiteout conditions in Norway in their recovery efforts in response to the whiteout and subsequent crash encountered by Puma XW234.
Any 'enlightenment' is welcome!