You have to remember that when these missions took place all or most other aircraft based at Ascension had to redeploy to the likes of Gibraltar, the UK and elsewhere. With 17 tankers plus the bomber taking off and all the other aircraft removed from Wideawake, then even if the Argentine eyes and ears were not 'wideawake' it would be something they could hardly miss!
I would be interested to hear about what surveillance equipment was carried aboard the much reported Boeing 707 that was used to monitor the seas en-route to the Falklands.
This type of free very valuable intelligence is something that would not be available IF.........if we had a conventional aircraft carrier or two in theatre. Argentina also had the early warning of radar and that would also have been the warning to give them lots of notice. The old HMS Eagle plus phantoms, plus Buccaneers, plus Gannet would have made that conflict a more comfortable ride??
I have heard lots of self congratulations with folks saying how these very complex flights were 'the most daring' but so far NOTHING to explain why they were the most daring. They were certainly without a shadow of any doubt, very complex, but was the only real risk factor compared to other air operations whether the aircraft would develop a mechanical defect which could happen in both war and peace? (polite question NOT a statement). There is clearly a risk factor when overflying a location you are going to bomb, but that risk is certainly NO greater than any other aircraft and when there is no radar and it is at night, is that risk a darn sight less? (polite question and again NOT a statement)
WELL DONE to all personnel that helped liberate those islands and give the people the freedom of choice
Thank you reydelcastillo for taking the time to reply. Interesting to read how those shore batteries operated. Respect to you guys and hopefully we can now all live in peace and let democracy decide future events.
In the 1960's there was a movement that demonstrated against war and had banners with the words...... '
Make love, not war!! Let the politicians do their own fighting and let the rest of us enjoy living!