Yanks in the Falklands War?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Now I heard a similar rumour in the early 90s but there was no suggestion that the USAF refuelled RAF aircraft.
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Although the USAF exchange pilot on the Victor Tanker fleet was not allowed on Ascension, the Americans residents there were very cooperative and the support from the US on the logistic side was superb. Catering was completely covered by them with frequent C5 flights, accommodation in Concertina City came from them, not brilliant but a lot better than British tents and they provided many other backup facilities. In fact the place was ideal for operational action until OC Admin and his Chevette Set turned up and ruined it.
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davejb
Re Richard Todd
If you saw the film "The Longest Day" you may remember that Richard Todd (playing Major Howard of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry) had a very self satisfied grin having captured "Pegasus Bridge".
That, just possibly, was because it was exactly where Richard Todd (then a Lt in the 7 th Battalion Parachute Regt) was on D-Day having jumped from an Albermarle shortly after midnight to re-inforce, with his Platoon, the men of the Ox & Bucks holding the bridge until the arrival of the Lovat Scouts.
Re Richard Todd
If you saw the film "The Longest Day" you may remember that Richard Todd (playing Major Howard of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry) had a very self satisfied grin having captured "Pegasus Bridge".
That, just possibly, was because it was exactly where Richard Todd (then a Lt in the 7 th Battalion Parachute Regt) was on D-Day having jumped from an Albermarle shortly after midnight to re-inforce, with his Platoon, the men of the Ox & Bucks holding the bridge until the arrival of the Lovat Scouts.
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Yep,
read about that some time back - in reality many film stars played a very real role in WW2, from David Niven (who famously sent his fridge to a Monty Python film award show, you might recall) who was in one of the myriad of small, somewhat clandestine outfits...'Phantom' I think they were called - to my own 'favourite', Jimmy Stewart. Others like Audie Murphy made the transition the other way about of course. Richard Todd didn't know me from Adam of course, I was just standing with the boss on a slow day when he turned up for a quick look round - offered me a ciggy, I was far more interested in cadging rides on his son's moped back then.
My comments were a somewhat tongue in cheek, deliberate mish mash of mixed truth and outlandish fabrication...much like the films we all love to rubbish but happily settle back down to watch for the third time around.
Now, back to Jack Hawkins, who as we all know survived losing a leg at Waterloo to command Compass Rose, a flower class corvette on the Atlantic convoys. You'll note during the film that when he turns to adress Donald Sinden he only ever rotates clockwise, as his wooden leg 'knee' joint jammed (warping in all that cold salty water) thereby prevented anti clockwise movement..... how I never got signed up as a screenwriter is beyond me.
Dave
read about that some time back - in reality many film stars played a very real role in WW2, from David Niven (who famously sent his fridge to a Monty Python film award show, you might recall) who was in one of the myriad of small, somewhat clandestine outfits...'Phantom' I think they were called - to my own 'favourite', Jimmy Stewart. Others like Audie Murphy made the transition the other way about of course. Richard Todd didn't know me from Adam of course, I was just standing with the boss on a slow day when he turned up for a quick look round - offered me a ciggy, I was far more interested in cadging rides on his son's moped back then.
My comments were a somewhat tongue in cheek, deliberate mish mash of mixed truth and outlandish fabrication...much like the films we all love to rubbish but happily settle back down to watch for the third time around.
Now, back to Jack Hawkins, who as we all know survived losing a leg at Waterloo to command Compass Rose, a flower class corvette on the Atlantic convoys. You'll note during the film that when he turns to adress Donald Sinden he only ever rotates clockwise, as his wooden leg 'knee' joint jammed (warping in all that cold salty water) thereby prevented anti clockwise movement..... how I never got signed up as a screenwriter is beyond me.
Dave
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Another, probably pub generated, story I heard was that when all the RM was rapidly brought to readiness the Dutch Marines thought that they were going too and rapidly started to get there sh1t together too. Allegedly Prince Bernhardt had to drive up to Den Helder and tell 'em to go back to bed. Sounds good I suppose.
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A friend of mine who flew A-4s in the USMC around the time of Corporate says that one of his colleagues was an instructor who had trained many of the Argie pilots. When the unpleasantries kicked off he applied for leave so that he could go and fight with 'his boys'. I believe he let the reason for his leave request slip and it was denied....
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Well, not that anyone will believe me, but they DID find American combatants in the Falklands - they were Snipers. At the time it was always a query as to why the Argentinians had such good Snipers - given that they did not have any such beast in the Army/Marines and there was no organised Sniper Training for thier forces. They were particularily better equipped than we were - remember we were still using the old 7.62mm L42's in 1982 and they were getting worn out(read ****e!). And IR Night Sights were in thier infancy.
In fact on our side they were almost non-existant - mainly due to the fact they went "missing" during delivery - they were actually delivered to the SWO at RAF Marham at one point! - basically they wanted them "down South" quickly and 55 & 57 Sqns were the quickest delivery method to Wideawake.
The SWO didn't discover he had them for quite some time before he expidited them - not his fault - he didn't order them! SNAFU supply line/panic buy.
The gentlemen when found on the Islands had better kit than we had - very high-end IR Gear. I can assure you that when the Paras had finished night-ops with several of thier blokes Sniped they were in no mood to piss-about. They were escorted-off and 'shot whilst attempting to escape".
Special Branch investigation ! Ha! don't make me laugh - what were they going to do - dig up the mass-graves of Argentinian dead - crawl around all the minefields looking for bodies?
Another thing - find out about the American Air Force guy who solved all the problems on the A4's - particularily the ejection seat problems - but I guess HE didn't exist either!
In fact on our side they were almost non-existant - mainly due to the fact they went "missing" during delivery - they were actually delivered to the SWO at RAF Marham at one point! - basically they wanted them "down South" quickly and 55 & 57 Sqns were the quickest delivery method to Wideawake.
The SWO didn't discover he had them for quite some time before he expidited them - not his fault - he didn't order them! SNAFU supply line/panic buy.
The gentlemen when found on the Islands had better kit than we had - very high-end IR Gear. I can assure you that when the Paras had finished night-ops with several of thier blokes Sniped they were in no mood to piss-about. They were escorted-off and 'shot whilst attempting to escape".
Special Branch investigation ! Ha! don't make me laugh - what were they going to do - dig up the mass-graves of Argentinian dead - crawl around all the minefields looking for bodies?
Another thing - find out about the American Air Force guy who solved all the problems on the A4's - particularily the ejection seat problems - but I guess HE didn't exist either!
Re Execution of "American Mercenaries". Story first saw the light of day in 'Excursion to Hell', Vince Bramley's autobiography of his time with 2 Para during the conflict, in particular the battle for Mt Longdon, where Bramley alleges the incident took place. The incident, though described in some detail to Bramley by one of the alleged perpetrators, colleagues of his in 2 Para, has never been conclusively proved to have happened.
However, two alleged war crimes by members of the Battalion do have much more credence and are generally accepted as true.
The first concerns Cpl Stuart McGlaughlin. He apparently led a composite section of survivors throughout the better part of the battle for Longdon up and over the summit, on the way taking out several Argentine positions, all in such a manner as would normally befitted the highest of gallantry awards ie VC. He was killed the day after by a mortar round. Upon searching his personal effects, several Argentinian ears were found in his webbing, resulting in the Battalion padre refusing to countersign the award recommendation, even though all who witnessed his actions on the night agreed he should have had the VC.
The second concerns a Battalion Corporal, Louis S*****. On the day following the battle it is generally accepted, and confirmed by several eye witness accounts, that he shot dead an unarmed Argentinian prisoner during burial party duties. He was removed from the scene and, at the time, for public consumption, it was put about that he had been court martialled and dismissed the battalion. In fact his career continued up to 1993 when he retired as a Colour Sergeant. By then, to old salts who had known him at the time of the conflict, he had acquired the nick name 'line ‘em up Louis'. He was the type of soldier found in many Regiments, a good line soldier, very efficient at his job, but widely felt to be just a little too close to the edge to be comfortable around.
However, two alleged war crimes by members of the Battalion do have much more credence and are generally accepted as true.
The first concerns Cpl Stuart McGlaughlin. He apparently led a composite section of survivors throughout the better part of the battle for Longdon up and over the summit, on the way taking out several Argentine positions, all in such a manner as would normally befitted the highest of gallantry awards ie VC. He was killed the day after by a mortar round. Upon searching his personal effects, several Argentinian ears were found in his webbing, resulting in the Battalion padre refusing to countersign the award recommendation, even though all who witnessed his actions on the night agreed he should have had the VC.
The second concerns a Battalion Corporal, Louis S*****. On the day following the battle it is generally accepted, and confirmed by several eye witness accounts, that he shot dead an unarmed Argentinian prisoner during burial party duties. He was removed from the scene and, at the time, for public consumption, it was put about that he had been court martialled and dismissed the battalion. In fact his career continued up to 1993 when he retired as a Colour Sergeant. By then, to old salts who had known him at the time of the conflict, he had acquired the nick name 'line ‘em up Louis'. He was the type of soldier found in many Regiments, a good line soldier, very efficient at his job, but widely felt to be just a little too close to the edge to be comfortable around.
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Affill
The F4/GR3 affill in the UK was done with Belgian Mir5 and French Navy Super Etendards. No A4's were involved with UK Land based aircraft. The sorties were flown over East Anglia as neither nations had immersion suits with them. I was involved with the sorties and threatened with all sorts of Official Secrets punishments. But as the Sec Def stood up in the House and thanked the nations involved at the end of the conflict, it became unclass.
As for KC135 BDA basket with big aircraft, never done AFAIK. The KC135's certainly replaced the Victor on UK AAR QRA and flew out of Mildenhall.
As for KC135 BDA basket with big aircraft, never done AFAIK. The KC135's certainly replaced the Victor on UK AAR QRA and flew out of Mildenhall.
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During the Falklands campaign I flew a charter in a B737 to, I think, Alicante and was parked near an Argentinian B747 alongside which were several large wooden crates, the type machinery is usually shipped in.
'phoned the MOD when I got home who took all the details an expressed gratitude etc. last I heard. I'm sure the Spanish did offer support to Argentina and the ground staff were quite unfriendly at some Spanish airfields during the war and for a while afterwards.
'phoned the MOD when I got home who took all the details an expressed gratitude etc. last I heard. I'm sure the Spanish did offer support to Argentina and the ground staff were quite unfriendly at some Spanish airfields during the war and for a while afterwards.
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alwayslooking up is indeed correct
Stu Mac was the toughest soldier that Ive ever met, and indeed it was the padre who discovered the "trophies" in his belt kit after his death. "Line em up Louis" was only one of two people ever interviewed under caution over the alleged shooting of prisoners, the other being Hew Pike, Gary (Louis) was moved to 1 Para following the war. As an aside, one SNCO was implicated when an Argie survivor told investigators that he had been "executed" by a soldier.. the SNCO in question was moving up a track under heavy fire when the body he stepped over proved to be very much alive as it started grabbing at his legs nd shouting in spanish.. The NCO was in the open and now he was getting the attention of both sides machine gunners, so he fired 2 or 3 rounds into the prostrate enemy to break away. Now you all know the power of an SLR. This guy took 3 rounds in the head at less that 4 feet and SURVIVED. Further reading if you can find it is in "Green eyed boys" by Adrian Weale, if still in print. The American mercenery story is repeated there, but casts doubt on its validity, suggesting the "Americans" were in fact Argentines with dual nationality.
Also Major Kearnan of C company? 3 Para was on exchange tour and was flatly refused when he requested to go south with the battalion. He was replaced before embarkation.
Stu Mac was the toughest soldier that Ive ever met, and indeed it was the padre who discovered the "trophies" in his belt kit after his death. "Line em up Louis" was only one of two people ever interviewed under caution over the alleged shooting of prisoners, the other being Hew Pike, Gary (Louis) was moved to 1 Para following the war. As an aside, one SNCO was implicated when an Argie survivor told investigators that he had been "executed" by a soldier.. the SNCO in question was moving up a track under heavy fire when the body he stepped over proved to be very much alive as it started grabbing at his legs nd shouting in spanish.. The NCO was in the open and now he was getting the attention of both sides machine gunners, so he fired 2 or 3 rounds into the prostrate enemy to break away. Now you all know the power of an SLR. This guy took 3 rounds in the head at less that 4 feet and SURVIVED. Further reading if you can find it is in "Green eyed boys" by Adrian Weale, if still in print. The American mercenery story is repeated there, but casts doubt on its validity, suggesting the "Americans" were in fact Argentines with dual nationality.
Also Major Kearnan of C company? 3 Para was on exchange tour and was flatly refused when he requested to go south with the battalion. He was replaced before embarkation.
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There is a reference to US assistance in Ken Connor's book, "Ghost Force". He writes that he was in the US at the time and was part of the arrangements to get US Stinger air to ground missiles and better radios to the SAS.
In relation to the US mercenaries there is a reference in Martin Pegler's book, "Sniper: A History Of The US Marksman" to two snipers captured at Goose Green that had caused casualties. Pegler's source was a personal interview.
In relation to the US mercenaries there is a reference in Martin Pegler's book, "Sniper: A History Of The US Marksman" to two snipers captured at Goose Green that had caused casualties. Pegler's source was a personal interview.
...they had proper commercial scoped rifles and they had caused some heavy losses but neither spoke Spanish - they spoke English with American accents but didn't say much. They knew we were pissed off with them. Some of the lads took them away and we never saw them again. We all knew they were killed but no one spoke about it.
I think I am correct is saying that it has now being revealed that a lot of US intel was passed to the British including satellite photos as I think the US repositioned one for the purpose. However, I cannot recall where I might of read that so I could also be wrong.
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Agreed...refueling of the short hose drogue on the KC-135 could be tricky..indeed I know someone 
who dented the intake ramp of an F-4 when they got the kink in the the short hosed drogue of the KC-135 wrong. The hose whipped round and clobbered the fixed, forward portion of the intake ramp...gave the back seater a shock, I understand he said 
As for doing it with a Vulcan or a Victor
.....
who dented the intake ramp of an F-4 when they got the kink in the the short hosed drogue of the KC-135 wrong. The hose whipped round and clobbered the fixed, forward portion of the intake ramp...gave the back seater a shock, I understand he said As for doing it with a Vulcan or a Victor
.....
And some very amusing comments regarding the Hollywood movie version, (and didn't Channel4 comic strip-Robbie Coltran etc have a bit of a retelling).
However no one has yet mentioned the most famous conspiracy of them all - that the whole thing was faked up at Pinewood studios - on the 007 stage, which is why there was no James Bond film that year - All to secure the reelection and subsequent empowerment, of a PM who peviously had been very unpopular.
Oh uh, isn't that one of those black omegas....
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The first concerns Cpl Stuart McGlaughlin. He apparently led a composite section of survivors throughout the better part of the battle for Longdon up and over the summit, on the way taking out several Argentine positions, all in such a manner as would normally befitted the highest of gallantry awards ie VC. He was killed the day after by a mortar round. Upon searching his personal effects, several Argentinian ears were found in his webbing, resulting in the Battalion padre refusing to countersign the award recommendation, even though all who witnessed his actions on the night agreed he should have had the VC.
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Mrs.T arranged Hon Knighthoods for SecDef Weinberger and for Pres.Reagan. Sir L.Freedman, Official History of the Falklands Campaign/Vol 2, F.Cass, 2005 has some detail inc. sub detection kit, Intel, GW, comms. bandwidth.
That, just possibly, was because it was exactly where Richard Todd (then a Lt in the 7 th Battalion Parachute Regt) was on D-Day having jumped from an Albermarle shortly after midnight to re-inforce, with his Platoon, the men of the Ox & Bucks holding the bridge until the arrival of the Lovat Scouts.
Back to topic: didn't America refuse to send Argentina fuses that would arm "quick" enough to stop the ULL A4 bombs from skipping?
Back to off-topic. Never knew the Richard Todd P-Bridge story. Top.
Back to off-topic. Never knew the Richard Todd P-Bridge story. Top.