And so... The Falklands War in 1982; Britain reacts to the Argentine invasion...
SEa Harrier FA.2 (formerly FRS.1) XZ499. This aircraft was from 809 Sqn and was delivered to the combat zone by the transport Atlantic Conveyor and among its exploits during the war shot down an A-4 and disabled an Argentine navy patrol boat by strafing it and forcing it to run aground.
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This is Humphrey, Wessex HAS.3 XP142, which among other things sank an Argentine submarine, the Santa Fe by depth charging it and firing AS.12 missiles at it and was involved in the rescue of British Special Forces personnel stranded on South Georgia after depositing them there.
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Humphrey was aboard the destroyer HMS Antrim when it was attacked by Argentine Dagger jets, splinters from their strafing run leaving an indelible impression on the helicopter, remain to this day, as it was patched up and continued flying throughout the rest of the conflict.
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Wessex HU.5 XT765 was stationed aboard RFA Fort Austin and narrowly missed being sunk aboard the Atlantic Conveyor, taking part in the rescue of personnel from the burning HMS Sheffield after it was struck by an Exocet missile.
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Lynx HAS.2 XZ720 was embarked on a number of ships, including the aircraft carriers HMS Hermes and Invincible and the frigate Alacrity, taking part in Exocet missile decoy flights and electronic warfare duties. Its subsequent history was rather remarkable as during the 1991 Gulf War it disabled five Iraqi patrol boats with gunfire and Sea Skua missiles, as recorded on its entry door.
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Harrier GR.3 XZ133 of 1 Sqn operated from HMS Hermes and the Harrier Forward Operating Base at San Carlos and carried out strikes against Argentine positions, carrying out the last operation by a 1 Sqn Harrier during the conflict, on route the operation was called off as white flags were seen waving from the target area on the day of the Argentine surrender.
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Vulcan B.2 XM597 flew Black Buck operations carrying Shrike anti-radar missiles, firing the missiles and destroying a radar installation on its final operation, which, rather dramatically saw the aircraft divert to Rio de Janeiro after its fuel probe broke during a refuelling operation on the way back to Ascension Island.
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Evidence of its combat career and unscheduled diversion to Brazil on its peeling nose.
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