If I may recommend for further reading "
A Maverick At War SEAHARRIER OVER THE FALKLANDS" by Commander "
Sharkey" Ward DSC, AFC, RN.
If you know anything about the
HARRIER he's considered the "father" (Actually referred to as "
Mr. Sea Harrier".) of them and became one of their biggest supporters even up to and after Britain sold all those
wonderfully expensively upgraded GR.8/9 HARRIERS (And others.) the USMC would get for a "
fire sell" and a loss financially to the British.
Anyway, they were severely out numbered and faced some excellent aircraft of the time
Mirage III/V DAGGERS (Being his second of three kills.),
Super ETENDARDS and those
A4 SKYHAWKS that played havoc with the "fleet".
An excellent book on the air war also covering the land war for perspective. RN intrigue (Inter service rivalries.) and like all good wars, misallocation of resources so some can say (Bomber Command.), in were in it as well. Yes they decided to fly a
VULCAN 7000 miles RT (Ascension Island.) requiring fuel support from 10 tankers @ 137,000 gallons for that one bomber. The fuel used could've supported 260 Sea Harrier missions over Port Stanley. In three missions one bomb clipped the runway and on the second mission someone forgot to fuse the bombs on all 21 of them dropped. Very embarrassing!?!
Anyway my Marine buddy, good point!!
Well CINCLANTHOME will make me pay for this when she gets me up in a few hours before we hit the road. Not a coffee drinker but, I might need a "
Cup of Joe" before we leave!?!
Regards,
Pat
