by Harry Benson
task force sent to South Thule by 2
Britannia Royal Naval College 18
British Antarctic Survey base, Argentines try to secure 36
British Tay 181
Broadsword, HMS 109, 131, 132, 142, 162, 163, 164–70
Coventry survivors offloaded onto 167
Brown, Sub-Lt Ian 118
Brunei 19
Bryant, Lt Ian 212–13
Bulldog 23
Bulwark, HMS 19
Burns, Petty Officer Aircrewman Ginge 212–13
Cameron, Maj. Peter 257
Camilla Creek 202, 204, 208
Camilla Creek House 190, 196
Canberra bombers 86, 87, 232, 235, 310, 344
British-trained crews of 232
Canberra, SS 69, 72, 98, 118–19, 130, 134, 142, 226, 232, 249
‘withdraw’ order to 150
Candlish, Sgt Ed 128
Cape Dolphin 108, 111, 269
captaincy 267–8
Cardiff, HMS 251, 267
Casey, Petty Officer Kevin ‘Ben’ 72–3
Castlemartin 28–9
casualty evacuation (casevac) 129, 192, 214–15
chaff 81, 83, 136
Chapman, Lt Ian ‘Lapse’ 174
Chinook xiv, 93, 99, 127, 161, 171, 188–9, 189, 240, 301
missing 182
and Mount Kent mission 209–11
Choiseul Sound 250, 251, 270
Clamp, Petty Officer Jed 236, 337, 338, 342
Clark, Lt Cdr Hugh 255
and Sir Galahad 263, 264, 267, 270
Clayton, Lt Chris 332–4
Colborne, Lt Ray 54, 224–5, 273, 277, 361–2
Commodore Amphibious Warfare 40
Conqueror, HMS 88
Cooper, David 218
Cooper, Sub-Lt Stewart 7, 9, 12, 17, 58
Cortley Hill 348
Coryton, Lt Cdr Gervais 312
Coventry, HMS 163, 164–5, 166–70, 207
bombs hit 166
completely inverted 170
Crabtree, Lt Mike ‘Crabbers’ 27, 70, 94, 96, 158–9, 161, 185, 187, 195, 344–5
Heathcote reprimanded by 170
on San Carlos landing mission 121–6, 131, 134–5, 137, 139, 140
Crippa, Guillermo 131
Cudmore, Cdr Mike 254–5, 270
Cummins, Ldg Aircrewman Neil 31, 32, 34, 300
Curtis, Lt Al 105
Dagger 131, 133, 142, 147, 152, 162, 259, 332–3
Ardent attacked by 137–8
Darwin 120, 121, 134, 137, 190–1, 198–9, 216
Delves, Maj. Cedric 58, 121
Dillon, Able Seaman John 138–9, 140–2
Doughty, Ldg Aircrewman Al 307, 308–9, 314–15, 334–5, 336, 342
Dowling, Maj. Patricio 295
Doyne-Ditmas, Lt Phil 52
Dransfield, Lt Cdr John 64, 139
Drennan, Capt. Sam 347
Dudley, Lt Cdr Keith 355
‘dunker’ 22–3
Dytor, Lt Clive 306
Eales, Sub-Lt Martin 116
East Falkland 1, 108, 118, 142, 161, 163, 206, 213
Egglestone, Ldg Aircrewman Roy 258
and Sir Galahad 265
Eke, Petty Officer Chris 103, 273, 279, 280, 282, 285, 345
Elephant Island 250, 252
Elk, MV 72
Ellerbeck, Lt Cdr Tony 57, 63, 64
Endurance, HMS 2, 36, 49, 56, 63, 64
Engadine, RFA 100–1, 104, 224–6, 245, 246, 272–4
task force joined by 245
Enticknap, Chief Petty Officer Ken 138–9, 140–2
Estancia Creek 210
Estancia House 78, 213, 308, 354
Evans, Sgt Andrew 128
Evans, Sub-Lt Brian 263
Evans, Lt Mark ‘Jayfer’ 96, 201–2, 203–4, 220, 278–9, 280, 282, 324, 328, 329, 330
Exeter, HMS 212, 253, 258, 344
Eyton-Jones, Lt-Cdr John 105
Falkland Islands:
Argentine force invades 2–3, 38
British task force sets sail to 68–70
Concordia Rock 75, 77
continuing night insertions into 116
difficult terrain of 207
history of 1–2
large force of Argentines lands on 36
penguins on 1, 269, 363
Port Stanley becomes new capital of 2
San Carlos amphibious landing, see San Carlos amphibious landing
Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) around 76, 88, 105, 226
weather greatest challenge in 307
see also individual areas, features
Falkland Sound 108, 118, 131, 134, 137, 143, 148, 162, 192, 197, 203, 253, 259, 269
Falklands War:
Argentines’ formal surrender in 355
Black Buck raids during 79–80
burial of dead during 218, 344
clean-up after 361
deaths during, Argentinian 36, 37, 88, 106, 205, 214, 271, 305, 344, 349
deaths during, British 72–3, 90, 105, 119, 128, 130, 134, 138, 142, 149, 158, 166, 170, 171, 180, 182, 196, 199, 200, 205, 214, 215, 267, 270, 305, 306, 347, 349
final British action of 354
first fatality of 73
first set-piece battle of 191
‘for-real’ beginning of 76–7
and Goose Green, see Goose Green
hospital ships used in 192, 215, 219–21
napalm used in 201
reunion on 25th anniversary of 366–9
San Carlos landing mission during, see San Carlos amphibious landing
success of first covert mission of 78
Fanning Head 121, 122, 125, 129, 134, 143, 186, 198
Fearless, HMS 35, 41, 69, 70, 76, 93, 96, 108, 118–19, 129, 145, 154, 185, 192, 196, 249, 252, 259, 267, 311, 334
LCUs carried by 250
Featherstone, Lt Cdr Ed 154, 155
Fern Valley Creek 232
Finding, Lt Tim 64
Fitzgerald, Petty Officer Aircrewman Fitz 63
and Fortuna Glacier 10
Fitzroy xiv, 240–2, 248, 249, 255, 258, 272, 298, 317, 324
field hospital at 344
FOB, establishment of 282
preferred landing site 250
Flexman, Lt Cdr Rob 102–3, 246, 286, 344–5, 356–7
Fort Austin, RFA 43, 48–9, 50, 56, 91, 94, 113, 118
Fort Grange, RFA 166, 246, 277
Fortuna Glacier, SAS mission and rescue on 5–17, 11, 54, 56–62
Foster, Lt Nick 39, 41, 48–50, 96, 113, 118, 172, 174
Ascension arrival of 42
and Atlantic Conveyor 178–80
and Sheffield survivors 91
Fox, Sub-Lt Ric 144, 146, 147–8, 152, 157, 164, 194, 236, 314–15
and hospital-ship inspection 219–21, 220
post-surrender 358–9, 360
Fox, Robert 190
Francis, Lt Ken 129–30
Freeman, Capt. 226
Gazelle:
blowing-up of 251
HB’s training in 23–5, 25
shooting-down of 128, 129–30, 269
Wessex compared with 26
General Belgrano, ARA 88, 92, 252
Geneva Convention 66, 219, 342
Georgeson, Lt Ian 56, 318
prisoner management by 66
long flying stint of 317
and Santa Fe 64
and Fortuna Glacier 7, 10–12, 13–14, 15, 56–7, 61
Glamorgan, HMS 81–3, 86–7, 109, 305, 331
Mirage jets’ attack on 86
Glasgow, HMS 106, 107
Gleeson, Cpl Kev 158, 194–6, 231, 243, 328–9
and Coventry 167–8, 169–70
on San Carlos landing mission 121, 125, 129–31, 135–6, 140–2
Goat Ridge 319, 331, 345, 346, 349
Goodall, Chief Petty Officer Stewart 187
Goose Green 84, 108, 120, 121, 134, 137, 183, 185, 190, 191–2, 198, 200–1, 203, 206, 208, 239, 240, 249, 280�
��1, 282
Argentine surrender at 204–5
collection of bodies from 216–18
jets attack airstrip at 80
movement of Gurkhas from 280, 283–4, 286
Pucaras at 281, 281
second bombing raid on 90
softening up defences at 191
Green Rover, RFA 44–8
Greet, Colour Sgt Dave 144, 152, 164, 214–15, 358–9
Griffin, L. Cpl Brett 130
Grose, Flt Lt Nick 241
ground resonance 47–8
Grundy, Flt Lt Bob 116
Grytviken 36, 62, 64, 65
Guerrico, ARA 37
Hails, Lt Cdr Peter 101, 227, 229, 236
Hamilton, Capt John 58, 60, 61
Hanrahan, Brian 81
Harden, Lt Cdr Richard 39
Harden, Sub-Lt Sparky 96, 163, 236, 242–3, 277, 286–7
at reunion 368
Harper, Ldg Aircrewman Joe 64
Harper, Lt Ray 128
Harrier:
Ardent attackers intercepted by 138
Argentine attack aircraft shot down by 160
Argentine pilots aware of reputation of 162
Blue Fox radar of 89, 162
Canberra shot down by 87
crash-landing of 258
Daggers destroyed by 152
defence relies on overlapping patrols of 161–2
extraordinary effectiveness of 162
extraordinary sight of launch of 117
and Goose Green 84, 108, 191
Hercules shot down by 235
Hermes earmarked for operations with 69
intended Skyhawk attack broken off by 164
Narwhal crippled by 105
Port Stanley accident concerning 365
Pucaras destroyed by 134, 363
on San Carlos landing mission 127
shooting-down of 90, 160
Skyhawks shot down by 267
sound of 117
Harrower, Lt Willie 233–4, 298–9, 341–2
Hastings, Max 209, 317
Heathcote, Sub-Lt Paul ‘Hector’ 37–8, 94, 95, 158, 187, 194–6, 231, 243, 277
and Coventry 167–8, 169–70
Crabtree reprimands 170
long flying stint of 317
post-surrender 357–8, 360, 362, 366
at reunion 368
on San Carlos landing mission 121, 122, 123, 124–5, 129, 131, 135, 139–42 passim
helicopters:
‘bollocks’ attached to 189, 268, 301–2
deck landing of 43–8
discussed and described xxv–xxvi
expensive to learn to fly 23
heroic TV-screen sights of, during Galahad rescue 271
hydraulic systems on 146
inherently unstable 23
limited lifespan of parts for 38
need for more of 161
smoking among crews of 280
weight of 27
see also individual types by name
Hercules 41, 113, 116, 235, 245, 344
Heritier, Chief Fritz 13
Hermes, HMS 39, 41, 50, 70, 72, 90, 93, 162, 170, 177, 181, 188, 227, 246–7
about to be scrapped 69
chaff launched by 81
cramped conditions on 51
earmarked for Sea Harrier operations 69
and Pebble Island mission 108–12 passim
planning room on 76
withdraws for repairs 258–9
Horton, Lt Bob 78, 113–14, 119, 158
and Pebble Island mission 111
hospital ships 192, 215, 219–21
Huey 200
Hughes, Lt Tim ‘Flipper’ 230, 232–3, 242, 255–6, 260, 290, 345
and Sir Galahad 262–3, 263–4, 265, 267, 370
and Port Stanley operation 293–4, 295
Hullett, Lt Peter 332–4
Humphreys, Sub-Lt Paul 78
and Mount Kent mission 208
and Pebble Island mission 111
Hunt, Rex 36
Hutchings, Lt Dick 106–7
and Pebble Island mission 111
on one-way mission 114–16
Imrie, Ldg Aircrewman Peter 114, 115–16
Indonesia 19
Intrepid, HMS 35, 69–70, 94–5, 96–7, 118, 196, 250–1
LCUs carried by 250
Invincible, HMS 87, 162, 170, 211, 355
Argentines believe sunk 213
earmarked for Sea Harrier operations 69
one-way mission launches from 114
Iranian Embassy, London 5
Isacke, Lt Steve 263
Iveson, Sq. Ldr Bob 191
Jackson, Ch. Aircrewman David 263, 264–6
Jackson, Lt Graham ‘Jacko’ 44–7
Jackson, Sub-Lt Trevor 116
Jolly, Surgeon Cdr Rick 129, 131, 136–7, 140–2, 215, 217, 259–60, 335
Jones, Lieutenant Colonel ‘H’ 190, 199, 200
Judd, Sub-Lt Steve ‘Wannafight’ 52–3, 153–4, 219
and hospital-ship inspection 219–21, 220
junglies xxv, 19, 192–3, 228–9
banter between pingers and 228–9
and black humour 215
creative ability of 125
HB becomes 20
heights hated by 83
and instrument flying 203
known for high jinks 29
original 19
pragmatic rule-breaking by 267–8
pragmatism of 145
spartan conditions of 238
Yeovilton home to 20
Keeble, Maj. Chris 204, 217
Kelly, Sub-Lt Dave 101, 278
King Edward Point 36, 64
Kiszely, Maj. John 347
Knight, Lt Dave ‘Oily’ 39, 40, 50–1, 81, 83, 154, 155–6, 157, 194, 279, 349, 368–9
and Coventry 168–9
long flying stint of 317
missile launched at 84–6
special mission of 197–8
Lafonia 219, 249, 258, 342
Langworthy, Sq. Ldr Dick 188, 210
Larsen, Ldg Aircrewman Steve 44, 47, 298–300
Lawless, Flt Lt Andy 210
Layard, Capt. Mike 175, 178, 180
Learjet 253
Lees, Lt Norman ‘Spiny’ 274, 276, 277, 354
Lively Island 250
Lomas, Lt Cdr Jack 39, 40, 50, 51–3, 71, 80–1, 89, 151–3, 154, 155, 186, 187, 188–9, 193, 194, 215–18, 223, 231, 235, 276–7, 278, 369
bodies collected by 216–18
chaff incident concerning 81
honour for 369
long flying stint of 317
and Port Stanley operation 287–8, 289–90, 294, 349, 352
post-surrender 357, 358
at reunion 368
and Sheffield 90
and stricken Chinook 210–11
warning codes explained by 283
Lomas, Ldg Aircrewman Jan 62, 310, 311, 316, 320, 324
and Fortuna Glacier 10, 12, 13–14, 17, 60
post-surrender 357
Longships Lighthouse 25
Lord, Lt Dave 339, 341
Love, Cpl Michael ‘Doc’ 106, 119, 171
Lynx 86, 90, 99, 107, 118, 153, 165
Dagger bomb destroys 138
and hospital-ship inspections 219
missing 182
torpedoing Santa Fe 63
McIntosh, Lt Paul 233–4, 243–4, 259–60, 337–8, 342, 350–1, 352–3
and Sir Galahad 266, 268–9
MacKay, Sgt Ian 304
McKie, Jock 317, 354
MacNaughton, Petty Officer Steve 80–1, 82, 89, 90, 187
Manley, Lt Pete 28, 98, 99, 143–7 passim, 152, 156–7, 164, 185, 194, 196, 331–2
long flying stint of 317
Malo House casevac operation of 214–15
mentioned in Despatches 370
and Port Stanley operation 287–94, 298, 349
at reunion 368
Menéndez, Gen. Mario 287–8, 294, 295, 355
Mentor 112
Merryfield 27
Middleton, Sub-Lt John ‘Stumpy’ 111
Middleton, Capt. Lyn 78
Middleton, Sub-Lt Ray 165
Miles, Lt Ralph 235, 331
military units:
2 Para 69, 118, 127, 128, 140, 161, 190, 191, 194, 198–9, 200, 204, 209, 222, 223, 239, 240 248, 249, 251–2, 317, 348
3 Para 69, 128, 161, 183, 190, 213, 223, 238, 248, 302, 304, 312
3 Brigade xiv, xv, xxiii, 98, 118, 161, 185, 191, 223, 231, 240, 242, 248, 297, 302, 326
5 Brigade 98, 101, 161, 222, 227, 239, 240, 241–2, 248, 249, 297, 303, 327, 328, 331, 345
3 Commando 40, 69, 120, 142, 183
40 Commando 118, 127, 128, 161, 353
42 Commando 207, 209, 238–9, 242, 248, 302, 305, 319, 322
45 Commando 128, 145, 161, 183, 194, 213, 223, 238, 244, 248, 302, 306, 313, 322, 326–7
42 Squadron RAF xxiii
373 Squadron xxii
656 Squadron xxiii
707 Squadron 44
800 Squadron 80, 86, 137
801 Squadron 79, 86, 87, 134, 138
825 Squadron xxiii, 101, 227, 256
829 Squadron xxiii
845 Squadron xxi, 5, 19, 30, 37, 38, 54, 67, 71, 74, 93–4, 97, 161, 186, 231, 360, 366
846 Squadron xxi, 19, 39, 75, 93, 120, 161, 239
847 Squadron xxii, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 224, 227, 231, 277, 285–6, 360, 266
848 Squadron xxii, 19, 97, 151, 182, 212
Fleet Air Arm 18, 228
Grupo 5 336, 343–4
Gurkhas 19, 101, 226, 242, 249, 280, 283–4, 286, 317, 332, 348, 349
inter-service rivalries among 228
Royal Air Force 37, 79, 228
Royal Marines, see Royal Marines
SAS, see Special Air Service
SBS, see Special Boat Service
Scots Guards 101, 226, 248, 250, 251–2, 317, 346, 346–7
Welsh Guards 101, 226, 232, 242, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 317, 350–1, 352, 356, 365
Miller, Alan 231
Miller, Flying Officer Colin 241
Miller, Lt John 256, 261, 262, 267
Mills, Lt Keith 37
Mirage 86–7, 89, 113, 131, 137, 150, 184, 258
missiles:
AS12 air-to-surface 49, 50, 63, 64, 83, 144
Blowpipe 130, 199, 201
Exocet 89, 113, 149, 174, 211, 212, 242
M260 50, 57
Rapier 148, 151, 160, 163, 256, 258
Sea Dart 76, 163, 164, 166, 212, 253, 344
Seacat 85, 150
Seaslug 133
Seawolf 131–2, 160, 163, 164, 165
Shrike 79
Sidewinder 87, 149, 162, 365
Stinger 134
Tigercat 85–6
Mobile Air Ops Team (MAOT), 71, 192, 196, 318, 351
Moore, Maj. Gen. Jeremy 197, 232, 239, 241, 248, 317, 336, 355
Moreby, Ldg Aircrewman Martin 235, 259, 260
and Sir Galahad 266, 269
Morgan, Fl. Lt Dave 267
Morton, Sub-Lt Richard ‘Noddy’ 52–3, 81, 83, 157, 328–30