Worlds Longest Bombing raid

[Chris Boonzaier]

Some military history here, really interesting in 3 parts..

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9b0_1332196120

[Mervyn Mitton]

Everyone should make time to watch this story of heroism and ingenuity.

We sometimes forget, very quickly, the work and training that goes into these operations.

When they were getting ready to sail to the Falklands our roads in Dorset and Hampshire

were packed with convoys carrying equipment to Southampton and Portsmouth.

Thankyou Chris, for posting this - I enjoyed it. Mervyn

[QSAMIKE]

Enjoyed watching all 3 parts...... Was surprised at the Honours and Awards the two final crews rec'd...... Thought they would have gotten more......

Mike

Edited March 27, 2012 by QSAMIKE

[Mervyn Mitton]

The Victor bomber - converted to a flying tanker

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-6209-0-91327500-1332856437.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[Mervyn Mitton]

The Avro Vulcan bomber

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-6209-0-26402000-1332856607.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[Mervyn Mitton]

Avro Vulcan in Falklands camo.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-6209-0-36202700-1332856776.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2012/post-6209-0-98349200-1332856991.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[hucks216]

As an aside to the Black Buck raids it is interesting to read 'Sharkey' Ward's views of these bombing raids in his book 'Sea Harrier Over The Falklands'. He basically summarises that it was a lot of effort and fuel for very little return compared to what could of been accomplished by the Harriers if they had access to that amount of fuel.

[Chris Boonzaier]

As an aside to the Black Buck raids it is interesting to read 'Sharkey' Ward's views of these bombing raids in his book 'Sea Harrier Over The Falklands'. He basically summarises that it was a lot of effort and fuel for very little return compared to what could of been accomplished by the Harriers if they had access to that amount of fuel.

Possible, but sometines you need the stuff that legends are made of....

Pity one of them was not a Yank, then we would already have a Spielberg film ;-)

[hucks216]

Pity one of them was not a Yank, then we would already have a Spielberg film ;-)

Since when has that ever stopped Hollywood from 're-arranging' history :-) They did take off from Wideawake Airfield which is leased to the USAF after all.

Having read Sharkey Ward's book it is obvious he has a bug to bear against the RAF (and the Flag & Air Staff in HMS Hermes, and 800 Squadron FAA) but he does bring up a valid point in that there were Sea Harrier pilots who flew far more combat missions during the Falklands War but never received awards as high as those who flew the Vulcans on one or two missions and were never engaged by the Argentine Air Force.

Edited March 30, 2012 by hucks216