Falklands 30

[yelmo58]

Interesting question.

I wonder if they're still in some obscure Argentine QM stores, or were left in-situ (and eventually recovered) after the invasion.

There are some weapons in different Argentine Bases, ie: in Cordoba (Air Force Academy) are an Enfield and a Bren machine gun

Guillermo

[Salutnomo]

I've recently met a guy who was an EW operator aboard a Royal Navy ship during the Falklands, his name was Chris, Christopher something, he was so drunk I barely even understood half of what he was saying however I was glad I wasn't entirely ignorant of the conflict so he got to spill his heart and have somebody understand.

[happyslapper]

[Arfah]

To all those who fought and died.

REST IN PEACE

We shall not grow old
As those that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
or the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them

We WILL remember them !

[ChrisBV]

Happy Liberation Day

[happyslapper]

Happy Liberation Day!


​WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

[rgjbloke]

A day tinged with both joy and sadness. Rest in Peace to the fallen.

[mickey5hins]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...with-flag.html

Downing Street honours Falklands with flag

The Falklands flag was flown proudly above 10 Downing Street today - marking the 30th anniversary of the liberation of the islands.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...nd-of-war.html

[BigWillyG]

Anyone know is the Argentine's have had any similar ceremonies to honor their war dead during the anniversary?

[Arfah]

Anyone know is the Argentine's have had any similar ceremonies to honor their war dead during the anniversary?

I only know of a ceremony in Tierra Del Fuego attended by the Argie President on April 2nd in which she made some politico anti u.k. type stuff.

[jackfo42]

Some of you may have been wondering when Jon Cooksey's book on Ian McKay VC of 3 Para would eventually be published. It's now out and an excerpt can found here:
<http://www.warfaremagazine.co.uk/articles/Falklands-Hero-Ian-McKay/43>.

After speaking with Ian Bailey MM, who was the last man to see McKay alive, and other witnesses, Cooksey has concluded that the accepted site of the Argentinian position where the B Coy platoon sergeant died is not correct. You may be familiar with photos of the white wooden cross in a grassy gully on the northern flanks of Longdon below the summit memorial. According to Cooksey's research, the trenches and sangars holding up 4 Platoon were at least 100 yards farther along the hillside.

Along with Darwin Hill, near Goose Green, the western end of Mount Longdon must one of the most picked over couple of acres in military history. It is not surprising that McKay's action should be the source of mystery and legend, given his iconic award and the fact that he died during a night battle where no one actually saw his final moments. Moreover the grim fact of the amount of firepower that played along the slopes of Longdon for the rest of the night means that little can be assumed from the state of his body when it was recovered.
<http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/the-falklands-untold-story-of-the-hero-para-795309>

In the weeks after the Falklands war ended an iconic photo was published, taken by Tom Smith of the Express I believe, showing a paratroopers helmet on an upturned rifle silhouetted by the setting sun, accompanied by a bunch of daffodils in a jar. This is usually described as marking the spot where Ian McKay died. Apart from the westering sun itself, the configuration of the surrounding hill features shows that the photo was taken on the western slopes of 'Fly Half, the western summit of Longdon, where Ian McKay never set foot. Where daffodils come from in the depths of the Falklands winter, I have no idea.

At what point the photo was identified as relating to Ian McKay, whether by an enthusiastic sub or picture editor in London, I couldn't say but it shows how at a very early date, the myth-making process was under way. As if the simple fact of a soldier dying gallantly was not enough.

Not surprisingly, 'After the Battle' and Bicheno's 'Razor's Edge' were not the last word on the land battles and now, as the interval of years widens, the review of what we thought we knew continues and the process of historical research gets under way.

If you want a grim laugh and can understand Spanish, check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiLXK...feature=relmfu
"La batalla de Pradera del Ganso fue una de las cruentas en Malvinas"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEOBR...feature=relmfu
"Malvinas, la cruenta batalla de Monte Longdon"

If this is the standard of journalism that the Argentinian population are being fed, then God help us, this story will run and run.

[Elbs]

How about some real history.

The Argentine Centro Naval website has published a series of interesting documents on the war. One of the most interesting is a piece written by one of the officers who received the Brazilian patrol planes that Brazil loaned to Argentina. (Link here ) He gives a good rundown of what the navy thought of the planes. I'll summarize for those who aren't fluent in Spanish.

Pros of the EMB-111: good Litton INS equipment (more reliable than the Omega), good patrol radius, comfortable cabin and economical to operate.

Against the EMB-111: Completely inadequate for combat missions. No de-icing equipment, very vulnerable to FOD damage due to low engines, poor commercial-grade radar with limited scan area, zero EW equipment, sluggish response at low level, no countermeasures, and no weapons capability.

In short, the navy would've preferred to have more Trackers available.

[jimmytx3]

Hi, Just a quick one, Jon Cooksey`s location is wrong, the existing cross is in the wrong location, we know the location and we will alter it shortly, all the battle stuff in JC`s book is wrong, and a lot of Hugh Bicheno's stuff is wrong, after two years of interviews we are nearly finishing the battalions account, featuring interviews with the people below, I will let you know when we have finished,
bye for now Jimmy
CO Hew Pike, ex Major Roger Patton, ex Major David Collett, Major Osborne, Ex Capt Adrian Freer, ex Capt Giles Orphen-Smellie, ex Capt Adrian Logan, ex Capt Kevin McGimpsey, ex Captain Derek Heaver, WO2 Dex Allen, Ian Bailey MM, Stephen Smith 9 Sqn, Paul (Ginge) Moore 9 Sqn,CSM Ernie Rustill, CSgt Brian Faulkner, Capt Nobby Menzies, Andy Stone, Martyn Clarkson Kearsly, ex CSgt Steve Knights, Len (Basher) Baines, Chris Masterman,Terry Bowdell, Lt Mark Cox, Cpl John Lewis, Ben Gough, Ex LCpl Lenny Carver, Ex Cpl Ned Kelly, Ex Capt Adrian Freer, ex A coy CSM Alec Munroe, Major General Jon Shaw (6 plt) Major General Mike Von Bertele (Doctor), Colonel John Burgess (doctor), B coy CSM Johnny Weeks, Sgt Graham Colbeck, Sgt Chris Howard, Sgt Johnny Pettinger, Bill Metcalfe, John Kennedy (medic) Cpl Trev Wilson, Cpl Ned Kelly, Sulleman Alhaji, Ex Cpl John Lewis, Pete Hindmarsh, Bill Metcalfe, LCpl Duncan Daly, Phil Simpson, Cpl Jimmy Morham, LCpl John Hedges,Gareth Lewis, Jeff Nibblet Scout pilot, Peter Skinner Wessex pilot, Harry Gannon, Steve Richards (jon jon) Simon Clark, Kev Darke, LCpl Tony Inott, Taff Parry, Lt Andrew "Bix" Bikerdike, Mark Eisler, Cpl Roger James, Craig Harry Harrison, Sgt Martin Bird, Chris Jones, Cpl Mark Brown, Sgt George Duffus, Grant Grinham, Martin (spike) Glover 9 Sqn, Cpl Paddy Rehill, Mark Blaine, LCpl Denzil Connick, Pat Harley, Stuart Dover, LCpl Graham Tolson, Sgt Keith Hopper, Gary Juliff, Quintin Wright , Mick Southall, Dave Roe, Cpl Colin Edwards, LCpl Kenny Watts, Tony Bojko, Chris Parris, Cpl Phil Skidmore, Paul Read, Mick Stamp, Cpl Mark Peter Thompson, (Tomo MGs), Cpl Joe Black, Sgt John Ross, Kev Connery, Paul Bachurzewski, LCpl Steve Wright, Cpl Phil Probets, Cpl Louis Sturge, Capt Bob Darby, Cpl Shane Cowan, Tony Bennet, Geordie Nickelson, **** Kalinski (helicopter pilot) Cpl Ian Mousett (Air crewman), Mike Carr, Tony Jones, Capt Barry Griffiths, Dean "Jasper" Coady ,Jez Dillon, Steve Flynn.

[jackfo42]

Thanks Jimmy. How will the accounts be published?

[jimmytx3]

Thanks Jimmy. How will the accounts be published?

Hi, in sequence, over the time frame of Friday 11th June through to Monday 14th in Stanley, we will do 6 Platoons story with everything in sequence with an accurate time line, then in will be 5 Platoon, then 4 Platoon, then Support Company, then A Company, then C Company followed by a chapter detailing the medical and evacuation side, giving an all round view of the battalions movements, with accurate time. so it is more understandable, it will be called "Voices from Longdon" as it will be segments of interviews in sequence often overlapping, so you see the same incident as different people saw it.
As I have read so many books on Longdon that are completely wrong.