Anti-aircraft GPMG in Falklands

[HVM_Boy]

Hey folks,

I'm looking for some info on an incident in the Falklands. I remember reading somewhere about a SF patrol/OP engaging two Argentine Skyhawks with a GPMG and shooting one down. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Or point me in the right direction to where i might find out about it.

I believe the Trooper was either of Black or Fijian origin, and was actually aiming for the first skyhawk, and hit the second one by accident.

Also looking for info on Stinger SAM ops in the Falklands.

Any details would be appreciated.

HVM-Boy...out

[Ploggers]

The GPMG / Skyhawk sounds like Marti W to me. 3BAS.

I think the incident you're referring to took place on Sussex Mountains a Pucara, if memory serves me right, was shot down by a patrol of hooligans with a Stinger..

[Falkens]

Wasn't there a SAS patrol or army patrol carying stingers, they didnt know how to use them as they were not properly trained with some of the equipment given. One of the patrols shot down an argie aircraft, either a skyhawk rather than a super entendard or aeromacchi's. Just an insight, sorry i do not know about the original question. Read Green eyed boys or something- a book about the marines in falklands, very gripping.

[Ploggers]

I think that book is about 3 Para.

As for the Stinger, I'm fairly certain that the aircraft was a Pucara. The reason that no-one knew how to use the Stinger properly was that the guy who had been to the US to train on the system was killed in the sea king tragedy. Consequently no-one had any practical experience of firing the thing.

[chunky from york]

I heard from rumour control that he was cheesed off carting the thing about, as he hadn't been shown how to use it.

But then an opportunity turned up that was too good to miss and following the written instructions on the tube ( similar to the one on the 66mm LAW ) he fired it off and they all stood there gob-smacked when it hit the aircraft!

[Ploggers]

Sounds like he killed two birds with one stone

[Ploggers]

One of the patrols shot down an argie aircraft, either a skyhawk rather than a super entendard or aeromacchi's.

I dont think I ever seen a Super Entendard. They were used against the fleet and only then at long range. At San Carlos we seen lots of Argie planes but they were almost always Skyhawks or Mirage/Dagger. - and damn crazy they were too!

[GARRYOWEN]

I heard a similar story... it was a Para from Wales who shot down an Argentine plane.

[Falkens]

I dont think I ever seen a Super Entendard. They were used against the fleet and only then at long range. At San Carlos we seen lots of Argie planes but they were almost always Skyhawks or Mirage/Dagger. - and damn crazy they were too!

They were long range aircraft so you may well not have seen them. They did use delta daggers and F1 mirages, it was the mirage which used the exocet missile against our British ships!!

[veggie]

It was the Super Etendard/s that fired at the British Ships with Exocet

veggie

[scottishmatt]

The incident is talked about in 'One Hundered Days' by Admiral Sandy Woodward. I think i have a copy some where. Will come back with more details.

[Rogue Chef]

Ahoy there!
I can personally verify the veracity of this one, well as far as I can recall!
Rogue Chef wrote

May 1982, B Coy position overlooking San Carlos. Air red! 2 x fighter aircraft swooped to-wards our positions and were engaged by small arms fire by the troops, before disappearing over the hillside....................
A L/Cpl gun group commander (who went on to have a distinguished career at 22 SAS) having ordered his GPMG gunner to cease fire shouted to CSM Les Gordon "That's a hit Sgt Major, I'm claiming that one for 4Tp".
"I hope not, the second plane was a Harrier!" came the reply.

PS - SLRs and GPMGs weren't fitted with IFF.

[pondlife252]

Turning pedantry into an art form, hopefully this will clear a few things up.

The Stinger incident was indeed relating to DSqn SAS returning from brassing up Goose Green on 21/05/82 in the vicinity of Sussex Mtn. The aircraft was a Grupo 3 Pucara (operating out of Goose Green) which was brought down after being hit in the starboard engine by the missile in question. The pilot baled out and returned on foot to the airfield. Despite a number of engagements, it was the only Stinger success of the war.

The aircraft claimed as being brought down by GPMG was one of two "possibles", both Skyhawks of Grupo 4. On 24/05/82, one Skyhawk crashed in King George Bay, West Falkland, after overflying San Carlos Water and being damaged by small arms fire and shrapnel. The pilot was killed in the crash. The second incident, a day later, occurred as a Skyhawk broke up in mid air after sustaining multiple hits from a variety of sources. The pilot survived in this instance.

There were of course many other aircraft damaged by small arms fire, but only these two confirmed as shot down by same.

No Mirage F1 were deployed by Argentina as the type was not in service with them. No Super Etendard overflew the Islands as they were indeed employed to sink aircraft carriers out at sea. The Mirage 111 and Israeli built Daggers of the FAA suffered no confirmed losses to ground fire. "Mike Curtis" a Welsh L/Cpl (promoted in the field) gpmg gunner in 5plt, B Coy, 2 Para who later had a distinguished career in 22 SAS, did indeed engage Skyhawks, but makes no personal claim to his downing the aircraft.

Aye.