Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Daggers

• Skyhawks

Skyhawks

By 1982 US manufactured Skyhawks operated by the Argentinians had been in service for some years. Armed only with dumb bombs (i.e. bombs that weren’t guided such as the Sidewinder) they nevertheless managed to inflict severe damage on the Task Force.

As the British troops made pushes on Stanley in May and June 1982, the Argentinian Air Force kept up their bombardment on the British Task Force. On the 8 June a formation of five Skyhawks dropped their 500-pound bombs on RFA Sir Galahad and RFA Sir Tristram. Both of these caught fire immediately and the casualties were heavy. Four helicopters of 825 Squadron helped rescue survivors from Sir Galahad as the two ships were abandoned, ferrying the wounded to hospital.

On 21 May 1982, Lt Cdr Blissett (800 Squadron), flying with Lt Cdr Thomas of 899 in Sea Harriers, sighted four Skyhawks over West Falkland. The Skyhawk pilots sighted the Sea Harriers and jettisoned their bombs before the Harriers had a chance to attack them. Using Sidewinder AIM9L missiles, the two Sea Harrier pilots shot down two of the Skyhawks. Sidewinders were responsible for shooting down at least 16 Argentinian aircraft during the Falklands conflict.