When Harriers Ate Skyhawks

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June 8, 1982. It’s the final weeks of the Falklands War. At noon, the Argentinian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina) catches advancing British forces by surprise, striking two troop ships and setting them ablaze. Three hours later, a wave of Argentinian A4 Skyhawk attack aircraft crosses the islands to strike again. This time there will be no surprise, but orders are orders. The pilots press on, searching for British troops being moved by sea towards the last bastion of Argentinian defence on the islands. Waiting to intercept them are two British Sea Harriers, and a fierce aerial battle begins.

There could have been even fewer survivors that day, but technical failures, combat damage, and a bit of luck meant that three aircraft made it home. To make this film, we used the accounts of all three surviving pilots who took part in the ensuing battle.

Sources:
1 Interview with Colonel (ret.) Héctor Hugo Sánchez by Antonio Bricio
2 Morgan, David (2007). Hostile Skies: My Falklands Air War.
3 Interview with David Morgan by Imperial War Museum https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80032738 (reel 17-18)
4 Bolia, Robert S. The Falklands War: The Bluff Cove Disaster.
http://usacac.leavenworth.army.mil/CAC/milreview/download/English/NovDec04/bolia.pdf
5 Air Combat in the Falklands. Presentation by David Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h55-snf7KZQ

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00:00 Lt. Sanchez Flies an Attack Mission
00:35 British Troops Fire at Argentinian Jets
02:09 1st Lt. Bolzán Spots Landing Craft
04:01 Skyhawks Hit British Vessel
05:16 Flt Lt. Morgan Ambushes Argentinian Planes
07:30 Morgan Chases Bolzán
09:00 Lt. Smith Strikes Bolzán
10:17 A-4 Skyhawk Evades Sea Harriers in a storm
11:47 KC-130 Hercules Saves Last Pilot
15:52 British and Argentinians Reunite After War

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