spider

iTrader: (1)

Les, I'm in no way belittling what everyone (ground & air crews) did. It was, as you say, a fantastic logistical exercise etc.; I was just saying I never thought it was the most effective use of resources. I also appreciate it was the longest bombing raid ever until the B52 strikes on Iraq - not bad for stuff built for the cold war!

The Mirages were pulled back to mainland Argentina - but the threat of action there was diminished when our politicians said there would be no mainland attacks!!! Lions led by donkeys again!

Unfortunately we couldn't afford to completely knock the strip out since we knew we'd neet it for Phantoms in the long run. That meant the damage wasn't severe enough to prevent Hercs, Pucaras and Aermacchis from using it (and Skyhawks too for a while IIRC).

Physchologically the Black Buck missions must have played Hell with those on the ground round Stanley airfield - especially the poor engineers tasked with extending it!

Just to reiterate Les, I'd never belittle those at the sharp end in any of our forces. The important thing is that, re the original post, the Vulcan's safe for a while longer.

Steve

Leslie

Yes ok Steve. I quite naturally have to admit to some bias of course, but I still think that what they did during that war made a real difference to the final result.

Thank goodness 558 is safe for a bit, I hope they can find a sponsor eventually.

Just before the aircraft was taken out of service I spent the best part of an afternoon trying to get a very high up chap in Lloyds to buy a Vulcan for advertising purposes since they were sponsoring the Greenham Common Air Tattoo at the time. I think you could get one for £3K delivered if you possessed a long enough runway. Pity he resisted because I was in a position to offer him a complete crew to fly it for him We did get a very nice lobster lunch from them though

Les