I just published on the Supersonic jets thread about the Blackbuck Vulcan and it reminded me of another story I heard at the time.
The same Harrier pilot told me this one.
According to him, the Chilean government were worried about the way the Falklands war was going and decided that they might be next for invasion. It was allegedly agreed with the British government that a number of Phantoms and their crews and support would be shipped into the country to be used against Argentina if things got rough, supposedly British troops would be on standby to move into Chile to help with defence. I heard they were crated up and on their way.
It’s known that a British helicopter crashed on a beach in Chile apparently on a mission to attack Argentine airbases with SAS troops, how much the Chilean government knew about what was happening is open to speculation, however, in view of the situation at the time, I’m sure that they would not have wanted any hint of collusion.
Anyone have anymore knowledge of this.
By: DaveF68 - 2nd March 2006 at 20:32
It was one of several proposals and suggestions made during the War. It seems to have come to nothing, but there is some evidence that RAF Hercules, and possibly Canberras and even a Nimrod (51 Squadron), operated out of Chilean bases during the War
By: Vega ECM - 2nd March 2006 at 20:19
Sandy Woodwards book “100 Days” tells of an RAF proposed scheme to first capture a small remote island off of the coast of the Falklands and then “quickly” construct an airbase for Phantoms. Sandy seems to regard this scheme with disdain, and only gave it scant consideration.
By: Camlobe - 2nd March 2006 at 16:59
Heard a lot of similar mentions at the time and afterwards. Nothing in writing though.
By: ZRX61 - 2nd March 2006 at 15:57
Mark Hanna once told me something about flying Phantoms out of Chile….. some base down near Del Fuego(sp?)
Sign In
March 2, 2006 at 2:09 pm