Falklands Nimrods

This is an interesting thread. Of course the Nimrods were not confined to operating from Ascension. Nimrod R1 XW664 also operated from San Felix Island and gathered intelligence on the Argentine forces. More details can be found here http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chile.htm

Watchman

You are making an interesting statement Watchman, that is not actually borne out by the second from last paragraph of the link you provide.

The critical sentence from which states:

It is still unclear whether any of these three sorties were actually undertaken by a Nimrod R1 of 51 Sqn, rather than a Nimrod MPA

exmpa

Nimrods in Chile during the Falklands Campaign

This is an interesting thread. Of course the Nimrods were not confined to operating from Ascension. Nimrod R1 XW664 also operated from San Felix Island and gathered intelligence on the Argentine forces. More details can be found here http://www.spyflight.co.uk/chile.htm

Watchman

I have been lucky to have captured two of the Nimrods about to make their last touchdown …….

XV232 at Coventry.

XV255 at Norwich.

I remember reading about Mick Flynn returning to the front line in Afghan last year, inspiring stuff!

Anyone know of serving RAF personnel who hold the south atlantic medal?

OT but my father was on 1 Sqn at the time (Groundcrew), they were recalled from Cold Lake in Canada rather sharpish to go south and meet the Atlantic Conveyor. I’m going out to Spain to see my folks later this year, I’ll have a root through his old pics and see what I can unearth. Also, there’s a chap in my building who was an AE on Hercs during the war, he’s still serving now, i’ll ask him about pics too, see if anythign nice can be unearthed.

Intriging to know how many people are still serving that wear the South Atlantic medal too.

I know of two Falkland veterans still serving, WO1 (GSM) Mott MBE 1WG, and WO2 (CSM) Flynn CGC MC RHG/D.

I may have posted these before, but the photos below are scans from my fathers slides. He took them while serving with 201 squadron… They’re all taken during the Falklands campaign appart from the last one which I think was taken at Anconbury.

The dayglow fish and arrestor hook are because they landed short and hit the water on their way into ascension island. Also the slogan “Have flaps will travel” – The destroyed the flaps on landing

Your first picture of XV228 is probably taken at RAF Stanley because its on matting by the look of it, and was taken sometime in late 1982 or early 1983. It was also taken after the conflict had finished. It may well have been the aircraft that took home the Defence Secretary in one flight (17hrs or so) back to Kinloss

…Of course not Mick! :p:D

Thought you might like to see this ‘Nimrod with Sidewinders- the world’s biggest fighter’ zap XV250’s crew took great delight in slapping on my car 😀

! 😮

Havn’t got a clue what your on about:diablo::diablo:;)

Thought you might like to see this ‘Nimrod with Sidewinders- the world’s biggest fighter’ zap XV250’s crew took great delight in slapping on my car 😀

Apologies for not washing the car first! 😮

The info about the Sidewinder fit was leaked at the time so that the other side would keep a distance,not sure if that worked however the crews were well practiced at fighter affil.

Cracking pics VX927, can’t beat a bit of speed tape!

Thank you. I’ll get the slide scanner out and do a few more… There are some interesting photos refuelling behind Victors and Hercs… One when the tip snaps off the probe!

XV232 had the most illustrious Falklands war record. XV232 arrived at Assension Island on 9th May having been converted with the air to air refuelling kit at Woodford. On 15th May she flew at 19hour 5min mission to radar survey the Argentine coast looking for enemy shipping, which was all found ‘in port’ due to the UK submarine threat, the flight covered 8300 miles from a point 150 mile north of Port Stanley and as close as 60 miles from the Argentine coast, and included three refuellings. Later on the 15th May another mission covered 8453 miles which was considered the longest single sorte of the conflict. Luckily XV232 survives and is in the good care of Air Atlantique at Coventry. Info from the excellent BARG Falklands – Air War

…can’t beat a bit of speed tape!

It’ll do a trip! 😉

Don’t worry PJ seems to be a common mis-conception.:)
There is still an awful lot of information still to be brought to the surface re Nimrods and the Falklands.
Cracking pics VX927, can’t beat a bit of speed tape!

I may have posted these before, but the photos below are scans from my fathers slides. He took them while serving with 201 squadron… They’re all taken during the Falklands campaign appart from the last one which I think was taken at Anconbury.

The dayglow fish and arrestor hook are because they landed short and hit the water on their way into ascension island. Also the slogan “Have flaps will travel” – The destroyed the flaps on landing

DOH! I must stop making up lies! Apologies Pagen!

If memory serves, all the Nimrods the went south had the sidewinder mod…

No, XV232 was the only sidewinder equiped Nimrod deployed during the Falklands campaign.

The first two Nimrods, XV244 & XV258 MR.1s in hemp from 42 sqn St Mawgan (one of which performed the first air sortie of the whole conflict), were rushed to the conflict on April 6th without any mods, in fact they didn’t have the refuelling probes (the quick fix AAR would have H&S jumping about now) fitted at that point either.
Don’t forget that the MR.2 had only just been cleared in large numbers into service and 120 sqn arrived with MR.2s to replace the hard worked 1s by the end of April.

The first AAR flight (XV229) was the 27th April.
The RAF didn’t recieve their first Sidewinder equiped Nimrod until 17 May 1982.

XV227, XV228, XV230, XV232, XV243, XV244, XV247, XV249, XV255, XV258, XV260 and XW664 – credit to ‘Falklands the Air War by the late lamented BARG team published in 1986

Thanks for posting the info. Interesting to see that two of those Nimrods are still very much active. XV249 and XW664. XV249 is currently flying at the moment over the UK. XW664 is currently deployed for Afghan ops. Just under two months to go before they retire on 31 March.

XW664 featured in RAF Operational Updates – Jan 2011.

https://cms.raf.mod.uk/rafoperationalupdate/rafpublished/opsupdate/opsupdate23jan2011.cfm

https://cms.raf.mod.uk/rafoperationalupdate/rafpublished/opsupdate/opsupdate16jan2011.cfm

TJ

Ahh Maggie! But for you all those types would have not have had their moment of glory – oh apart from the Middle East so thank you George and – Oh senior moment I have forgotten his name.

IIRC XV250 still has the Sidewinder gubbins fitted. Apart from the pylon and an actual ‘winder, obviously…