RAF Canberra Lost in Brazil?

There is of course one ex-Argentine UH-1H flying in the United Kingdom.

A certain covert organisation still fly the A109s that were “obtained” in 1982..

Yoash Tsidon? In a Meteor NF.13 he downed an Il.14 28/10/1956 carrying much Egyptian brass. Vautours in 6 Day War.

Aged 70-something, doing business with me, developed toothache on Sat. evening. “I’ll wait for normal dental service Monday”, he said. Duly seen; nerve exposed; dentist said “heaven’s above, what are you – a fighter pilot?”

Cracking story. But that’s the kind of people that generation were. My parents would rather suffer all weekend than call the health centre for a doctor to come out on Friday afternoon.

Sources Ive read stated some of the ex RAF Neptunes were in use, Im hoping they are right and not just embelllished to make a nice story!

Falklands Neptunes were definitely the ex-US P2V-7s

Yoash Tsidon? In a Meteor NF.13 he downed an Il.14 28/10/1956 carrying much Egyptian brass. Vautours in 6 Day War.

Aged 70-something, doing business with me, developed toothache on Sat. evening. “I’ll wait for normal dental service Monday”, he said. Duly seen; nerve exposed; dentist said “heaven’s above, what are you – a fighter pilot?”

It would be interesting to ponder in which wars the same aircraft were used on opposite sides!

Israel/Egypt: Spitfires 🙂

Many years ago when restoring PA908 we had some Jewish chap drop by the hangar & he’d lead a rather intersting life.

He’d flown RAF Spitfires
USAAC Spitfires
USAAC Mustangs
IDF Spitfires
IDF Mustangs
IDF Me109s… (or whatever the Cz version was… Avia?)

Apparently (IIRC) he’d shot down a Luftwaffe Me 109 with a Spit, another with a Mustang, Then he’d managed to shoot down an Egyptian Spit with a Mustang & another with an Me109. There were some other kills but I can’t remember the entire list, wish I could remember his name..

Sources Ive read stated some of the ex RAF Neptunes were in use, Im hoping they are right and not just embelllished to make a nice story!

If so then they would be identifiable by their serial. Certainly the two most famous Neptunes used were ex-US Navy. World Air Power Journal has indepth articles on the subject of the Argentine aircraft used during the conflict. Unfortunately I disposed of mine some time ago.

Sources Ive read stated some of the ex RAF Neptunes were in use, Im hoping they are right and not just embelllished to make a nice story!

I thought this was well known.
During the Falklands the RAF needed to use our PR.9s for Recce work over S.America and Argentina, under fairly secret conditions at the time, three PR.9s were ‘sold’ to Chile so that the work could be carried out from there, and using their local knowledge and expertise. The aircraft were retained and used by Chile (believed as a thank you). It was all kept pretty quiet until one of the PR.9s crashed, which blew the cover of the operation open (as did a Seaking accident of the time). Hefty embargos were in place and obviously we were not meant to supply any arms to Chile at that time.
Two of the PR.9s, 341 (XH166) and 343 (XH173) are now preserved in Chile.
What I can’t understand is why the MoD didn’t go the safer diplomatic route of operating these Canberras from Belize?

BTW Bex, PR.9s and indeed most Canberras didn’t have inflight refuelling capability

As for the strange situation of similar types on both sides, what about the ex RAF Neptunes that were used by the Argies to gather intelligence of the British fleet.

I believe the Argentine Neptunes, still in service and used during the conflict, were ex-US Navy P2V-7S (SP-2H) airframes. The RAF Neptunes were P2V-5.

Most sources quote serials 2-P-111 and 2-P-112 being used. Possibly there was a third and even another airframe?

http://p2vneptune.com/i01.shtml

‘150280 to Argentine Navy as 0708/2-P-112’

http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/thirdseries19.html

The B2 can refuel both ends of its trip which is 4000 miles. Pageno1 is suggesting a round trip of 7000 miles assuming overfly permissions granted! (And that would be AldeRgrove?:D )

Friends, Romans Countryfolk & Muppets like me, sorry I seem to be in Muppet mode these last couple of days. I had intended to state about a 1 way trip, but I seem to be forgetting everything and I cant spell either.

So, just ignore me while I reboot the braincell 😮 😮

Bex

Now then, if a B2 can hack its way from Aldegrove to the USA without A2A refuelling Im pretty sure a PR9 with more fuel tanks can pull it off. As for Cranberrys and A2A refuelling, non of them could do it.

Bex

The B2 can refuel both ends of its trip which is 4000 miles. Pageno1 is suggesting a round trip of 7000 miles assuming overfly permissions granted! (And that would be AldeRgrove?:D )

J Boyle, there should have been a smiley on the end of my post d’oh, sorry abt that.

Now then, if a B2 can hack its way from Aldegrove to the USA without A2A refuelling Im pretty sure a PR9 with more fuel tanks can pull it off. As for Cranberrys and A2A refuelling, non of them could do it.

Bex

Falklands overflights was not the mission;)

Belize to Argentina is still 3500 miles give or take, one way!

What:D Have you looked at the map? It is over 4,000 miles from Belize to the Falklands, as the crow flies even if you could get overfly permissions from other countries, but thanks for the extra info. though.:)

Falklands overflights was not the mission;)

What I can’t understand is why the MoD didn’t go the safer diplomatic route of operating these Canberras from Belize?

BTW Bex, PR.9s and indeed most Canberras didn’t have inflight refuelling capability

What:D Have you looked at the map? It is over 4,000 miles from Belize to the Falklands, as the crow flies even if you could get overfly permissions from other countries, but thanks for the extra info. though.:)

I thought this was well known.
During the Falklands the RAF needed to use our PR.9s for Recce work over S.America and Argentina, under fairly secret conditions at the time, three PR.9s were ‘sold’ to Chile so that the work could be carried out from there, and using their local knowledge and expertise. The aircraft were retained and used by Chile (believed as a thank you). It was all kept pretty quiet until one of the PR.9s crashed, which blew the cover of the operation open (as did a Seaking accident of the time). Hefty embargos were in place and obviously we were not meant to supply any arms to Chile at that time.
Two of the PR.9s, 341 (XH166) and 343 (XH173) are now preserved in Chile.
What I can’t understand is why the MoD didn’t go the safer diplomatic route of operating these Canberras from Belize?

BTW Bex, PR.9s and indeed most Canberras didn’t have inflight refuelling capability

As for the strange situation of similar types on both sides, what about the ex RAF Neptunes that were used by the Argies to gather intelligence of the British fleet.

It would be interesting to ponder in which wars the same aircraft were used on opposite sides!

WWII Finland!

During the Falklands war, both sides had Hercules…

Also during the war both sides operated Chinooks, Puma (RAF not in theatre), Lynx and Sea King…not to mention Type-42 Destroyers!

After the war the British had quite a few UH-1H, MB-339A and T-34…plus some Chinook and Puma ‘under-new-management’…

…and for a brief period, post-war, both sides ‘operated’ the Pucara!

There is of course one ex-Argentine UH-1H flying in the United Kingdom.

A PR9 wouldnt need a Herc, Canberras have quite a few fuel tanks on em.

Bex

I wasn’t implying that they needed tankers, I was just offering a comment on Newforest’s question…:D

During the Falklands war, boith sides had Hercules…

A PR9 wouldnt need a Herc, Canberras have quite a few fuel tanks on em.

Bex

It would be interesting to ponder in which wars the same aircraft were used on opposite sides!

During the Falklands war, both sides had Hercules…