Page 115 - Demo
P. 115
115experience. In the specific case of the Hercules, for instance, we areinstalling proper defensive aid sub-systems into some of the aeroplanes;not all of them, but certainly those that we feel might have to go intoharm%u2019s way. Similarly, apart from our transport aircraft, we have tankersequipped with defensive aids which permits them go into places likeKabul or to fly over Iraq with a substantial degree of self-protection.Maj Gen Julian Thompson. I was Commander of the 3rd CommandoBrigade in the Falklands. In his presentation, CAS said that his squadronhelped to turn the tide at Goose Green. I can tell him that it did turn thetide. 2PARA were stuck on a forward slope, in daylight, being engagedby 35 mm AAA at 2000 metres range, something to which they hadabsolutely no answer. Suddenly, like cavalry to the rescue out of the sky,came three Harriers which promptly took out those guns and turned thetide of the battle. There is a tale behind that too. We had previously beensupported by CAS%u2019s squadron on exercise in Norway and we had a veryhigh opinion of what they could do. While we were on our way south, Iturned to my primary FAC, who was an RAF Phantom back-seater on aground tour, and told him that I needed No 1 Sqn. He said that I wouldnever get them. I asked why and he replied that they simply couldn%u2019t getthere. Thank God you did Peter, because you really did pull the fat out ofthe fire for us, for which I%u2019d like to say thank you, very much indeed.Sir Peter Squire. Well Julian, it is very kind of you to say so and I thankyou for that. Perhaps I too could add an anecdote. One of the interestingthings about the campaign that I learnt subsequently was that, during theaction at Goose Green, when the overall tide was beginning to turn andthe impact of air power was starting to became apparent, I understandthat the CO of 2PARA actually told the Argentineans that he was goingto lay on a firepower demonstration. He was planning to put fourHarriers onto a nominated target, not to attack the enemy, but todemonstrate our ability to deliver a weight of weapons on any specifiedposition. The message was to have been, %u2018We%u2019ll show you what we cando and, unless you surrender, we%u2019ll come and do it to you.%u2019 In the event,it never happened, but it was an interesting example of thinking aboutinformation, or even psychological, warfare.Sir John Curtiss. I know that one of the members of our audience isSqn Ldr Martin Withers who flew the first Vulcan sortie and I would liketo offer him the opportunity to say a few words.

