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74myself, was to fly to Ascension Island (thus assuring a further ten daysin the UK before deployment) and then join the MV Norland, a NorthSea ferry. As I was assured at naval headquarters at Northwood, thesetwo ships would sail in parallel to the Falkland Islands where, in a safeair environment and with a secure beachhead, we would cross-deck andcommence operations. Communications and combat supplies would beprovided!The Conveyor part of this equation went ahead, largely without hitch,as did our flight to Ascension, although the transfer to the Norland wasnot without its moments, given that, individually, it was impossible tocarry the amount of flying and survival clothing with which we had beenissued. Additionally, no one had thought to inform 2PARA that we werejoining %u2013 or so they claimed. This resulted in an undignified shoutingmatch while we sought to find somewhere to sleep, compounded by ourbeing asked to leave the Officers Mess after 1800 hrs because the colonelinsisted on jacket and tie!Having overcome these minor, but irritating, difficulties we settledinto a daily routine of preparation and training. We were, as promised,sailing in parallel with the Atlantic Conveyor and from time to time Itook the opportunity offered by the RN of cross-decking to visit mypersonnel. The mood was buoyant, but it was difficult to engage in anyserious planning other than to determine a method for getting ourselvesfrom the ships to an operating base ashore. Our field equipment (largelyunseen) and ammunition was loaded somewhere aboard the Conveyor.The future posed no difficulty; we had a fantastically capable newaircraft captained by pilots who had all completed at least four supporthelicopter flying tours. Information was scant and gleaned only frombroadcasts on the BBC World Service.We awoke one grey South Atlantic morning, 18 May, to see shipsfrom horizon to horizon, some twenty plus. I signalled the Task GroupCommander, requesting cross decking of fourteen personnel to ensurethat we could develop an early operating capability. There was noresponse. I repeated the message on 19 May but again there was noresponse. The next morning, 20 May, revealed what turned out to be theAmphibious Group and, of great significance of course, the Conveyorhad left the formation with the Carrier Group. Thus pilots and aircraftwere now separated.Colonel H Jones, the CO of 2PARA, asked me to accompany him to