Page 98 - Demo

98was on the IGB and the forces of the Warsaw Pact, positioned little morethan a stone%u2019s throw away to the east of us. And this focus was keptsharp through vigorous and regular examinations by AAFCETACEVAL, both on and off base.The seizure of the Falklands on 2 April 1982 was soon, however, toexercise an immediate and enduring influence on the RAFG HarrierForce. The first inkling of what was to come was the arrival of a signalfrom Rheindahlen in early April asking how many of my Harrier pilotshad AD experience. Four admitted to having previously flownLightnings and were immediately deployed to Yeovilton to convert on tothe Sea Harrier and then to move on southwards soon thereafter.Other pilots were sent back to the UK for trials flying activities aimedparticularly at giving the Harrier an LGB capability. Further to this, Ithink towards the end of April, we were tasked to train up four combatteams of eight pilots each (in effect two teams from No 3 Sqn and twofrom No 4 Sqn) as reinforcements for the Task Force. No 4 Sqn was inthe lead as, at the start of the war, No 3 Sqn was in Canada on ExerciseMAPLE FLAG. The squadron recovered to the UK without theassistance of in-flight refuelling %u2013 probably the longest staging trip everundertaken by the Harrier Force.Even heavier involvement occurred in early May when No 63 Sqn,our Rapier SHORAD unit, recovering from a field deployment exerciseon 7 May, was ordered to redeploy on 9 May to Southampton to join the5 Brigade move to the Falklands. This was pretty breathtaking stuff, withneither the squadron%u2019s personnel, under the command of Sqn Ldr IanLoughborough, nor indeed their families, having much time to gathertheir thoughts about supplies of cold weather clothing and Rapier spares%u2013 amongst many other things. But I recall very vividly the departure ofthe squadron on a Sunday morning in their Land Rovers, smack on timeand in immaculate order. Saluting the squadron by way of farewell wascertainly an emotional moment for me.Meanwhile training of Harrier combat teams proceeded apace withdetachments to Yeovilton for ski-jump and deck landing practice, DACTwith Belgian Mirages in our local airspace, in-flight refuelling trainingand other disciplines I may have forgotten. The consequence of all thiswas that flying activity levels at G%u00fctersloh went off the clock whichstarted to cause considerable problems with the local German authorities%u2013 who, in any event, thought we were nuts to go to war over what they