39 years ago today

koneguitarist

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

merlin

My next door neighbour Mike was out there, in Sphynx. He came back safe and sound but seriously traumatised. 

koneguitarist

What’s Sphynx? 

merlin

Sphynx Battalion. I believe Lincolnshire Regiment but not 100% sure. 

koneguitarist

Oh, never heard of that. Lot of close fighting done on the island itself. 

Literally down to bayonet work at times. I was so lucky being out at sea really. 

phil_b

koneguitarist said:

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

Why were you painting the deck during a fire fight? 

strtdv

phil_b said:

koneguitarist said:

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

Why were you painting the deck during a fire fight? 

Presumably they do it before contact rather than during it, I'd imagine it's important to make sure your own aircraft can easily identify you to reduce friendly fire incidents

phil_b

strtdv said:

phil_b said:

koneguitarist said:

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

Why were you painting the deck during a fire fight? 

Presumably they do it before contact rather than during it, I'd imagine it's important to make sure your own aircraft can easily identify you to reduce friendly fire incidents

Just giving the matelot a bit of banter (and yes I did have to Google how to spell matelot) 

Sassafras

phil_b said:

koneguitarist said:

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

Why were you painting the deck during a fire fight? 

I'd be painting myself white during a fire fight.

koneguitarist

White deck markings can be seen for miles at night, makes an easy target!

merlin

koneguitarist said:

Oh, never heard of that. Lot of close fighting done on the island itself. 

Literally down to bayonet work at times. I was so lucky being out at sea really. 

Excuse me, Sphinx is the correct spelling. Royal Artillery Battalion. 
Mike fought on the ground. 

not_the_dj

How old were you then?

koneguitarist

Nnnnnnn19

munckee

I waved you off as a 7 year old. My dad was in the process of being medically discharged and was trying to get it reversed he was desperate to go. He took us to wave the fleet out and back. 

Hattigol

Sassafras said:

phil_b said:

koneguitarist said:

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

Why were you painting the deck during a fire fight? 

I'd be painting myself white during a fire fight.

I fear I'd be 'painting' areas of me brown.

phil_b

@koneguitarist ; did you ever get back to the Falklands after the war. It a fascinating place if your not trying to find cover 

koneguitarist

munckee said:

I waved you off as a 7 year old. My dad was in the process of being medically discharged and was trying to get it reversed he was desperate to go. He took us to wave the fleet out and back. 

Sadly not me, my ship was in Gibraltar so we left from there and was first in Exclusion zone. 

Well done to your dad though. 

koneguitarist

phil_b said:

@koneguitarist ; did you ever get back to the Falklands after the war. It a fascinating place if your not trying to find cover 

Finally went in 2014 and 2015 to do a 20 minute inspection on some aircraft staging.
absolutely loved the place, felt like I had gone back in time. Sometimes you feel right at home in a new place. I even did a radio show from there.

RobDavies

This was all very exciting to a then eleven year old me - to think I was only eight years younger than someone who was actually there.... wow. 

Hearing that RT is amazing, how calm does the captain sound?

Emp_Fab

..and what's your opinion now about the conflict?  Was it worth it?

TimmyO

koneguitarist said:

About 5:30pm we were under attack from Argentinian Skyhawks. 

I was stood on flight deck with rest of my Flight with SLRs firing back, funny how things like that stick in your mind, when I can’t remember what I did Monday. 

One of the guys in ops room recorded it all on tape. 

If you watch video I’m the one in blue shorts painting over white deck markings. 

https://youtu.be/O6zohkGwQg8

It's great that in these modern enlightened times people can talk openly about things that traumatised them - like joining the Navy ;-)