"Air Combat in the Falklands" by David Smith

Рет қаралды 17,634

Жыл бұрын

David Smith was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1982 and served onboard HMS Hermes in 800 Naval Air Squadron flying the Sea Harrier FRS1. David was involved in two air combat actions in which he shot down a Mirage V and an A4 Skyhawk.
This presentation was hosted by the Aviation Historical Society of Australia (Qld) Inc. at Archerfield Airport on Friday 24 February 2023.

Пікірлер: 39

@jcsixties422 2 ай бұрын

Very interesting talk - Heard some of this first hand in Tamar Wardroom 83 but recall 40 years later is fantastic.

@jimramsey8887 9 ай бұрын

Just a brilliant presentation describing heroism, bravery, respect and Fun in an horrendous conflict using magnificent equipment. Thanks very much for the video.

@anonnemo2504 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for such a fascinating presentation, Mr. Smith, and many thanks for your heroic service.

@jacksprat9172 Жыл бұрын

I remember rushing home from school as a 12 year old boy in '82 to get the latest news of the task force and the Harriers in particular. I'm still fascinated by that aircraft and I hope its kept flying for a good few years yet. A shame we no longer have them in the UK. Many thanks to the Aviation Historical Society of Australia and to David in particular, I suspect there were quite a few 12 year old boys in the audience!

@shirleydrury5565 9 ай бұрын

Same here remember it well.

@charak100able 8 ай бұрын

I was ten

@pontiacGXPfan 19 күн бұрын

Blame the Americans. Our country sold you that shitheap F35 Lightning

@humrv7 4 ай бұрын

Looking good Dave! Great talk 😊 Hum

@Berry-fr5wj 7 ай бұрын

Absolutely fascinating

@patrick764 Жыл бұрын

Great stories. I love the detail.

@anselmdanker9519 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for this presentation of your experience. Thank you for your service.

@frostyrobot7689 8 ай бұрын

Seconded.

@shirleydrury5565 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for this really enjoyed 😊❤

@aldoreneliguera9254 Жыл бұрын

fuiste un soldado, un gran piloto, pero me dejaste sin mi amigo Primer Teniente Ruben Bolzán, igualmente le mando un gran abrazo..

@dutchbrotherfan1284 9 ай бұрын

Your friend Ruben Bolzan memories will always be there. Sad that war does this . But he was doing his mission and the risk is always with them even in peaceful times.

@johnnypickles5256 Ай бұрын

La junta te dejo sin Tu amigo desafotunadamente, qué descanse en Paz

@philipcrabtree1679 5 ай бұрын

If David had read Sharkey’s book it was Sharkey who saw the enemy aircraft first but realised the 800 aircraft were closer and asked the FAC to vector the 800 aircraft to the targets. I find David misses out a number of key attacks that happened during the conflict. I was part of 801 Sqdn on HMS Invincible throughout the conflict and post surrender operating aircraft from Stanley Airfield on CAP.

@MadAdventure919 9 ай бұрын

The British had 13 ships where the bombs did not detonate because they were dropped at low altitude. One of the commanders said in an interview that if the bombs had detonated it would have been the end of the war.

@mikeycraig8970 9 ай бұрын

It was never going to be the end of the war. Troops were already ashore.

@masterscubaman 8 ай бұрын

33 bombs didn't detonate on 3 ships. Doesn't mean they would have resulted in the loss of the ship. Source - imperial war museum London.

@paulmarchant9231 8 ай бұрын

There were many contingency plans for what if situations, and many complications... for example the winter was fast approaching and operations needed to be completed quickly. It was always expected that we would lose warships, especially as they were deliberately being used as pawns taking the brunt of the attacks to protect the landing ships ( if they were intended to protect landings with their missiles they would have been placed in open water where their radar wouldn't be trying to see through mountains). The main thing about losing ships was the question of which ships.There is no way we were going to lose , there was another new carrier hurriedly being prepared , HMS Illustrious, the old Bulwark had already been rejected but could be reconsidered, not forgetting that Reagan had offered an American carrier if we should need it.

@arcbennett 6 ай бұрын

David, this is a terrific tale - one that I've never before heard, despite us joining Hawke Division together in 1973. I would really love to get in touch again - how can I send you my email address (other than adding it here)? Wiggy, 846 Sqn, HMS HERMES 1982 et al.

@smi6086 6 ай бұрын

Hi Wiggy. Great to hear from you. I'm trying to figure a way of exchanging email addresses without using this platform and all that would entail! Do you do Facebook?

@ozatwar 6 ай бұрын

Wiggy can you please go to my web site at www.ozatwar.com and find my email address at the bottom of that page and send me an email and I'll put you in touch with David.

@krisspradlin715 8 ай бұрын

Mermaid = Siren

@AA-xo9uw Жыл бұрын

Some sources indicate that Smith downed a Dagger A, not a Mirage V, on 24 May. He bagged an A-4B on 8 June. The Argies lost two Mirage IIIEAs on 1 May. The ten Mirage Vs from Peru didn't arrive at Tandil until 4 June and weren't used before the surrender on 14 June..

@brunol-p_g8800 8 ай бұрын

Mirage 5, not Mirage V. It is a common mistake, but it was named in and used Arab numbers not Roman numbers. It was a cheaper and simplified Mirage III asked by the Israelis, without the poursuit Cyrano radar but instead with more fuel and weapons used for clear skies attack. In the end following the Beyrouth airport attack by Israel, France placed an embargo on Israel and Israel ended up producing a copy named Nasher/Dagger.

@captainbligh3894 Ай бұрын

The Israeli-built Mirage V, also called the Dagger, was fast and well maintained but had no aerial refueling system, electronic countermeasures, or inertial navigation system. Argentina's pilots ...