One of the great mysteries of the Falklands War 1982 was the Sea King helicopter that landed in Chile. Some of us old enough to remember the incident did wonder what the helicopter was doing there.
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I think it's one of the worst kept secrets of the Falklands conflict F10..
Something to do with a Helicopter pleasure flight from Hereford that got badly lost and ended up with a little aircraft spotting in a certain South American Country.
I think it's one of the worst kept secrets of the Falklands conflict F10..
I was aware of the Sea King helicopter that landed in Chile during the Falklands war and I was aware that plans had been made, but not carried out, to attack the Argentine airfield mentioned in the video but I wasn't aware of a link between the 2 before seeing the video. Other users of this forum may have been fully aware of the link between the 2, before seeing the video, but I wasn't.
I was aware of the Sea King helicopter that landed in Chile during the Falklands war and I was aware that plans had been made, but not carried out, to attack the Argentine airfield mentioned in the video but I wasn't aware of a link between the 2 before seeing the video. Other users of this forum may have been fully aware of the link between the 2, before seeing the video, but I wasn't.
A group of aircraft spotters just happened to find themselves in the area and watch/ photograph and record aircraft movements in Argentina for their very interested friends back home, before going on a treking holiday in Chile apparently F10.
Tooooooooooo sensitive Op Plumduff even to talk about today, best believe the video!!
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
I remember thinking, at the time, that it was a waste of a good helicopter after it had apparently been set on fire, according to the news reports, and then, if that wasn't enough, buried under earth by bulldozers.
"...wonder what the helicopter was doing there..." A Sea King's range is 1,230 km. Chile is 2,029 klicks from the Falklands. It's more about where it may have come from than what its passengers and crew were doing.
"...wonder what the helicopter was doing there..." A Sea King's range is 1,230 km. Chile is 2,029 klicks from the Falklands. It's more about where it may have come from than what its passengers and crew were doing.
I would respectfully suggest looking at the video again.
The Sea King came from one of the two British carriers, not the Falkland Islands (allegedly). It could have refuelled from any of the British ships, in the area, with a flight deck large enough to take a Sea King and a suitable ship could have been suitably positioned just for that purpose if it was required.
I came across the video by chance and I posted it because I thought that other forum members may find it interesting, especially those of us old enough to remember the Falklands war clearly.
For that matter, the Sea King could have gone aboard a flight deck equipped Frigate for a quick dash in shore and launched from there with the Sea King intending to return to the ship. If so, the Frigate getting spotted by a coastal patrol vessel or aircraft and having to make a hasty exit east-bound could have even been the reason the mission was aborted. Either way, it was definitely in the plan for the Sea King proceed to west if things went *rs* up at least.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
. Some of us old enough to remember the incident did wonder what the helicopter was doing there.
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Originally Posted by mrclark303
