Falklands 30

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will be commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Falklands Campaign at this year’s International Air Day. 

When Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on the 2 April 1982 all the Yeovilton Squadrons were brought to immediate readiness and four resident Squadrons, 800 NAS and 801 NAS (Sea Harrier) and 845 NAS and 846 NAS (Wessex/Sea King) were joined by the newly created 809 NAS (Sea Harrier) and 847 NAS and 848 NAS (Wessex).  Lynx helicopters from 815 NAS were already embarked in many of the surface ships dispatched almost at once to the South Atlantic.  By the end of May 1982, 126 aircraft and over 1400 men from RNAS Yeovilton were deployed in ships in the South Atlantic. 

The Falkland Islands could not have been retaken without air power. The Sea Harrier defeated the Argentinian Air Force in scoring over twenty air combat victories; the Commando Squadrons provided support to ground forces with troop insertion and resupply; Lynx helicopters provided anti-ship capability and were used successfully in that role in coastal waters.  Over the whole operation 90% availability of all aircraft embarked was achieved demonstrating the quality and reliability of the equipment and the skill and dedication of the Fleet Air Arm support crews.

RNAS Yeovilton has since grown to become one of the busiest military airfields in the United Kingdom and is amongst the largest in Europe.  Yeovilton Squadrons remain at the forefront of current operations with the Commando Helicopter Force having been deployed to Afghanistan in support of forces in the Helmand region, and the Lynx Force are equally busy embarked on ships around the world, most notably engaged in high profile anti-piracy and drugs operations.