Subject: Re:
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Gerson Garcia" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:59:11 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gerson Garcia 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 2:25 PM

  1/48 Airfix Dassault Super Etendard 

  2ª Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque

  by Gerson Garcia

  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

   

  This model depicts the SUE 0752/3-A-202, which saw action on the attacks to the HMS Sheffield and the HMS Invincible, during the Malvinas/Falklands War.

  In September 1980, pilots and technician personnel of the 2ª Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque (2nd Air Naval Fighter and Strike Squadron) of the CANA (Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina, Argentine Naval Aviation Command) arrived at Rochefort Naval Base, in France. After three months of French language teaching, they were sent to Landivisiau Air Naval Base, where they flew training sorties during 30 days and then began to know their future combat tool - the Super Etendard.- and learned the basic flight lessons and basic notions about the weapon systems, especially the anti-ship missile AM.39 Exocet. But on April 2nd 1982, when the 2nd Squadron was waiting the arrival of the French technical team to put the Exocets in an operational status, Argentina performed the military re-conquest of the Malvinas/Falklands Islands under British government since 1833. 

  Click on images below to see larger images

         Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 

   

  On May 4th 1982, SUE 0752/3-A-202 and 0753/3-A-203 sunk destroyer HMS Sheffield, using their AM.39 Exocets. It was the first time that an airborne anti-ship missile was tested in combat. Then, after the Atlantic Conveyor wreckage (sunk on May 25th 1982, by SUE 0753/3-A-203, and 0754/3-A-204) the Argentine Navy had only one Exocet left, and the British carriers still were the main Argentine targets. For these reasons, the CANA and the FAA decided to perform a joint operation. On May 30th 1982, two Super Etendards took off from Río Grande; the 0755/3-A-205, and the 0752/3-A-202 (carrying the Exocet). Five minutes later, 4 A-4Cs, belonging to the Air Force, also took off. When all of them were at 304 kms (190 miles) from the target area, they dived to an altitude of 30 meters (100 feet). Around 14:32 0752/3-A-202, reported they had locked the Exocet on the target. 0755/3-A-205, confirmed the lock and so the first launched the missile. With this launch, the participation of the 2nd Air Naval Squadron in the war came to an end. Both Super Etendards turned back to Río Grande without troubles.

  There is not agreement on what happened in the attack. British side is that the ship frigate HMS Avenger, mistaken by a carrier by the Argentine pilots, was attacked. The Argentine version said that the last Exocet missile was perfectly locked-on to the target by the Super Etendard pilot, who fired it and turned back.

         

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  Photos © by Julio Caunedo