Operation Red Rag

[Popeyed]

As in, to a bull.

Apparently we flew victors from Ascension Island during the Falklands war, to Argentina just to see if they reacted. Apparently they were not lit up or intercepted.

I’ve been unable to find anything on this online. Does anybody know any more?

[Eric Mc]

Vulcans and Nimrods too.

[aeropilot]

Popeyed said:

As in, to a bull.

Apparently we flew victors from Ascension Island during the Falklands war, to Argentina just to see if they reacted. Apparently they were not lit up or intercepted.

I’ve been unable to find anything on this online. Does anybody know any more?

Not sure what you mean by 'to Argentina'......but if you mean probing recce type flights to the edge of Argentinian airspace, using a Victor tanker, I seriously doubt it happened. The Victors were too important for their AAR tasks, and I doubt the RAF would have risked them in that way.

Nimrods on the other hand did probe closer as they were tracking the Argentinian Navy surface and sub fleets. At least one occasion saw a Nimrod encounter the Argentinian AF 707 recce aircraft that was recce'ing the task force close to the FI, and had the Nimrod comms been better with the Navy carriers, the Sea Harriers would likely have scrambled to splash the 707......and thus, the decision was taken to lash up a Sidewinder fit for the Nimrods in case they encountered the AAF 707 again.

[Popeyed]

aeropilot said:

Popeyed said:

As in, to a bull.

Apparently we flew victors from Ascension Island during the Falklands war, to Argentina just to see if they reacted. Apparently they were not lit up or intercepted.

I’ve been unable to find anything on this online. Does anybody know any more?

Not sure what you mean by 'to Argentina'......but if you mean probing recce type flights to the edge of Argentinian airspace, using a Victor tanker, I seriously doubt it happened. The Victors were too important for their AAR tasks, and I doubt the RAF would have risked them in that way.

Nimrods on the other hand did probe closer as they were tracking the Argentinian Navy surface and sub fleets. At least one occasion saw a Nimrod encounter the Argentinian AF 707 recce aircraft that was recce'ing the task force close to the FI, and had the Nimrod comms been better with the Navy carriers, the Sea Harriers would likely have scrambled to splash the 707......and thus, the decision was taken to lash up a Sidewinder fit for the Nimrods in case they encountered the AAF 707 again.

Just what my old man, a crew chief on victors based on Ascension Island for six months during the falklands war told me. Were you there?

[aeropilot]

Popeyed said:

aeropilot said:

Popeyed said:

As in, to a bull.

Apparently we flew victors from Ascension Island during the Falklands war, to Argentina just to see if they reacted. Apparently they were not lit up or intercepted.

I’ve been unable to find anything on this online. Does anybody know any more?

Not sure what you mean by 'to Argentina'......but if you mean probing recce type flights to the edge of Argentinian airspace, using a Victor tanker, I seriously doubt it happened. The Victors were too important for their AAR tasks, and I doubt the RAF would have risked them in that way.

Nimrods on the other hand did probe closer as they were tracking the Argentinian Navy surface and sub fleets. At least one occasion saw a Nimrod encounter the Argentinian AF 707 recce aircraft that was recce'ing the task force close to the FI, and had the Nimrod comms been better with the Navy carriers, the Sea Harriers would likely have scrambled to splash the 707......and thus, the decision was taken to lash up a Sidewinder fit for the Nimrods in case they encountered the AAF 707 again.

Just what my old man, a crew chief on victors based on Ascension Island for six months during the falklands war told me. Were you there?

So, why are you asking if someone knows more than him....and on a car forum....FFS.

Go and post the same question on PPrune mil aircrew section then, and see what answer you get (and remember when you do, this time point out where you got the story from)

[valiant]

Op, have you read Vulcan 607? Gives an excellent account of the Falkland Island bombing raid where the Ascension Islands were used as a staging post. Victors were used as inflight refuelling aircraft for the raid.