Awesome Documentary about a little known logistical masterpiece, carried out during the Falklands war
Description:
On 30 April 1982, the RAF launched a secret mission: to fly a Vulcan bomber to the Falkland Islands and bomb Port Stanley's runway, putting it out of action for Argentine fighter jets. The safety of the British Task Force depended on its success.However, the RAF could only get a single plane - a crumbling, Cold War-era Vulcan - 8000 miles south to the Falklands, because just one bomber needed an aerial fleet of 13 Victor tanker planes to refuel it throughout the 16-hour round-trip. At the time it was the longest-range bombing mission in history.From start to finish, the seemingly impossible mission was a comedy of errors, held together by pluck and ingenuity.On the brink of being scrapped, only three of the ageing nuclear bombers could be fitted out for war, one to fly the mission and two in reserve. Crucial spare parts were scavenged from museums and scrap yards - one vital component had been serving as an ashtray in the Officers' Mess.In just three weeks, the Vulcan crews had to learn air-to-air refuelling, which they hadn't done for 20 years, and conventional bombing, which they hadn't done for 10 years either.The RAF scoured the country for Second World War iron bombs, and complex refuelling calculations were done the night before on a £5 pocket calculator.With a plan stretched to the limit and the RAF's hopes riding on jus...
13 Comments
YogiWhy would this be considered a good thing? Do we watch documentaries about how it was sooo hard but our brave soldiers used their scrappy B-52s to bomb the shit out of helpless villagers?
Fuck England, and Fuck their Falklands war.
gorillamanOne of us is horribly misinformed about the Falkland Islands, because my picture of the conflict is one in which the UK defended the islanders against invasion by a fascist military junta.
Why would this be considered a good thing? Do we watch documentaries about how it was sooo hard but our brave soldiers used their scrappy B-52s to bomb the shit out of helpless villagers?
Fuck England, and Fuck their Falklands war.
YogiOh yeah you must be right, England has always interfered all over the world, stopping bad people doing horrible things out of the goodness of their heart.
There's a lot more to it, you can look it up if you're curious. But I would suggest that you never take the side of the fallen Empire who's intervening Thousands of miles away from it's homeland. Most likely, they're wrong.
One of us is horribly misinformed about the Falkland Islands, because my picture of the conflict is one in which the UK defended the islanders against invasion by a fascist military junta.
gorillamanSo you support the Argentine attempt to annex the Falklands by force and against the wishes of its entire population?
Generally I take the side of peaceful people against those who try to conquer them.
Oh yeah you must be right, England has always interfered all over the world, stopping bad people doing horrible things out of the goodness of their heart.
There's a lot more to it, you can look it up if you're curious. But I would suggest that you never take the side of the fallen Empire who's intervening Thousands of miles away from it's homeland. Most likely, they're wrong.
YogiOh yeah totally...it was that simple.
So you support the Argentine attempt to annex the Falklands by force and against the wishes of its entire population?
Generally I take the side of peaceful people against those who try to conquer them.
gorillamanYes, it was one of the most morally unambiguous wars in recent history.
Oh yeah totally...it was that simple.
YogiI can see that you're not gonna listen, but I hope other people will read this.
http://chomsky-must-read.blogspot.com/2008/09/humanitarian-imperialism-by-noam.html
In it Chomsky makes the case for Humanitarian intervention, citing two specific instances where an invasion was justified as humanitarian.
"The most significant ones by far during the post–Second World War era are in the 1970s: India’s invasion of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), ending a huge massacre; and Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia in December 1978, driving out the Khmer Rouge just as their atrocities were peaking."
Neither of those instances was England and neither is the Falklands. It's a much more complex situation than just Evil Military Junta, and White Special Knights of England bravely saving the day. People who believe these fantasies give power to those who end up destroying a lot of fucking lives.
Every evil bastard cites defense, or humanitarian intervention. It's not true, don't fucking believe them just because you're too lazy to do the research.
Yes, it was one of the most morally unambiguous wars in recent history.
gorillamanYou haven't given us much to listen to since you started by equating the defence of the Falkland Islands to the invasion of Vietnam, which on the face of it seems like the act of an insane person.
'Defence', whatever evil bastards may claim, is a proper description of the British response to the forceful capture of its territory and its people; this is true regardless of your opinion of the character of the nations involved, and Chomsky would agree with me.
I can see that you're not gonna listen, but I hope other people will read this.
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YogiOh yeah no of course...except for the fact that he doesn't. Also if he did, he'd be wrong.
...and Chomsky would agree with me.
A10anisEveryone is entitled to an opinion. But when that opinion is ill-informed, juvenile, uneducated, and ignorant, it would be wise to keep it to oneself. In short, "Yogi," stop digging a bigger hole and be quiet.
Oh yeah no of course...except for the fact that he doesn't. Also if he did, he'd be wrong.
Edgeman2112LOUD NOISES!
YogiFuck off, I definitely smarter than that idiot.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. But when that opinion is ill-informed, juvenile, uneducated, and ignorant, it would be wise to keep it to oneself. In short, "Yogi," stop digging a bigger hole and be quiet.
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