BAe Harrier GR.3

Single-engine (Rolls-Royce Pegasus 103 turbofan) single-seat RAF close support/reconnaissance/fighter aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing capability.

Served with No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron of the RAF in the Falklands War, 1982. It flew at least nine sorties between 2 & 14 June 1982, operating from HMS Hermes & the temporary forward airstrip at Port San Carlos. It carried out attacks with 1000 lb bombs, cluster bombs & rockets against Argentine positions near Stanley, on Mounts Harriet, Longdon & Tumbledown & on Sapper Hill. On 11 June, over Mount Longdon, an Argentine surface-to-air missile exploded only 100ft above its cockpit. Service dates: 8 July 76 - April 82 served with 233 OCU but with some time at A.D.A and Belize. 19 April 82 - 12 Aug 83 with No.1 Squadron at Wittering including Falklands War service (see below) 12 Aug 83 - 30 Aug 83 with No.3 Squadron at Gutersloh 30 Aug 83 - April 86 back with No.1 Squadron at Wittering 18 April 86 - 14 May 86 with Nos.3 and 4 Squadron at Gutersloh 29 May 86 - Dec 88 back with No.1 Squadron 16 Dec 88 with No.4 Squadron at Gutersloh Details: On 29.03.82 it was with 233OCU coded P at Wittering, transferring to 1(F) Sqn during April 82. This may account for the lack of a name under the starboard windscreen. It was flown from Wittering to St Mawgan on 28.05.82 and from there directly to Wideawake, Ascension, on 29.05.82*. 01.06.82 - XZ133/10 was flown by Flt Lt Murdo MacLeod from Wideawake direct to Hermes. For this flight it was fitted with an IFR probe, 2x 100gal tanks on the outer pylons and 2x 330 gal ferry tanks on the inboard pylons. The starboard gun pod was fitted with the Blue Eric ECM fit. The large ferry tanks were jettisoned prior to landing on Hermes, the 100 gal tanks being retained for ops. (* This "ferry" configuration was also used for the flight from the UK to Ascension.) XV778/16 flown by Flt Lt Mike Beech accompanied XZ133 on this epic 8h 20mins flight, with IFR support from 4 Victors. The RFA Engadine was the only diversion en route, at roughly half distance; other than that, SAR was not an option! 02.06.82 - Sqn Ldr Jerry Pook in XZ989/07 and Flt Lt Murdo MacLeod in XZ133 supported ground forces in a 45 min sortie armed with the RN's 2" rocket pods. 06.06.82 - Sqn Ldr Jerry Pook in XZ989/07 and Flt Lt Murdo MacLeod in XZ133 departed Hermes some 240 miles east of Port Stanley at 1200Z to position to the Forward Operating Base at Port San Carlos. They carried out further attacks in the Stanley area and a recon mission looking for ground launched Exocets. 11.06.82 - Sqn Ldr Pook in XV789/32 and Flt Lt Mike Beech in XZ133 attacked positions on Mt Harriet c.1450Z. <It seems Hare's sortie as mentioned in the caption occurred later this day (1823zulu), but this book mentions Harris (another pilot). Based on other sources and the sequence of sorties, likely 'Harris' is a typo) 12.06.82 - Flt Lt Ross Boyens in XZ133 and Flt Lt Mike Beech in XV778/16 took-off at 1145Z to land at the FOB but had to return to Hermes due to ice and fog. Later Flt Lt Tony Harper in XZ133 and Flt Lt Nick Gilchrist in XV778/16 took off once more - no details of this sortie. 13.06.82 - Wg Cdr Peter Squire in XZ997/31 and Flt Lt Mark Hare in XZ133 attacked a company HQ on Mt Tumbledown, marked by a FAC. This was the the Squadron's first successful LGB sortie - Squire's first LGB fell short but the second scored a direct hit. Hare follwed up with CBUs, the pair returning to Hermes at 1530Z after an hour-long mission. 14.06.82 - Sqn Ldr Peter Harris in XZ997/31 with LGBs and Flt Lt Nick Gilchrist in XZ133 with CBUs departed Hermes at 1500Z to attack Sapper Hill. They made contact with the FAC, only to be told to hold off as white flags had been seen in Port Stanley. The surrender followed at 1555Z, the two GR.3s returning to Hermes with their bomb loads intact, landing at 1625Z. XZ133 was part of the 1(F) Sqn complement of a/c to transfer to RAF Stanley on 04.07.82. It was damaged during a gale at RAF Stanley on 28.07.82 when a portable hangar collapsed onto it, suffering Cat4 damage. After being airlifted by Chinook it returned to the UK aboard HMS Invincible, it being airlifted off Invincible by Chinook to RNAS Culdrose on 16.09.82 from where it was transported by road to Wittering between 11 and 13.10.82. Known Pilots Falklands: (all listed in 'Falklands: Air War') Flt Lt Murdo MacLeod : 1.6.1982 - 6.6.1982 Flt Lt Mike Beech : 11.6.1982 - 12.6.1982 Flt Lt Ross Boyens : 12.6.1982 Flt Lt Tony Harper : 12.6.1982 Flt Lt Mark Hare : 11.6.1982 - 13.6.1982 Flt Lt Nick Gilchrist : 14.6.1982 Pre or Post-Falklands pilots: Flt Lt Newbold (post-war) Flt Lt J Davies (uncertain time-frame) Falklands Modifications Fourteen aircraft including XZ133 were designated GR.3C 'Corporate' (see AP101B-0603&4-15A, Tech Library shelf 2:6), a designation intended to cover all modifications made to increase utility of Harrier aircraft in the Falklands conflict. Curiously the 'Blue Eric' ECM fit discussed below is not covered by this. The Corporate fit-out is not recorded until an AP amendment of 1986, however this document strongly suggests the ALE-40 chaff/flare dispenser was fitted during 1982. The Tracor ALE-40(V)4 chaff/flare dispensers were recessed into the aft lower fuselage. The idea was supposedly to have four dedicated makeshift air defence fighters to back up the Sea Harriers, but the rigged sidewinder capability was dropped as it was realised the SHARS could cope on their own. These mods were most definitely carried in combat by the four a/c fitted with them, and by most accounts this includes XZ133. Other details include an I-band transponder under the nose and tie-down rings. See http://harrier.hyperlinx.cz/FAQ-falklandwar.htm for details of general Falklands GR.3 configurations, markings e.g. ECM fit The 'Blue Eric' ECM pod was a converted (mod no. 1504) starboard Aden gun pod containing elements of the Marconi 'Sky Shadow' . External differences are minimal, appearing to consist of a radiation warning sticker near an opaque gun port cap (30mm blanking cap), an elongated radome on the lower right side of the pod and a small ram-air cooling scoop on the right side. The pod was made by Marconi (current contact BAe Systems Stanmore). The radome was made by H.R. Smith Ltd, now Techtest Ltd). The modification was championed by Eric Annal who retired in 1985 as a Sqn Ldr. 9 pods were made in 15days. One example went to Farnborough. Research to allow full scale conversion of the existing Aden pod continues as of Jan 2005. This a/c originally built as XY133 and then renumbered XZ133. Sources: 'Harrier at War' by Alfred Price 'Air War South Atlantic' by Jeffrey Ethell, Alfred Price 'The Harrier Story' by Peter Davies, Anthony M Thornborough Correspondence with Nick Greenall.