Battle of Darwin and Goose Green - Revision history

Zimmerman: /* Argentinian surrender */

2022-08-20T23:02:18Z

Argentinian surrender

Zimmerman: /* Argentinian surrender */

2022-08-20T23:01:26Z

Argentinian surrender

Zimmerman: /* Argentinian surrender */

2022-08-20T22:59:49Z

Argentinian surrender

Zimmerman: /* Argentinian surrender */

2022-08-20T22:58:37Z

Argentinian surrender

Zimmerman: /* Argentinian surrender */

2022-08-20T22:52:53Z

Argentinian surrender

Zimmerman: /* Argentinian surrender */

2022-08-20T22:47:05Z

Argentinian surrender

Steele: /* First losses */

2022-08-11T01:32:47Z

First losses

Glavic: /* First losses */

2022-08-08T21:55:29Z

First losses

Glavic: /* First losses */

2022-08-08T21:39:19Z

First losses

Glavic: /* First losses */ Including claims and counterclaims Argentinians shot downed helicopter pilots in San Carlos Water

2022-08-08T21:38:03Z

First losses: Including claims and counterclaims Argentinians shot downed helicopter pilots in San Carlos Water

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 It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill.
-Major Chris Keeble took stock of the situation and estimated that one in six of the British Paratroopers had been killed, wounded or injured in the fighting so far: "In that dusk, I then took stock of our position. It was bitterly cold, it was snowing, one in six of us had either been killed or injured and they were lying around us. Our logistic supply had not really reinforced all our ammunition. We were very short on ammunition, and we were exhausted. We had been fighting for something like sixteen hours and we still had not achieved the mission."<ref>Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>
+Major Chris Keeble took stock of the situation and estimated that one in six of the British Paratroopers had been killed, wounded or injured in the fighting so far: ''"In that dusk, I then took stock of our position. It was bitterly cold, it was snowing, one in six of us had either been killed or injured and they were lying around us. Our logistic supply had not really reinforced all our ammunition. We were very short on ammunition, and we were exhausted. We had been fighting for something like sixteen hours and we still had not achieved the mission."''<ref>Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>
 A fierce sniper battle ensued with 2d Lieutenant Orlando Lucero's 12th Regiment platoon, now dug in among some sheep shearing sheds in Goose Green Settlement's outskirt along with 2d Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques and his men.<ref>Entrevista Nº 7: Soldado Conscripto Clase 63 VGM Carlos Landaida - RI 12 (available on YouTube)</ref>There were some close calls, and Private John Burridge from 12 Platoon, D Company, was wounded and a Wessex helicopter was hit by machine-gun fire from this mixed force and forced to seek shelter in San Carlos.<ref>Falklands: The Air War, Rodney A. Burden (et al),  Arms & Armour Press, 1986</ref>

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 As night fell some Paras in Darwin School began to snipe at Goose Green Settlement and in response 2d Lieutenant Claudio Braghini concentrated his 35 mm guns on the schoolhouse, and the building was destroyed. During this time 2 PARA's D Company came under heavy fire from the 35 mm guns, and a splinter hit Private Steve Dixon in the chest and killed him.<ref>Major Philip Neame: "One (35mm) round landed quite some way on the track and the shrapnel splinter hit one of my soldiers (Steve Dixon) a few yards in front of me. This lad took several minutes, many minutes to die in front of us." Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>It was here that the British advance stalled again. Under heavy mortar fire 2 PARA's C Company had no choice but to withdraw into the safety of the shoreline of Carcass Bay. Just as their position seemed quite hopeless, three Royal Air Force Harrier jets swept overhead, almost at ground level, and their cluster bombs and rockets rained down on where the two Army 35 mm guns were gathered, knocking out the generator for the radar-guided guns. <ref>[https://www.infobae.com/def/defensa-y-seguridad/2020/05/30/al-pie-del-canon-las-grandes-hazanas-de-los-artilleros-argentinos-en-malvinas/ Al pie del cañón: las grandes hazañas de los artilleros argentinos en Malvinas]</ref>
-It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill. Major Chris Keeble
+It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill.
 Major Chris Keeble took stock of the situation and estimated that one in six of the British Paratroopers had been killed, wounded or injured in the fighting so far: "In that dusk, I then took stock of our position. It was bitterly cold, it was snowing, one in six of us had either been killed or injured and they were lying around us. Our logistic supply had not really reinforced all our ammunition. We were very short on ammunition, and we were exhausted. We had been fighting for something like sixteen hours and we still had not achieved the mission."<ref>Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>

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 It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill. Major Chris Keeble
-<ref>Major Chris Keeble took stock of the situation and estimated that one in six of the British Paratroopers had been killed, wounded or injured in the fighting so far: "In that dusk, I then took stock of our position. It was bitterly cold, it was snowing, one in six of us had either been killed or injured and they were lying around us. Our logistic supply had not really reinforced all our ammunition. We were very short on ammunition, and we were exhausted. We had been fighting for something like sixteen hours and we still had not achieved the mission." Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>
+Major Chris Keeble took stock of the situation and estimated that one in six of the British Paratroopers had been killed, wounded or injured in the fighting so far: "In that dusk, I then took stock of our position. It was bitterly cold, it was snowing, one in six of us had either been killed or injured and they were lying around us. Our logistic supply had not really reinforced all our ammunition. We were very short on ammunition, and we were exhausted. We had been fighting for something like sixteen hours and we still had not achieved the mission."<ref>Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>
 A fierce sniper battle ensued with 2d Lieutenant Orlando Lucero's 12th Regiment platoon, now dug in among some sheep shearing sheds in Goose Green Settlement's outskirt along with 2d Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques and his men.<ref>Entrevista Nº 7: Soldado Conscripto Clase 63 VGM Carlos Landaida - RI 12 (available on YouTube)</ref>There were some close calls, and Private John Burridge from 12 Platoon, D Company, was wounded and a Wessex helicopter was hit by machine-gun fire from this mixed force and forced to seek shelter in San Carlos.<ref>Falklands: The Air War, Rodney A. Burden (et al),  Arms & Armour Press, 1986</ref>

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 As night fell some Paras in Darwin School began to snipe at Goose Green Settlement and in response 2d Lieutenant Claudio Braghini concentrated his 35 mm guns on the schoolhouse, and the building was destroyed. During this time 2 PARA's D Company came under heavy fire from the 35 mm guns, and a splinter hit Private Steve Dixon in the chest and killed him.<ref>Major Philip Neame: "One (35mm) round landed quite some way on the track and the shrapnel splinter hit one of my soldiers (Steve Dixon) a few yards in front of me. This lad took several minutes, many minutes to die in front of us." Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>It was here that the British advance stalled again. Under heavy mortar fire 2 PARA's C Company had no choice but to withdraw into the safety of the shoreline of Carcass Bay. Just as their position seemed quite hopeless, three Royal Air Force Harrier jets swept overhead, almost at ground level, and their cluster bombs and rockets rained down on where the two Army 35 mm guns were gathered, knocking out the generator for the radar-guided guns. <ref>[https://www.infobae.com/def/defensa-y-seguridad/2020/05/30/al-pie-del-canon-las-grandes-hazanas-de-los-artilleros-argentinos-en-malvinas/ Al pie del cañón: las grandes hazañas de los artilleros argentinos en Malvinas]</ref>
-It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill. A fierce sniper battle ensued with 2d Lieutenant Orlando Lucero's 12th Regiment platoon, now dug in among some sheep shearing sheds in Goose Green Settlement's outskirt along with 2d Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques and his men.<ref>Entrevista Nº 7: Soldado Conscripto Clase 63 VGM Carlos Landaida - RI 12 (available on YouTube)</ref>There were some close calls, and Private John Burridge from 12 Platoon, D Company, was wounded and a Wessex helicopter was hit by machine-gun fire from this mixed force and forced to seek shelter in San Carlos.<ref>Falklands: The Air War, Rodney A. Burden (et al),  Arms & Armour Press, 1986</ref>
+It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill. Major Chris Keeble
 Time was running out for 'Task Force Mercedes'. The settlement was encircled, artillery shells and mortar rounds were pounding the outskirts. The situation at Goose Green was such that Major Oscar Ramón Jaimet's B Company from the 6th 'General Viamontes' Regiment at Stanley Common (Camp), was ordered to concentrate near Murrell River and given a warning order to be prepared to move by helicopter to Mount Simon in a spoiler move. By then, however, Piaggi, surrounded and threatened with aerial attack, offered to surrender his force to the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and the helicopter-borne operation was cancelled. Piaggi had received orders from Parada to resist as long as his troops were physically capable of doing so, but allowing Piaggi to be the judge.

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 Time was running out for 'Task Force Mercedes'. The settlement was encircled, artillery shells and mortar rounds were pounding the outskirts. The situation at Goose Green was such that Major Oscar Ramón Jaimet's B Company from the 6th 'General Viamontes' Regiment at Stanley Common (Camp), was ordered to concentrate near Murrell River and given a warning order to be prepared to move by helicopter to Mount Simon in a spoiler move. By then, however, Piaggi, surrounded and threatened with aerial attack, offered to surrender his force to the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment and the helicopter-borne operation was cancelled. Piaggi had received orders from Parada to resist as long as his troops were physically capable of doing so, but allowing Piaggi to be the judge.
-Negotiations with the Argentinians produced their surrender the next day. The Argentinian troops had a short parade, burned their regimental flag and lay down their weapons. Around 50 Argentinians were killed and 140 wounded<ref> Malvinas: Otras Historias, Rubén Oscar Palazzi, p. 202, Claridad, 2006</ref>, with the 'The Official History of the Falklands Campaign' reporting that 961 Argentinians were captured. The British Paratroopers at the time reported a much larger count of 250 Argentinians killed and 1,600 prisoners. British losses in 2 PARA were 15 killed and 64 wounded.<ref>"All the 64 wounded in the fight for Goose Green had survived and were now in the hospital ship Uganda . It was all down to their basic fitness , plus the wonderful work done by the Regimental Medical Officer of 2 Para, Captain Steve Hughes and his battlefield medic teams." Memories of the Falklands, Iain Dale, p. 73, Politico's, 2002</ref> The men of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were completely exhausted with only 190 men left standing and able to continue fighting on May 29, according to Private David Brown from C Company 2 PARA.<ref>''"An average battalion strength is about 650 ... There were echelons and signals and various other units ... and that morning we had only 190 men left to fight."'' Ordinary Heroes: Untold Stories from the Falklands Campaign, Cristopher Hilton, The History Press, 2011</ref>A Sea Harrier pilot (Lieutenant Nick Taylor on May 4), a Royal Engineer (Corporal Michael Melia on May 28), a Scout pilot (Lieutenant Richard Nunn on May 28) and a Gurkha (Lance-Corporal Budhaprasad Limbu on June 24) were also reported killed taking and clearing Goose Green.
+Negotiations with the Argentinians produced their surrender the next day. The Argentinian troops had a short parade, burned their regimental flag and lay down their weapons. Around 50 Argentinians were killed and 140 wounded<ref> Malvinas: Otras Historias, Rubén Oscar Palazzi, p. 202, Claridad, 2006</ref>, with the 'The Official History of the Falklands Campaign' reporting that 961 Argentinians were captured. The British Paratroopers at the time reported a much larger count of 250 Argentinians killed and 1,600 prisoners. British losses in 2 PARA were 15 killed and 64 wounded.<ref>"All the 64 wounded in the fight for Goose Green had survived and were now in the hospital ship Uganda. It was all down to their basic fitness, plus the wonderful work done by the Regimental Medical Officer of 2 Para, Captain Steve Hughes and his battlefield medic teams." Memories of the Falklands, Iain Dale, p. 73, Politico's, 2002</ref><ref>"Throughout the afternoon, helicopters arrive and unload wounded human cargo. Later, we tot up the numbers; nearly 80 casualties have been processed through the dressing station with 47 actually operated on under general anaesthetic." The Red and Green Life Machine: A Diary of the Falklands Field Hospital, Rick Jolly, p. 75, Century Publishing, 1983</ref>The men of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment were completely exhausted with only 190 men left standing and able to continue fighting on May 29, according to Private David Brown from C Company 2 PARA.<ref>''"An average battalion strength is about 650 ... There were echelons and signals and various other units ... and that morning we had only 190 men left to fight."'' Ordinary Heroes: Untold Stories from the Falklands Campaign, Cristopher Hilton, The History Press, 2011</ref>A Sea Harrier pilot (Lieutenant Nick Taylor on May 4), a Royal Engineer (Corporal Michael Melia on May 28), a Scout pilot (Lieutenant Richard Nunn on May 28) and a Gurkha (Lance-Corporal Budhaprasad Limbu on June 24) were also reported killed taking and clearing Goose Green.
 ==Aftermath==

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 ==Argentinian surrender==
-As night fell some Paras in Darwin School began to snipe at Goose Green Settlement and in response 2d Lieutenant Claudio Braghini concentrated his 35 mm guns on the schoolhouse, and the building was destroyed. During this time 2 PARA's D Company came under heavy fire from the 35 mm guns, and a splinter hit Private Steve Dixon in the chest and killed him. It was here that the British advance stalled again. Under heavy mortar fire 2 PARA's C Company had no choice but to withdraw into the safety of the shoreline of Carcass Bay. Just as their position seemed quite hopeless, three Royal Air Force Harrier jets swept overhead, almost at ground level, and their cluster bombs and rockets rained down on where the two Army 35 mm guns were gathered, knocking out the generator for the radar-guided guns. <ref>[https://www.infobae.com/def/defensa-y-seguridad/2020/05/30/al-pie-del-canon-las-grandes-hazanas-de-los-artilleros-argentinos-en-malvinas/ Al pie del cañón: las grandes hazañas de los artilleros argentinos en Malvinas]</ref>
+As night fell some Paras in Darwin School began to snipe at Goose Green Settlement and in response 2d Lieutenant Claudio Braghini concentrated his 35 mm guns on the schoolhouse, and the building was destroyed. During this time 2 PARA's D Company came under heavy fire from the 35 mm guns, and a splinter hit Private Steve Dixon in the chest and killed him.<ref>Major Philip Neame: "One (35mm) round landed quite some way on the track and the shrapnel splinter hit one of my soldiers (Steve Dixon) a few yards in front of me. This lad took several minutes, many minutes to die in front of us." Channel 4: The Battle of Goose Green (1996)</ref>It was here that the British advance stalled again. Under heavy mortar fire 2 PARA's C Company had no choice but to withdraw into the safety of the shoreline of Carcass Bay. Just as their position seemed quite hopeless, three Royal Air Force Harrier jets swept overhead, almost at ground level, and their cluster bombs and rockets rained down on where the two Army 35 mm guns were gathered, knocking out the generator for the radar-guided guns. <ref>[https://www.infobae.com/def/defensa-y-seguridad/2020/05/30/al-pie-del-canon-las-grandes-hazanas-de-los-artilleros-argentinos-en-malvinas/ Al pie del cañón: las grandes hazañas de los artilleros argentinos en Malvinas]</ref>
 It was 5.30 PM when 62 men<ref>"Calvi gives slightly contradictory timings for them, but it is clear that on 28 May 44 reinforcements arrived from Regiment 25, and 62 from Regiment 12." Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green, Spencer Fitz-Gibbon, p. 10, James Clarke & Co., 2006</ref>from Combat Team 'Solari' (B Company 12th Regiment) landed by helicopters at Ramsground. Mindful of the possibility of being counterattacked, Major John Crosland decided to pull back B Company and go firm on high ground near Boca Hill. A fierce sniper battle ensued with 2d Lieutenant Orlando Lucero's 12th Regiment platoon, now dug in among some sheep shearing sheds in Goose Green Settlement's outskirt along with 2d Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques and his men.<ref>Entrevista Nº 7: Soldado Conscripto Clase 63 VGM Carlos Landaida - RI 12 (available on YouTube)</ref>There were some close calls, and Private John Burridge from 12 Platoon, D Company, was wounded and a Wessex helicopter was hit by machine-gun fire from this mixed force and forced to seek shelter in San Carlos.<ref>Falklands: The Air War, Rodney A. Burden (et al),  Arms & Armour Press, 1986</ref>

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 The British claim that a downed Gazelle helicopter pilot (Sergeant Andy Evans) was mortally wounded while struggling in the water first spread like wildfire with the publication of Martin Middlebrook’s first book on the Falklands War ('Operation Corporate', Viking, 1985), who believed the mistaken claims from the locals (Thora Alazia, Suzanne McCormick and others) that Evans had been shot and killed after his helicopter ditched into San Carlos Water.
-However, British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into the sea. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>
+However, more recent British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into San Carlos Water. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>
-In 1992, the widow of Sergeant Evans called for a war crime investigation of his death but the case foundered due to evidence showing his fatal injury having been caused while still flying his helicopter, rather than after the crash as mistakenly reported at the time.<ref>''"Sergeant Andy Evans from Landrake in Cornwall, had been married to his wife Julie for 12 years. They had two little children, Samantha and Mark. Ten years after the war, his widow called for an investigation of his death but the case foundered due,  it appears to his fatal injury having been caused before his crash, rather than after as inferred by his co-pilot's statement."''
+In 1992, the widow of Sergeant Evans called for a war crime investigation surrounding his death but the case foundered due to evidence showing his fatal injury having been caused while still flying his helicopter, rather than after the crash as mistakenly reported at the time.<ref>''"Sergeant Andy Evans from Landrake in Cornwall, had been married to his wife Julie for 12 years. They had two little children, Samantha and Mark. Ten years after the war, his widow called for an investigation of his death but the case foundered due,  it appears to his fatal injury having been caused before his crash, rather than after as inferred by his co-pilot's statement."''
 The Falklands War: Then and Now, Gordon Ramsey, pg, 194, After The Battle, 2009</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:55, August 8, 2022
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	However, British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into the sea. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>		However, British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into the sea. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>
		+
		+	In 1992, the widow of Sergeant Evans called for a war crime investigation of his death but the case foundered due to evidence showing his fatal injury having been caused while still flying his helicopter, rather than after the crash as mistakenly reported at the time.<ref>''"Sergeant Andy Evans from Landrake in Cornwall, had been married to his wife Julie for 12 years. They had two little children, Samantha and Mark. Ten years after the war, his widow called for an investigation of his death but the case foundered due, it appears to his fatal injury having been caused before his crash, rather than after as inferred by his co-pilot's statement."''
		+	The Falklands War: Then and Now, Gordon Ramsey, pg, 194, After The Battle, 2009</ref>

	==San Carlos==		==San Carlos==

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 On May 15, 'Combat Team Güemes', 62 men strong, moved out by helicopter for the high ground around San Carlos Bay, about 12 miles to the north of Goose Green. It was comprised of 2nd Platoon C Company of the 25th Regiment, under the command of 2d Lieutenant Oscar Roberto Reyes and Sergeant Martín René Colque. They were backed by a heavy weapons platoon (under Second Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques) from A Company, 12th Regiment; it inflicted considerable losses on the British landing force on May 21, shooting down two 3 Commando Brigade helicopters fitted with machine-guns and 68mm SNEB ('Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt') rockets as they withdrew to Port Douglas Settlement.
-The British claim that a downed Gazelle helicopter pilot (Sergeant Andy Evans) was mortally wounded while struggling in the water first spread like wildfire with the publication of Martin Middlebrook’s first book on the Falklands War ('Operation Corporate', Viking, 1985), who believed the mistaken claims from the locals (Thora Alazia, Suzanne McCormick and others) that Evans had been shot after his helicopter ditched into San Carlos Water.
+The British claim that a downed Gazelle helicopter pilot (Sergeant Andy Evans) was mortally wounded while struggling in the water first spread like wildfire with the publication of Martin Middlebrook’s first book on the Falklands War ('Operation Corporate', Viking, 1985), who believed the mistaken claims from the locals (Thora Alazia, Suzanne McCormick and others) that Evans had been shot and killed after his helicopter ditched into San Carlos Water.
 However, British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into the sea. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:38, August 8, 2022
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	On May 15, 'Combat Team Güemes', 62 men strong, moved out by helicopter for the high ground around San Carlos Bay, about 12 miles to the north of Goose Green. It was comprised of 2nd Platoon C Company of the 25th Regiment, under the command of 2d Lieutenant Oscar Roberto Reyes and Sergeant Martín René Colque. They were backed by a heavy weapons platoon (under Second Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques) from A Company, 12th Regiment; it inflicted considerable losses on the British landing force on May 21, shooting down two 3 Commando Brigade helicopters fitted with machine-guns and 68mm SNEB ('Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt') rockets as they withdrew to Port Douglas Settlement.		On May 15, 'Combat Team Güemes', 62 men strong, moved out by helicopter for the high ground around San Carlos Bay, about 12 miles to the north of Goose Green. It was comprised of 2nd Platoon C Company of the 25th Regiment, under the command of 2d Lieutenant Oscar Roberto Reyes and Sergeant Martín René Colque. They were backed by a heavy weapons platoon (under Second Lieutenant José Alberto Vázques) from A Company, 12th Regiment; it inflicted considerable losses on the British landing force on May 21, shooting down two 3 Commando Brigade helicopters fitted with machine-guns and 68mm SNEB ('Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt') rockets as they withdrew to Port Douglas Settlement.
		+
		+	The British claim that a downed Gazelle helicopter pilot (Sergeant Andy Evans) was mortally wounded while struggling in the water first spread like wildfire with the publication of Martin Middlebrook’s first book on the Falklands War ('Operation Corporate', Viking, 1985), who believed the mistaken claims from the locals (Thora Alazia, Suzanne McCormick and others) that Evans had been shot after his helicopter ditched into San Carlos Water.
		+
		+	However, British accounts clearly show that Sergeant Evans was already mortally wounded but alive before his Gazelle helicopter crashed into the sea. And Evans was not hit while struggling in the icy cold waters. The co-pilot, Sergeant Edgard Candlish, was also not shot and was able to swim to safety after cutting Evan’s free from the wreckage and dragging the pilot halfway to the shoreline.<ref>‘Flying Marines: A History of Royal Marines Aviation’ (available online)</ref>

	==San Carlos==		==San Carlos==