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Following [[Operation Rosario (Falklands/Malvinas War)]], the Argentinian occupation of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in early April 1982, the 2nd and 3rd British Parachute Battalions (2 and 3 PARA) of the British 1st Parachute Regiment were deployed as part of Brigadier Julian Thompson's 3 Commando Brigade to retake the islands in [[Operation Corporate]].

Following [[Operation Rosario (Falklands/Malvinas War)]], the Argentinian occupation of the Falkland/Malvinas Islands in early April 1982, the 2nd and 3rd British Parachute Battalions (2 and 3 PARA) of the British 1st Parachute Regiment were deployed as part of Brigadier Julian Thompson's 3 Commando Brigade to retake the islands in [[Operation Corporate]].

==Task Force 'Mercedes'==

==Task Force 'Mercedes'==

Unknown to Peluffo, an estimated 600 Paratroopers of the British 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) were poised to attack 'Task Force Mercedes'. Goose Green on the right flank of the approach to Stanley was a thorn on the side of 3rd Commando Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Julian Thompson. The 601st and 602nd Commando Companies at Stanley could have been flown forward by helicopter and attacked the British from Goose Green.  

Unknown to Peluffo, an estimated 600 Paratroopers of the British 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) were poised to attack 'Task Force Mercedes'. Goose Green on the right flank of the approach to Stanley was a thorn on the side of 3rd Commando Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Julian Thompson. The 601st and 602nd Commando Companies at Stanley could have been flown forward by helicopter and attacked the British from Goose Green.  

Throughout May 27, Royal Air Force Harriers were active over Goose Green. One of them in responding to a call for softening up fire from Major Roger Jenner's 'C' (Patrol) Company of 2 PARA attacked Darwin Ridge and that led to its loss. As the intruding aircraft disintegrated in a stream of 20 mm fire, a parachute blossomed, and its pilot - Squadron Leader Bob Iveson - landed several miles away, near Paragon House. The shooting down of Harrier XZ 988 greatly boosted Argentinian morale.

Throughout May 27, Royal Air Force Harriers were active over Goose Green. One of them in responding to a call for softening up fire from Major Roger Jenner's 'C' (Patrol) Company of 2 PARA attacked Darwin Ridge and that led to its loss. As the intruding aircraft disintegrated in a stream of 20 mm fire (No. 1 Gun, Air Force Private Ramón Garcés)<ref>[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/malvinas-la-historia-del-excombatiente-dado-por-muerto-y-que-rechazo-una-invitacion-de-la-tv-inglesa-nid26032021/ Malvinas: la historia del excombatiente dado por muerto y que rechazó una invitación de la TV inglesa]</ref>a parachute blossomed, and its pilot - Squadron Leader Bob Iveson - landed several miles away, near Paragon House. The shooting down of Harrier XZ 988 greatly boosted Argentinian morale.

On the eve of the first battle of the ground war there were 684 Argentinian Army personnel at Goose Green, including half a 105 mm howitzer battery of the 4th Airborne Artillery Group. Air defence was provided by a battery of 20 mm Rheinmetall pieces manned by the Air Force and two radar-guided 35 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns from the 601st Air Defence Artillery Group. In overall command was Wing Commander Wilson Rosier Pedrozo, but it would by Lieutenant-Colonel Piaggi's responsability to handle the coming battle. Contrary to British reports all of the airworthy Pucaras had been withdrawn to Stanle

On the eve of the first battle of the ground war there were 684 Argentinian Army personnel at Goose Green, including half a 105 mm howitzer battery of the 4th Airborne Artillery Group. Air defence was provided by a battery of 20 mm Rheinmetall pieces manned by the Air Force and two radar-guided 35 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns from the 601st Air Defence Artillery Group. In overall command was Wing Commander Wilson Rosier Pedrozo, but it would by Lieutenant-Colonel Piaggi's responsability to handle the coming battle. Contrary to British reports all of the airworthy Pucaras had been withdrawn to Stanle

Perceiving an urgent need to stabilize the precarious defence line on Darwin Ridge, Piaggi ordered 24-year-old Lieutenant Roberto Nestor Estévez's 1st Rifle Platoon, C Company 25th 'Special' Infantry Regiment to take Middle Hill, the hillock south of Coronation Ridge. As Estévez's platoon moved away from Goose Green Settlement, the green-bereted conscripts sang the 'Malvinas March' and that certainly raised their spirits. Reaching Darwin Ridge around 7 AM local time, the first British soldiers suddenly appeared out of the mist on the shoreline that was Darwin Bay.

Perceiving an urgent need to stabilize the precarious defence line on Darwin Ridge, Piaggi ordered 24-year-old Lieutenant Roberto Nestor Estévez's 1st Rifle Platoon, C Company 25th 'Special' Infantry Regiment to take Middle Hill, the hillock south of Coronation Ridge. As Estévez's platoon moved away from Goose Green Settlement, the green-bereted conscripts sang the 'Malvinas March' and that certainly raised their spirits. Reaching Darwin Ridge around 7 AM local time, the first British soldiers suddenly appeared out of the mist on the shoreline that was Darwin Bay.

The Argentinians mistook the British as Argentinians and greetings were exchanged at times. ''"It was a very confusing situation when we saw troops approaching"'', said 2nd Lt. Peluffo. ''"At first we were not sure whether it was the enemy or part of our 12th Regiment that was withdrawing towards our line. We thought they could be our troops".''  

The Argentinians mistook the British as Argentinians and greetings were exchanged at times. ''"It was a very confusing situation when we saw troops approaching"'', said 2nd Lt. Peluffo. ''"At first we were not sure whether it was the enemy or part of our 12th Regiment that was withdrawing towards our line. We thought they could be our troops".''<ref> Blood and Mud at Goose Green, Military History, April 2002</ref>

Eventually shots were exchanged and the fight for Darwin Ridge really got underway. With daylight the nature of the battle changed. The British companies who had had the initiative under cover of darkness, were now caught in the open, holed up in small hollows in the ground or behind tufts of heather. The situation provided the Argentinians a brief session of revenge as they cut them down as the Paras scurried from cover in search of more suitable protection.

Eventually shots were exchanged and the fight for Darwin Ridge really got underway. With daylight the nature of the battle changed. The British companies who had had the initiative under cover of darkness, were now caught in the open, holed up in small hollows in the ground or behind tufts of heather. The situation provided the Argentinians a brief session of revenge as they cut them down as the Paras scurried from cover in search of more suitable protection.

==Darwin Ridge==

==Darwin Ridge==

By daylight, the British attack was clearly held up by Second Lieutenant Ernesto Orlando Peluffo's 12th Regiment platoon on Darwin Hill and Second Lieutenant Guillermo Ricardo Aliaga's 8th Regiment platoon (3rd Platoon, C Company) on Boca Hill. The Paras were suffering heavy casualties, but continued to press home their attack. During the morning fighting, the British fired over 1,000 81mm mortar rounds to suppress Argentinian defenders, otherwise British casualties would have been horrendous.

By daylight, the British attack was clearly held up by Second Lieutenant Ernesto Orlando Peluffo's 12th Regiment platoon on Darwin Hill and Second Lieutenant Guillermo Ricardo Aliaga's 8th Regiment platoon (3rd Platoon, C Company) on Boca Hill. The Paras were suffering heavy casualties, but continued to press home their attack. During the morning fighting, the British fired over 1,000 81mm mortar rounds to suppress Argentinian defenders, otherwise British casualties would have been horrendous.<ref>"Nevertheless, the section's two mortar crews had fired over 1,000 bombs in the two hours of the A Company action, the mortars themselves sinking further and further into the soft peat until eventually only their muzzles were visible." Para!: Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment, Peter Harclerode, p. 329, Arms & Armour Press, 1992</ref>

An ammunition resupply by Land Rover and artillery and aggressive small arms fire stopped the many British assaults. Private Stephen Illingsworth was just 20 years old when he died during the fighting for Boca Hill. Illinsgworth, a member of 2 PARA's 'B' Company, rescued a wounded Para but was then shot dead as he strove to retrieve abandoned machine-gun ammunition to help the company, running desperately low after fierce fighting. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, although he had in fact been recommended for the Victoria Cross.<ref>[https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/day-1982-20-year-old-doncaster-soldier-becomes-second-town-victim-falklands-war-62435 Doncaster soldier becomes second town victim of Falklands War]</ref>

An ammunition resupply by Land Rover and artillery and aggressive small arms fire stopped the many British assaults. Private Stephen Illingsworth was just 20 years old when he died during the fighting for Boca Hill. Illinsgworth, a member of 2 PARA's 'B' Company, rescued a wounded Para but was then shot dead as he strove to retrieve abandoned machine-gun ammunition to help the company, running desperately low after fierce fighting. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, although he had in fact been recommended for the Victoria Cross.<ref>[https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/day-1982-20-year-old-doncaster-soldier-becomes-second-town-victim-falklands-war-62435 Doncaster soldier becomes second town victim of Falklands War]</ref>

Company Sergeant-Major Colin Price of A Company, who was interviewed by BBC war correspondent Robert Fox soon after the fall of Darwin Ridge, is reported to have said he ''"admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought"''.<ref>"Price of 'A' Company, who had come down from Darwin Hill to fetch ammunition. He confirmed that the colonel had been killed and I taped a short interview with him. He said he admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought." Eyewitness Falklands, Robert Fox, p. 180, Methuen, 1982</ref>

Company Sergeant-Major Colin Price of A Company, who was interviewed by BBC war correspondent Robert Fox soon after the fall of Darwin Ridge, is reported to have said he ''"admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought"''.<ref>"Price of 'A' Company, who had come down from Darwin Hill to fetch ammunition. He confirmed that the colonel had been killed and I taped a short interview with him. He said he admired the way the enemy machine-gunners had fought." Eyewitness Falklands, Robert Fox, p. 180, Methuen, 1982</ref>

For exemplary leadership in the fight for Darwin Ridge, Majors Farrar-Hockley and Crosland each won the Military Cross.The Paras completed the job under Major Chris Keeble, second in command of 2 PARA. Keeble ordered 'D' Company to seize the airfield from Boca Hill, while 'C' Company moved through Darwin School to Goose Green and 'B' Company, which had reorganized, were brought forward to capture the ground south of Goose Green Settlement.

For exemplary leadership in the fight for Darwin Ridge, Majors Farrar-Hockley and Crosland each won the Military Cross. The Paras completed the job under Major Chris Keeble, second in command of 2 PARA. Keeble ordered 'D' Company to seize the airfield from Boca Hill, while 'C' Company moved through Darwin School to Goose Green and 'B' Company, which had reorganized, were brought forward to capture the ground south of Goose Green Settlement.

==Condor Military Air Base ( the "White Flag" incident)==

==Condor Military Air Base ( the "White Flag" incident)==