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Battle of Darwin and Goose Green (view source)
Revision as of 21:38, August 8, 2022
, 21:38, August 8, 2022→First losses: Including claims and counterclaims Argentinians shot downed helicopter pilots in San Carlos Water
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==