The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017 61HARRIER – CONQUERING THE VERTICAL
For No 1 Squadron’s Harriers to reach
the fleet, they had to make a record
tanker-supported transit to Ascension
Island and join the Atlantic Conveyor, a
merchant vessel requisitioned to transport
the aircraft and helicopters to the proximity
of the aircraft carriers. When they reached
them, the RAF’s Harriers flew on to the
Hermes. On missions the RAF Harriers
endured withering ground fire and missiles
as they engaged in close support. They
proved their worth, shooting down
helicopters, bombing airfields, attacking
Argentine ground stores, and
reconnaissance.
In all 28 Sea Harriers FRS1s and 14
Harrier GR3s took part in Operation
Corporate. Altogether three of the original
No 1 Sqn aircraft were lost through enemy
action during 125 sorties, all thankfully
without loss of life. Their attrition was far
higher than the Sea Harriers which lost
only two from enemy action during 2,197
sorties and reflected the danger of close
support operations in contrast with the Sea
Harriers’ air superiority role. Clearly without
the Harrier the Falklands Islands would not
have been regained.
Sea Harrier 2
In December 1988 the UK Ministry of
Defence contracted British Aerospace to
upgrade the Royal Navy’s Sea Harriers with
new radars, avionics, and weapons. The
Return in triumph after
the Falklands conflict.
HMS Hermes entering
Portsmouth with Harriers,
Sea Kings and Pumas on
the deck.
(Hawker Archive)
The Spanish Navy received six AV-8A and two TAV-8A Harriers. Here one of the TAV-8As is seen on a ‘Ski Jump’.
(Hawker Archive)The first production Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS1 XZ450 made its maiden flight at Dunsfold on 20 August- It was retained for development flying but with the onset of Falkland Islands conflict it was called into
service and was shot down over Goose Green. (Hawker Archive)