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RAF Harrier Ground Attack: Falklands
During the Falklands war Jerry Pook, a pilot in No. 1(F) Squadron RAF, flew air interdiction, armed reccon, close-air-support and airfield attack as well as pure photo-reccon missions. Most weapons were delivered from extreme low-level attacks because of the lack of navigation aids and in the absence of Smart weapons. The only way he could achieve results was to get low down and close-in to the targets and, if necessary, carry out re-attacks to destroy high-value targets.
Apart from brief carrier trials carried out many years previously there had been no RAF Harriers deployed at sea. The RAF pilots were treated with ill-disguised contempt by their naval masters, their professional opinions ignored in spite of the fact that the RN knew next to nothing about ground-attack and reccon operations. Very soon after starting operations from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes the squadron realized that they were considered as more or less expendable ordnance.
The Harriers lacked the most basic self-protection aids and were up against 10,000 well-armed troops who put up an impressive weight of fire whenever attacked.
Apart from brief carrier trials carried out many years previously there had been no RAF Harriers deployed at sea. The RAF pilots were treated with ill-disguised contempt by their naval masters, their professional opinions ignored in spite of the fact that the RN knew next to nothing about ground-attack and reccon operations. Very soon after starting operations from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes the squadron realized that they were considered as more or less expendable ordnance.
The Harriers lacked the most basic self-protection aids and were up against 10,000 well-armed troops who put up an impressive weight of fire whenever attacked.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 25, 2022
Jerry Pook really loathes the leadership of the Royal Navy. That’s made clear on the book’s back cover, and on almost every page inside. With chapters bearing titles like “More Navy Cockups” and “Yet More Navy Cockups”, the author makes no attempt to hide his contempt for the RN’s senior officers or apologize for it. The level of vitriol is so intense it made me wonder how much is fact and how much is exaggeration borne of bitterness. He is also damning of the RAF to a lesser degree, criticizing the quality and poor reliability of the Harrier’s equipment fit and the leadership that would send people to war with aircraft in that state. That said, there are few good written accounts of RAF Harrier operations during Operation Corporate, and this book fills that gap well with a comprehensive telling of events leading up to the war, the period of conflict, and the immediate aftermath. Written in an autobiographical style, the author reveals little of his experiences before and after the war, but does provide extensive details of individual sorties, including their planning and after-action analysis. Despite the heavy-handed overtones of interservice rivalry, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of military aviation history.
November 30, 2020
A good read, and a good combo/companion read to Sharky Wards book. Both are highly personal accounts of frontline pilots. One a a naval pilot, flying from the Invincible, the other A RAF pilot flying from Hermes. One Hates the Navy and the other the RAF, Both has a great dislike for the Flag and Captain on the Hermes. So united in their criticism of the management of the air assets and those senior naval commanders responsible for it. Both are also critical to certain aspects of the strategy behind procurement and development of the service, and the lack of the services will to acknowledge and learn from the experiences of those that actually had to go in harms way. They also exemplifies how petty minds and weak spirits in positions try to push people down.
February 24, 2018
Light on detail but heavy on feeling
Another interesting insight into the Falklands air war. The authors talent and leadership is clear even though his modesty doesn’t admit as much. While this book was clearly a cathartic project for the author, his frustrations with the navy leadership does detract somewhat from the nitty gritty of the tasks he performed. Light on detail but heavy on passion. Worth the read to add another layer to the complex narrative of the conflict.
Another interesting insight into the Falklands air war. The authors talent and leadership is clear even though his modesty doesn’t admit as much. While this book was clearly a cathartic project for the author, his frustrations with the navy leadership does detract somewhat from the nitty gritty of the tasks he performed. Light on detail but heavy on passion. Worth the read to add another layer to the complex narrative of the conflict.
October 16, 2017
Interesting view on op corporate
As a gunner who served on op corporate it was of great interest to read a insiders view of the ground support activities of the Harrier force. I did hope that the lesson's learned would have reflected on the performance of close support during op Granby.
A good read and a very honest view of the GR3's performance during the campaign.
As a gunner who served on op corporate it was of great interest to read a insiders view of the ground support activities of the Harrier force. I did hope that the lesson's learned would have reflected on the performance of close support during op Granby.
A good read and a very honest view of the GR3's performance during the campaign.
November 21, 2021
One of the best books about the air war in the Falklands. Such a shame that the RAF didn't take notice of the lessons learnt about low-level attack, with fatal consequences in the Gulf war.
July 24, 2020
Great read!
I read it on a Kindle, and I would recommend actually reading the appendixes first as there was some details that brought light to things I did not fully grasp while reading the chapters.
There were several passages that conjured great mental images, I think my favorite might be this description from the appendix on strafing techniques: «Air-to-Air in the Harrier GR3 had been described as ‘like trying to stuff wet spaghetti up a mad cat’s arse’, which was a fair description of the problems involved.»
Would be interesting to know if the Royal Navy has done some soul searching and self-improvement after this book was written..
I read it on a Kindle, and I would recommend actually reading the appendixes first as there was some details that brought light to things I did not fully grasp while reading the chapters.
There were several passages that conjured great mental images, I think my favorite might be this description from the appendix on strafing techniques: «Air-to-Air in the Harrier GR3 had been described as ‘like trying to stuff wet spaghetti up a mad cat’s arse’, which was a fair description of the problems involved.»
Would be interesting to know if the Royal Navy has done some soul searching and self-improvement after this book was written..
November 25, 2017
Different view of the Falklands War
A very frank view from a RAF pilot who was there. He is very open about his views of the navy and serving aboard the HMS Hermes.
A very frank view from a RAF pilot who was there. He is very open about his views of the navy and serving aboard the HMS Hermes.
November 25, 2021
One of the best books about the air war in the Falklands. Such a shame that the RAF didn't take notice of the lessons learnt about low-level attack, with fatal consequences in the Gulf war.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews