Special Forces Pilot: A Flying Memoir of the Falkland War

by Colonel Richard Hutchings DSC

As a Commando helicopter pilot, the author served with 846 Naval Air Squadron in the Falklands War and was decorated for gallantry (DSC).

The author relives his part in operations, in particular Special Forces intelligence gathering and direct action missions, including the Pebble Island raid. Events are described in detail including the development of pioneering night operating procedures and the conduct of covert and other operationally sensitive missions.

The book includes hitherto undisclosed material relating to Operation MIKADO, the ill-fated Special Forces mission in Argentina with its disastrous consequences for the Task Force. Dick was Captain of the Sea King that carried the Special Forces team into Argentina. The operation is described in detail including events in the air and on the ground in Argentina and Chile. Dick recalls his encounter with the Chilean authorities, meetings with British Embassy officials in Santiago, the international press conference, his eventful repatriation to the UK, debriefings in the MoD and time spent in an MI-6 safe-house somewhere in England.

The book concludes by describing a follow-up visit to Chile by the author in November 1982, at the behest of the Chilean Government.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2008

Reviews

[Barry Sierer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Hutchings (Royal Marines) flew as a pilot for 846 Naval Air Squadron, known in British parlance as the “Junglies”, during the 1982 Falklands War. Hutching’s comparatively short, but concise, memoir largely centers on his primary mission of inserting SAS teams into the Argentine occupied islands prior to the British landings at San Carlos. These missions went largely according to plan so readers may not find this aspect as exciting as they hoped.

Hutching’s also details less glamorous missions such as “vertrep” (vertical replenishment) as well as a few stories of systemic incompetence attributed to “the fog of war”. The most important section seems to focus on his participation in Operation Mikado.

Mikado was a planned “direct action” assault by the SAS on Rio Grande Air Base in Tierra del Fuego, meant to cripple Argentina’s ability to strike against the British task Force in the south Atlantic.

Hutchings was the lead pilot for Operation Plum Duff; a one way flight (due to fuel constraints) with the mission of inserting an SAS reconnaissance team near the airbase prior to the assault. The insertion failed and the follow up assault operation was cancelled. The reasons for this failure seems to be a subject of great controversy. It is likely members of the SAS would directly challenge Hutching’s account of Plum Duff, so this memoir is probably written to tell his side of the story (I’m not yet familiar with the SAS side of this issue).

Still, it’s a fascinating account of a largely underappreciated aspect of Special Forces operations.

[David Siddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I worked for the author during his time as head of training for the company I work for, having absolutely no idea about his backstory. I had a lot of time for the man, therefore to read this and find out what he had done whilst a pilot for the SF during the Falklands conflict… now I not only have time for him but a huge amount of admiration and respect. Thankyou for sharing sir, it was fascinating to read, and more fascinating to realise that my old gaffer actually did that stuff!

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a current RCAF Sea King pilot, this book is incredibly well-written and does a great job of conveying the nuances of the machine while filtering out the technical jargon. It's the kind of book I'd been looking for to say, "read this: this will tell you what I do!" Having met members of the ill-fated SBS insertion mission, this account corroborates an incredibly daring true story.