Operation Black Buck

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An Avro Vulcan, as used during Operation Black Buck

During the Falklands War, Operations Black Buck 1 to Black Buck 6 were a series of six extremely long-range bombing attacks by Royal Air Force Vulcan bombers against Argentine positions in the Falkland Islands.

The missions flew from the British air base on Ascension Island starting on the night of 30 April, 1982. Victor tankers provided multiple refuelings. Each aircraft carried more than twenty-one 1,000 pound bombs or a number of anti-radar missiles. The bombs were intended to cause damage to Argentine installations, especially the Port Stanley Airport; it was hoped that the attacks would cause the defenders to switch on defensive radars, which would then be targetted by the missiles.

At the time, these six raids were the longest combat flights in history. Although the actual damage to the airfield and radars was minimal and quickly repaired, the raids achieved a number of non-material objectives, including demonstrating the British willingness and ability to attack Argentine forces on the islands. It also demonstrated the ability of the RAF to strike at the Argentinian homeland if necessary.

References

• Commodore Ruben Oscar Moro La Guerra Inaudita, 2000 ISBN 9879600738
• Rowland White - Vulcan 607 - 2006 - Bantam Publishing ISBN 978 0593 053911

External links

• [Vulcan Raids over Port Stanley]
• [History of the Vulcan from Thunder & Lightnings - give details of the Black Buck Missions]

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