Log in

View Full Version : Traitors or Patriots?


Jimbuna
06-22-12, 08:35 AM
Half way through the book below and come across a couple of details I was previously unaware of:

The Argentinian VII Brigada Aerea, Helicopteros Marinos had a British engineer , Malcolm Jones, working for them during the Falklands conflict on a South African passport.

What suprised me more was the piece that told of the Escuadron Fenix (a unit flying learjets and similar aircraft tasked with diversion operations, saturating British radars and attracting the Sea Harriers so that the attack escadrilles could reach their targets. It also led the combat escadrilles to the islands, using the VLF Omega navigation system, as well as providing radio relay, reconnaissance, SAR, fast transport, medical evacuation and coastal patrol capabilities)....there were two British citizens living in Argentina, one of them was Jimmy D Harvey, born in England and an ex-RAF pilot veteran of the Second World War and the other was Alan Withington, who flew late in the conflict and had also flown many missions with the RAF during the Second World War, although he had been born in Cordoba to a British family.

The above is not an attempt to provoke any arguments but simply a post on a topic I found to be interesting.

http://www.crecy.co.uk/images/9781902109220_Wings_of_the_Malvinas.jpg

Marcantilan
06-22-12, 12:31 PM
Helicopteros Marinos is a private company, not related with VII Brigade AAF. Of course, lot of civilians (and civilian companies) offered their services, often free, to the armed forces (same happened in the UK), so sometines the line is not very clear.

In the other hand 554 argentines fought with the RAF in WW2. 122 were killed in action. Many others in the Army and RN (some rugby clubs were disbanded in the early `40s, because most players were fighting for the King! And Argentina goverment was neutrao - or pro-nazi- at the time!)

As you say, one of the survivors fought in the South Atlantic War, in the "Escuadron Fenix" (Withington was Argentine) and also other British veteran, Harvey (who, I think at the time was an Argentine citizen)

Along with other missions, Fenix Sqn did this:

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/64010_244373472319582_100002407946776_530636_12313 59941_n.jpg
(A Learjet is guiding a flight of Daggers to the islands)

Regards!

Oberon
06-22-12, 01:42 PM
Indeed, it works both ways. I dare say that somewhere in GHQ was an Argentine born man deciphering messages for the SIS, there may have even been one on board the RN Task Force to help get an insight into the possible actions of the Argentine Armed Forces.

I guess at the time you do what you think you have to do, whether that's putting yourself or your country first, whatever country that may be.

Good find though Jim :)

Jimbuna
06-22-12, 03:10 PM
Two great responses...worthy of note regarding the topic and the tone :cool: