The FAA did obtain a demolition in combat in the War of Malvinas.-
Much has been said about the technological difference of our Mirage, Dagger and A4, against the fearsome Seaharrier of the Royal Navy and Harrier of the RAF, which was undeniable.
From this comparison and beyond the successes that were obtained with the sinking of numerous ships, other seriously damaged ones, the breaking of the fence by our transporters, and other achievements, I would like to share with you a little known fact, or illude explained , Which was that the FAA obtained, beyond the demolition of numerous helicopters,
the destruction of a Sea Harrier.-
The fact as it is narrated in the book "The Hawks do not cry", by the Commodore (R) Pablo Marcos Rafael CARBALLO (highly recommended), relates the events happened on May 1, 1982 and have as protagonist the then Captain Gustavo Argentine GARCIA CUERVA aboard a Mirage III, on an aerial cover mission (indicative Dardo) of a group of A4B Skyhawk (indicative Topo) .-
As reported by the author, Captain GARCÍA CUERVA, carried out one of the first heroic actions of the FAA, when intercepted by a cap of Harriers, interposed between them and the Falcons, dissuading the enemy to carry out the attack.-
What is now is a textual quotation from the book, which tells the story and subsequent and regrettable death of Captain GARCÍA CUERVA by friendly fire:
"...
Garcia Cuerva, afterwards pursued his Harrier until the carrier Hermes, that was to about fifty kilometers to the north of the Falkland Islands, throwing to him with its cannons (heavy machine guns) - This is the DEFA30 system - when it was landing . The Harrier, hit, hit the elevator that flies planes from the hangar to the runway, bent and fell into the sea, in that position the pilot ejected, who hit the water, perishing in action. Paco - Captain's name ascended to Major post-mortem, sweeping the bridge of the ship with its guns, then moving away to Isla Soledad. Without fuel to return to the continent, he had two alternatives: to jet down the Islands and lose his plane intact, or to try to land on the runway at Puerto Argentino. It was decided by the latter, and when communicating by VHF its decision, the "ceasefire" was ordered repeatedly by CIC - Information and Control Center. He was also ordered repeatedly to be ejected, but he replied that his plane was whole and could not be lost.
The Mirage III went to the track and ejected its external loads to facilitate landing maneuvers, confused the cannon operators. The anti-aircraft batteries of the Argentine Army and the Argentine Navy opened fire, resulting in the demolition of the Mirage III and the death of Captain García Cuerva "(Comodoro (R) Pa