Harrier SIG FAQ
FALKLANDS
HARRIERS and SHARS FAQs Pt.2
Falklands SEA HARRIER FAQs
by
Nick Greenall
This
listing has been collated from all available sources and details the colours
worn by and the main actions of each of the BAe Sea Harrier FRS.1s of 800, 801,
899 and 809 Naval Air Squadrons involved in the Falklands War on both HMS
Hermes and HMS Invincible, from their departure from the UK up to their return
to RNAS Yeovilton.
The
aircraft and colours worn during 809 NAS deployment on HMS Illustrious to the Falkland Islands Protection Zone (PZ) will be
detailed separately.
HMS
HERMES AIR GROUP -
General Colour Notes
HMS
Hermes
sailed from Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) on
05.04.82 with five Sea Harriers (SHARs) of 800 NAS plus four SHARs from 899 NAS,
which had in effect been absorbed into 800 NAS on 02.04.82.
The original 800 NAS pilots were Lt Cdrs Andy Auld (CO), Mike Blissett
and Rod Frederiksen, Lts Mike Hale, Simon Hargreaves, Andy McHarg, Clive
Morrell, Dave Smith and Nick Taylor and Flt Lt Ted Ball.
The 899 NAS pilots who joined them were Lt Cdrs Neil Thomas (CO), Tony
Ogilvy and Gordon Batt, S/Lt Andy George, Flt Lts Dave Morgan and Robert
Penfold.
Departure
colours The
800 NAS aircraft were in their original gloss Extra Dark Sea Grey (EDSG)
(BS381C:640) and White scheme, with the following squadron markings being
carried:
-
ROYAL
NAVY at the base of the fin, the ship code H (Hermes) at the tip of the fin in
white 7" high letters
-
the
three digit aircraft side code in white 12" high standard RN style numbers
on the panel ahead of the forward nozzle, with the last digit inside the
airbrake as a 12" high black numeral
-
the
800 NAS fin emblem of two crossed swords and a trident in gold with black detail
on a red pennant outlined in white.
The
899 NAS SHARs were similarly finished though with the white outlined in black
mailed fist Squadron badge and base code VL (Yeovilton) on the fin, and their
side codes - again in 12" high standard white numerals - underneath the
cockpit.
Low-vis
colours Around
10.04.82 a low-visibility scheme was given to all the aircraft, the white
undersurfaces and airbrake interiors of all Hermes'
SHARs were brush painted (the ventilation system in Hermes hangars not permitting spraying) EDSG.
At the same time the following items were overpainted with EDSG:
-
the
first digit - 1 for 800 NAS or 7
for 899 NAS - of the side codes
-
the
pilot's names under the windscreens - regrettably, I do not have any records of
which aircraft had which pilot's names stencilled on them at the time of
departure (if anyone can throw any light
on this, I'd be very grateful for any information)
-
the
underwing serial numbers of all aircraft except XZ459, and some undersurface
stencilling
-
all
fin markings, except the sling stencils.
The
difference in the quality and tone of the brush painted areas compared to the
original spray painted EDSG is evident in many black and white photos of the
aircraft - the new paint often looking lighter, though sometimes darker!
Reference to contemporary photos of the aircraft you are modelling is strongly
recommended.
Some
of the undersurface stencilling, especially the fuselage and wing trestle
markings and the underfin 4" high serial numbers were reinstated in black
their original locations. The
underfin rear IFF and two radar altimeter aerials vary in colour from SHAR to
SHAR, either being black or tan. Again,
refer to photographs.
The
white portions of all roundels were
overpainted by brush in Roundel Blue (BS381C:538) - this area often appearing
lighter in tone than the blue outer ring in black and white photos - to give an
out-of-proportion B-type roundel. However,
for some unknown reason ZA193 retained its original D-type underwing roundels
The remaining two digits of the side codes were overpainted either in
black or Roundel Blue.
Dick
Ward's two Scale Models articles note
that the original 800 and 899 SHARs had the last digit of their side code,
painted inside the airbrake. Due to
the numerical clashes that would have occurred with the additional
"reserve" aircraft - XZ450, ZA192 and ZA193 - it's not possible to say
for sure that these aircraft had airbrake numbers applied.
There would also have been a clash between 800s (1)26 and 899's (7)16.
This is noted in the individual aircraft data entries below. (Again, any information
on this is gratefully received.)
Return
colours Photographs
taken of Hermes' SHARs on their return
show them heavily weathered and several having replacement parts from other
aircraft.
"Kill" markings Photos of XZ455/12 taken on 13.06.82 aboard HMS Fearless some days after it had destroyed 2 Daggers show that no "kill" markings had been applied by this date, at least to this SHAR. This may indicate that "kill" markings were only applied to 800/899 SHARs after the war ended and prior to their return to the UK. Illustrations of the Mirage/Dagger (4½" long) and Skyhawk (5" long) "kill" marking silhouette stencils used can be found in Scale Aircraft Modelling (SAM), Vol.5, No.3.
800
NAS Sea Harriers - including the aircraft taken up from reserve
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ492
First
Flight 25.10.80 - pilot John Farley. H
/ 123 of 800 NAS. Side code - black
23, airbrake code - black 3.
01.05.82
- Lt Clive Morrell, "Red 4", 3 VT 500lb bombs for the "I counted them all out…" attack on Stanley Airport.
21.05.82
- Lt Cdr Neil Thomas destroyed A-4C Skyhawk (either C-309 or C325 of Grupo 4),
with an AIM-9L Sidewinder.
21.07.82
- returned on Hermes with the addition
of a white Skyhawk stencil below the cockpit on the port side.
The area of the port side code 23 was now overpainted with a roundel blue
rectangle and it carried white sidewinder rails.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ459
F/F
21.03.80 - pilot Heinz Frick. H / 125 of 800 NAS.
Side code - black 25, airbrake
code black (later Roundel Blue?) 5. Underwing
serial numbers not overpainted.
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr Gordon Batt, "Red Ldr", 3 VT 500lb bombs for the attack on
Stanley Airport.
16.05.82
- Lt Cdr "Gordy" Batt bombed and strafed the supply vessel "Rio
Carcarana" in Falkland Sound near Port King, causing it to be
abandoned.
21.07.82
- returned on Hermes.
The side codes were now in Roundel Blue with the numeral 5 of the port
side code now on a Dark Green (BS381C:638) panel.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ460
F/F
10.04.80 - pilot Taylor Scott. H /
126 of 800 NAS. Side code - black 26,
airbrake code - black 6.
01.05.82
- Lt Mike Hale may have destroyed Pucara (A-527 of Grupo 3) with a CBU (see also
ZA191/18).
09.05.82
- Lt Cdr Gordy Batt hit the intelligence trawler "Narwal"
but his bomb failed to explode.
21.07.82
- returned on Hermes. The numeral 2 of
the port side code was now partly covered by a roundel blue and white patch.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ496
F/F
09.12.80 - pilot Taylor Scott. H /
127 of 800 NAS. Side code - black 27,
airbrake code - black 7. The yellow
strip marking was carried by this SHAR near its upper wing roundels.
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr Neil Thomas, "Red 3", 3 VT 500lb bombs for the attack on
Stanley Airport.
21.05.82
- Lt Cdr Mike Blissett destroyed A-4C Skyhawk (either C-309 or C325 of Grupo 4),
with an AIM-9L fired from the starboard rail - photo 39, Ref.3.
21.07.82
- returned on Hermes with the addition
of a white Skyhawk stencil below the cockpit on the port side. The rudder and
forward port nozzle were now Medium Sea Grey (BS381C:637) replacements and the
sidewinder rails were painted bright blue.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ500
F/F
28.05.81 - pilot Taylor Scott. H /
130 of 800 NAS. Side code - Roundel
Blue 30.
Airbrake code not known - a Roundel Blue 0?
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr Tony Ogilvy, "Red 2", 3 DA 500lb bombs for the attack on
Stanley Airport.
16.05.82
- Lt Cdr Andy Auld strafed the supply vessel "Bahia
Buen Suceso" (see also ZA191/18).
21.05.82
- Flt Lt John Leeming destroyed A-4Q Skyhawk (0667/3-A-314 of 3 Escuadrilla)
with cannon fire.
19.07.82
- returned on Hermes but flown off to
Yeovilton on this date before the ship docked at Portsmouth.
One white Skyhawk stencil below the cockpit on the port side.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ450
An
aircraft with an impressive list of firsts - the first Sea Harrier to fly,
piloted by John Farley on 20.08.78; the first SHAR to operate from a ski-jump
and be demonstrated to the public at the SBAC Farnborough Show on 02.09.78; the
first equipped for Sea Eagle. Used
by BAe Dunsfold for Sea Eagle trials prior to 03.04.82 when it moved to Yeovilton.
BAe markings - a 12" white 50 in the centre of its fin above the
ROYAL NAVY.
01.05.82
- Flt Lt Ted Ball, "Black 4", 3 CBUs for the attack on Stanley
Airport.
In
its low-vis EDSG scheme a side code of 50 was painted in black in the usual 800
NAS position but in a fairly rough style - page 191 of Ref.1 and page 85 of
Ref.8. Airbrake code, if any, not
known.
04.05.82
- while flown by Lt Nick Taylor during a CBU attack on Goose Green it was hit by
35mm Oerlikon AAA and crashed, killing Lt Taylor; the first SHAR and pilot to be
lost. In the wreckage the
Argentineans would have found Sea Eagle fittings, which may have led them to
believe that all SHARs were so fitted and, with the loss of the "General
Belgrano", been a factor in their Navy's reluctance to emerge from
port.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA192
F/F
29.01.82 - pilot John Farley. 03.04.82
moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan.
In
its low-vis EDSG scheme, side code 92
was painted in Roundel Blue in the usual 800 NAS position in the standard RN
numerical style. Airbrake code not known - a Roundel Blue 2?
01.05.82
- Flt Lt Dave Morgan, "Black 2", 3 CBUs for the attack on Stanley Airport. Hit by a 20mm AAA shell in the fin, Morgan giving his famous
"thumbs-up" to the cameras when he landed back on Hermes.
A large Roundel Blue painted patch repaired the exit damage on the fin's
starboard side. A smaller patch was
fitted over the entry hole and other blue shrapnel patches added to the
starboard tailplane - page 205 of Ref. 1.
23.05.82
- Flt Lt Dave Morgan strafed with cannon fire and damaged Puma (AE-500 of
CAB601) (see also ZA190).
23.05.82
- exploded after take-off killing the pilot Lt Cdr Gordy Batt.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA193
F/F
13.01.82 - pilot John Farley. 03.04.82
moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan.
In
its low-vis EDSG scheme, side code 93
was painted in Roundel Blue in the usual 800 NAS position in the standard RN
numerical style. 93's underwing roundels remained red/white/blue. Airbrake
code not known.
01.05.83
- Lt Cdr Mike Blissett, "Black 3", 3 CBUs for the attack on Stanley
Airport.
24.05.82
- Lt Dave Smith destroyed a Dagger (probably C-410 of Grupo 6) with an AIM-9L.
19.07.82
- returned on Hermes but flown off to
Yeovilton on this date before the ship docked at Portsmouth.
One white Mirage stencil below the cockpit on the port side.
899
NAS Sea Harriers -
integrated into 800 NAS on 02.04.82
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ455
VL
/ 712 of 899 NAS.
F/F
09.10.79 - pilot Heinz Frick. 05.04.82
- flown out to Hermes as she sailed down the English Channel.
Side
code - black 12. Airbrake code (confirmed from photo in Fly Navy Ref) - black
2.
01.05.82
- Flt Lt Robert Penfold, "Black 5" with 3 DA 500lb bombs for the
attack on Stanley Airport.
01.05.82
- Flt Lt "Bertie" Penfold destroyed Dagger (C-433 of Grupo 6) with an
AIM-9L.
21.05.82
- Lt Cdr Rod Frederiksen destroyed Dagger (C-409 of Grupo 6) with an AIM-9L.
13.06.82
- Lt Cdr Neil Thomas diverted to HMS
Fearless when the Port San Carlos FOB was damaged.
02.07.82
- transferred to 801 NAS and HMS
Invincible. Resprayed EDSG and
coded 000 in Roundel Blue by 801 NAS to replace XZ456.
The 000 was in 801's usual high position on the engine compartment.
A white 0 was painted on the starboard outrigger cover and a Roundel Blue
0 inside the airbrake.
17.09.82
returned on Invincible as 000.
(See the colour notes on Invincible's
SHARs.)
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ457
F/F
15.12.79 - pilot John Farley. VL /
714 of 899 NAS. Side code - black 14.
Airbrake code - black 4.
21.05.82
- Lt Clive Morrell destroyed A-4Q Skyhawk (0660/3-A-307 of 3 Escuadrilla) with
an AIM-9L, damaged A-4Q Skyhawk (0665/3-A-312 of 3 Escuadrilla) with cannon
fire, the a/c being lost while attempting an emergency landing.
24.05.82
- Lt Cdr Andy Auld destroyed 2 Daggers (C419 and, probably, C-430 of Grupo 6)
with 2 AIM-9Ls.
21.07.82
- returned on Hermes with the addition
of two white Mirage stencils above a white Skyhawk stencil below the cockpit on
the port side. Both gun pods were
overall Dark Green replacements. The
camera panel was a MSG painted replacement with a diagonal strip of (silver duck
tape?) over the aperture.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ494
F/F
24.10.80 - pilot John Farley. VL /
716 of 899 NAS. Side code - black 16.
Airbrake code - black 6? (This
would clash with XZ460/26.)
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr Andy Auld "Black Ldr", 3 CBUs, led the "I counted them all out…" attack on Stanley Airport.
21.05.82
- Lt Alan McHarg bombed and strafed the supply vessel "Rio Carcarana" in Falkland Sound near Port King, causing
it to be abandoned.
02.07.82
- transferred to 801 NAS and HMS
Invincible. Resprayed EDSG and
coded 008 in roundel blue by 801 NAS to replace ZA174. The 008 was in 801's
usual high position on the engine compartment.
A white 8 was painted on the starboard outrigger cover and a Roundel Blue
8 inside the airbrake.
17.09.82 returned on Invincible as 008. (See the colour notes on Invincible's SHARs.)
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA191
F/F
04.12.81 - pilot Heinz Frick. VL /
718 of 899 NAS. Side code - black 18.
Airbrake code - black 8.
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr Rod Frederiksen destroyed Alan
McHarg bombed and strafed the supply vessel "Rio
Carcarana" in Falkland Sound near Port King, causing it to be
abandoned.
09.05.82
- Flt Lt Dave Morgan strafed the intelligence trawler "Narwal" (see
also XZ460/26).
16.05.82
- Lt Simon Hargreaves strafed the supply vessel "Bahia
Buen Suceso" (see also XZ500/30), the aircraft being damaged by AAA in
the starboard tailplane, repaired with a roundel blue patch - see page 117 of
SAM Vol.5, No.3.
19.07.82
- returned on Hermes but flown off to
Yeovilton on this date before the ship docked at Portsmouth. No kill markings.
809
NAS Sea Harriers
- integrated into 800 NAS on 18.05.82
These
were re-sprayed during 809's work up at Yeovilton in the "Medium
Greys" scheme devised by Mr P J Barley of the RAE Farnborough to match the
requirements of the expected weather conditions and combat altitudes in the
South Atlantic. In the event the
pilots found that at low and mid-levels over land and sea, where many of the
combats took place, these aircraft were much more visible then their EDSG
counterparts
The
"Medium Grey" colours On or around 21 and 22.04.82 the whole fuselage, wing and
tailplane upper surfaces were re-sprayed Satin Medium Sea Grey (MSG)
(BS381C:637) with this colour overlapping the wing and tailplane leading edges
by 4" at the wing roots, tapering to 2" at the wing tips and a
constant 2" on the tailplane - as per the original EDSG overlap onto the
under surfaces. The MSG also
overlapped about 3" around the intake lips.
The intake interiors were finished in Satin White, that soon discoloured.
The undersurfaces of the wings and tailplane were in "Barley"
Grey BS4800:18B.21. 12"
correctly proportioned B-type roundels were only carried on the fuselage under
the cockpit in Pale Blue and Pale Red to RDM28A specification.
The only stencils carried were:
-
Pale
Blue canopy release instructions on the port side
-
the
black and yellow areas either side of the word RESCUE being replaced with a Pale
Blue outline on the canopy rescue arrow, the word RESCUE remained in black on a
yellow ground with the arrow's original black outlines above and below it
-
the
canopy release levers' black and yellow stripes remained as did the release
illustration on an EDSG panel below the canopy also remained
-
Pale
Red ejection seat triangles and fire access markings on the forward engine cover
-
reduced
black and white tail incidence markings, the black wing/fuselage trestle and
nozzle angle markings.
Pale
Blue ROYAL NAVY lettering was applied to the base of the fin in an 8" high
square stencilled style of lettering. The
809 NAS badge of a Phoenix rising from the ashes was also applied to both sides
of the fin - Pale Blue for the bird with Pale Red for the flames, the bird's
tongue and eye.
The
serial numbers for the aircraft were applied in black in two different styles
and places, either:
-
4"
high in the usual location on the underfin, or
-
3"
high on the lower fuselage above the underfin - approx 24" up from the base
of the underfin.
Fitted
with IFR probes, 330 gallon inboard and 100 gallon tanks outboard, the SHARs
transitioned to Wideawake via Banjul in The Gambia on 01.05.82, arriving on
Ascension the day after. They flew
out to Atlantic Conveyor just off the
island on 06.05.82, the ship departing for the Falklands on the following day.
On
18.05.82 the aircraft allocated to Hermes
were flown off to the carrier and integrated into 800 NAS.
The 809 NAS pilots who joined 800 were Lt Cdr Hugh Slade, Lt Bill
Covington, Flt Lts Steve Brown and John Leeming.
After
arrival on Hermes the ROYAL NAVY and
809 badge on the fin were overpainted in the nearest approximation of MSG
available on the ship, which is why in some photos traces of the badge and
lettering can be seen after the overpainting.
Side codes were applied in black in the usual 800 NAS location using the
last two digits of the aircraft's serial in a rectangular, non-standard style.
Photos of ZA177/77 and XZ499/99 show that these aircraft did not have
airbrake numbers, so it is presumed ZA176/76 and ZA194/94 did not have airbrake
numbers either.
Photographs
show that the SHARs finished in the "Medium Greys" scheme weathered
more heavily than their EDSG counterparts.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ499
F/F
12.06.81 - pilot Taylor Scott. 08.04.82
- seen operating with 809 but in 801 NAS colours as N/000, it had been left in
the UK when 801 sailed on Invincible
as it was unserviceable at that time.
Serial
- 3" high. Side code - black 99.
01.05.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
02.05.82 by Lt Alasdair Craig.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
18.05.82
- flown off to Hermes piloted by Flt
Lt John Leeming.
16.05.82
- Lt Mike Hale strafed the patrol vessel "Rio
Iguazu" causing it to be abandoned; top cover was provided by Lt Cdr
Rod Frederiksen in XZ460.
08.06.82
- Lt Dave Smith destroyed an A4-B Skyhawk (C204 of Grupo 5) with an AIM-9L.
03.07.82
- in a colour photo on page xii of
Ref.1 (also on published in WAPJ, No.6) 99 is shown with a replacement EDSG
rudder, excluding the strake on the rudder which is MSG, an EDSG port Sidewinder
rail and a white tip section to the port outer pylon.
From the photo above this one in Ref.1 of 99 on take off sometime between
01.06.82 and 14.06.82, it seems that this replacement was fitted post-war.
19.07.82
- returned on Hermes but flown off to
Yeovilton on this date before the ship docked at Portsmouth.
One white Mirage stencil below the port windscreen, in error for the
Skyhawk.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA176
F/F
29.01.81 - pilot John Farley. 06.04.82
- moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan; uncoded.
Serial
- 4" high. Side code - black 76.
30.04.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
01.05.82 by Lt Dave Austin.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
18.05.82
- flown off to Hermes piloted by Lt
Bill Covington.
19.07.82
- returned on Hermes but flown off to
Yeovilton on this date before the ship docked at Portsmouth. In the text and
SHAR listing in Ref.1 no mention is made of 76 being involved in the shooting
down of any Argentine aircraft. This
is backed-up as no reference to it being on the "SHAR Scoreboard" is
made in SAM Vol.22, No.7. Yet in
SAM Vol.5, No.3 it is shown with one white Mirage stencil below the port
windscreen. (Again, any information on
this is gratefully received.)
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA177
F/F
05.12.81 - pilot Mike Snelling. 07.04.82
- moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan; uncoded.
Serial
- 3" high. Side code - black 77.
01.05.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
02.05.82 by Lt Cdr Hugh Slade.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
18.05.82
- flown off to Hermes piloted by Lt
Cdr Hugh Slade.
08.06.82
- Flt Lt Dave Morgan destroyed two A4-B Skyhawks (C226 and C-228 of Grupo 5)
with AIM-9Ls.
13.06.82
- Lt Simon Hargreaves diverted to HMS
Intrepid when the Port San Carlos FOB was damaged.
21.07.82
- returned on Hermes to Portsmouth,
sitting at the head of the ski-jump. Two
white Mirage stencils below the port windscreen - in error for the two Skyhawks
- Sidewinder rails white, port 100 gal drop tank Dark Green overall.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA194
F/F
23.04.82 - pilot Mike Snelling. 28.04.82
- delivered to RNAS Yeovilton after being still under construction at Dunsfold
at the end of March.
In
the Medium Greys scheme (except for roundels) on delivery with serial 4"
high and standard underwing codes. Side
code - black 94.
30.04.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
01.05.82 by Flt Lt Steve Brown.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
18.05.82
- flown off to Hermes piloted by Flt
Lt Steve Brown.
23.05.82
- Lt Mike Hale destroyed a Dagger (C-437 of Grupo 6) with an AIM-9L.
19.07.82
- returned on Hermes but flown off to
Yeovilton on this date before the ship docked at Portsmouth.
One white Mirage stencil below the port windscreen.
HMS
INVINCIBLE AIR GROUP -
General Colour Notes
HMS
Invincible sailed
from Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ) on 05.04.82
with four Sea Harriers (SHARs) of 801 NAS plus four SHARs from 899 NAS, which
became integrated with 801 NAS on 02.04.82.
The original 801 NAS pilots were: Lt Cdrs Nigel "Sharkey" Ward
(CO), Doug Hamilton, Lts Charlie Cantan, Alan Curtis, Brian Haigh and Steve
Thomas and Flt Lt Ian Mortimer. The
899 NAS pilots who joined them were: Lt Cdrs Robin Kent, John Eyton-Jones and
Mike Broadwater, Flt Lt Paul Barton and Lt Mike Watson. Shortly after embarkation Lt Cdr Hamilton was found to be
allergic to the ship's air-conditioning system and had to be airlifted ashore,
so taking no further part in the campaign.
Departure
colours The
801 NAS aircraft were similarly finished to their 800 counterparts with these
differences:
-
the
ship code of N (Invincible) at the tip of the fin in white 7" high letters
-
the
three digit aircraft side code in white 16" high standard RN numerical
style numbers above the panel ahead of the forward nozzle, with the last digit
inside the airbrake as a 16" high black numeral and on the starboard (only)
outrigger cover, 8" high in black
-
the
801 NAS fin emblem of a winged trident in Roundel Blue on a white 30" white
disc.
Low-vis
colours During
the passage south the overall EDSG low-visibility scheme was applied to all the
aircraft, this time via a re-spraying of the undersurfaces and airbrake
interiors of all Invincible's SHARs.
At the same time all fin markings and any pilot's names were overpainted with
EDSG. Regrettably, again, I do not
have any records of which aircraft had which pilot's names stencilled on them at
the time of departure (if anyone knows,
I'd be very grateful for any information)
The
spray painted EDSG did not weather as well as the brush painted EDSG, in some
photographs one can see the original demarcation lines showing through and
elements of weathering on panel edges - see the many photos of 801 NAS aircraft
in Refs.2 and 5. Again, reference
to contemporary photos of the aircraft you are modelling is strongly recommended. For
example, photos of ZA175/004 in Ref.2 show the original demarcation line on the
lower fuselage and tanks, reinstated stencils in the original white areas of the
nose, the extent of the gloss finish, and how the sprayed EDSG weathered.
As
with 800's SHARs, some of the undersurface stencilling, especially the fuselage
and wing trestle markings and the underfin 4" high serial numbers were
reinstated in black their original locations.
The white portions of all roundels
were oversprayed in Roundel Blue (BS381C:538) - this area again often appearing
lighter in tone than the blue outer ring in black and white photos - to give an
out-of-proportion B-type roundel. The
remaining three digits of the side codes were overpainted in Roundel Blue, the
final digit being repeated inside the airbrake 16" high in Roundel Blue in
the standard style, the outrigger code was 8" high in white.
Unlike
on Hermes, Invincible's 899 NAS SHARs
completely lost their identities, having their side codes reallocated in the
sequence 006 to 009 and repositioned in the position used by 801 NAS.
As a result there were no clashes of airbrake or outrigger numbers, which
were applied in the 6-9 sequence detailed above.
Return
colours Invincible
remained
on station in the Falkland Islands' PZ until relieved by HMS
Illustrious on 26.08.82, the carrier then returning to Portsmouth on
17.09.82. On return commentators
noted that many of the SHARs appeared to have been repainted, certainly the two
aircraft that transferred from Hermes
- XZ455/000, XZ494/008 - had received a complete re-spray, covering many
stencils and even warning triangles.
"Kill"
markings
Whilst some references say that Invincible's SHARs did have "kill"
markings applied, no published photographs show them. Once more, any
information on this will be gratefully received.
801
NAS Sea Harriers
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ493
F/F
26.11.80 - pilot John Farley. N /
001 of 801 NAS. The nominal SHAR of
the C/O - Lt Cdr N D Ward - who's
rank and name may have been stencilled
in white under the starboard windscreen.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 001, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 1, outrigger code - white 1.
17.09.82
- returned on Invincible.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ495
F/F
03.02.81 - pilot Heinz Frick. N /
003 of 801 NAS. No evidence of
pilot's name stencilled in white under the starboard windscreen.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 003, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 3, outrigger code - white 3.
17.09.82
- returned on Invincible.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA175
F/F
28.10.81 - pilot John Farley. N /
004 of 801 NAS. Photo shows no
pilot's name under the starboard windscreen - photo 1, Ref.2.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 004, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 4, outrigger code - white 4.
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr Mike Broadwater unsuccessfully fired two AIM-9Ls at a Canberra
(unidentified of Grupo 2).
21.05.82
- Lt Cdr "Sharkey" Ward destroyed a Dagger (C-407 of Grupo 6) with an
AIM-9L (see also ZA190/009).
17.09.82
- returned on Invincible.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ498
F/F
26.03.81 - pilot Heinz Frick. N /
005 of 801 NAS. Photo shows no
pilot's name under the starboard windscreen - photo 1, Ref.2.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 005, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 5, outrigger code - white 5.
17.09.82
- returned on Invincible., complete
with an MSG coloured replacement canopy.
899
NAS Sea Harriers -
integrated into 801 NAS during early April
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ451
F/F
25.05.79 - pilot Heinz Frick. VL /
710 of 899 NAS. No evidence of
pilot's name stencilled in white under the starboard windscreen.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 006, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 6, outrigger code - white 6.
The upper wing RCV warning markings are on two white rectangles - DANGER
in the inboard one, the rest of the stencil in the outboard one.
01.05.82
- Lt Cdr "Sharkey" Ward strafed with cannon and damaged a Mentor
(unknown) of 4 Escuadrilla.
01.05.82
- Lt Alan Curtis destroyed a Canberra (B-110 of Grupo 2) with one of two AIM-9Ls
fired.
01.06.82
- Lt Cdr "Sharkey" Ward destroyed Hercules (TC-63 of Grupo 1) with one
of two AIM-9Ls fired and cannon fire. A
Canberra "kill" markings was reportedly stencilled below the port
windscreen c.02.06.82 but removed a few days later.
17.09.82
- returned on Invincible.
Several photos of this aircraft during the war and on its return show its
5 upper nozzle rotation markings to be almost overpainted in white on both sides
of the fuselage. On its return no red warning triangle on port outer pylon.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ452
F/F
17.08.79 - pilot Mike Snelling. VL
/ 711 of 899 NAS. Photo shows a
pilot's (unreadable) name under the starboard windscreen; also, the yellow strip
marking was carried by this SHAR near its upper wing roundels and its starboard
tank appears to have had a white tip on departure- photo 1, Ref.2.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 007, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 7, outrigger code - white 7.
01.05.82
- Flt Lt Paul Barton destroyed a Mirage IIIEA (I-015 of Grupo 8) with an AIM-9L.
06.05.82
- Lt Cdr John Eyton-Jones was killed, either colliding with Lt Alan Curtis in
XZ453/009 or striking the sea.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ456
F/F
09.11.79 - pilot Heinz Frick. VL /
713 of 899 NAS. No evidence of
pilot's name stencilled in white under the starboard windscreen.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 008, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 8, outrigger code - white 8.
01.06.82
- Flt Lt Ian Mortimer shot down by a Roland missile whilst on armed
reconnaissance south of Stanley Airport, "Morts" being rescued by
Sea King HAS.5 XZ574/16 flown by Lt Cdr Dudley of 820 NAS from Invincible.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ453
F/F
05.12.79 - pilot John Farley. VL /
715 of 899 NAS. Photo shows no
pilot's name under the starboard windscreen; also, both tank tips are weathered
back and it has 2/3 zaps on the starboard rectangular panel ahead of the front
nozzle and one - which looks like a white 899 NAS winged fist over a red(?)
equilateral triangle - zap on the starboard nose above the vent ahead of the
camera port (Any information…!) -
photo 1, Ref.2.
Side
code - Roundel Blue 009, airbrake
code - Roundel Blue 9, outrigger code - white 9.
01.05.82
- Lt Steve Thomas damaged a Mirage IIIEA (I-019 of Grupo 8) with an AIM-9L, the
Mirage being brought down by Argentinean AAA whilst trying to land at Stanley
Airport.
06.05.82
- Lt Alan Curtis was killed, either colliding with Lt Cdr John Eyton-Jones in
XZ452/007 or striking the sea.
809
NAS Sea Harriers -
integrated into 801 NAS on 18 and 19.05.82
The
same comments apply about the colours of these SHARs as those allocated to 800
NAS up until…
…the
evening of 18.05.82 when at 2042Z Lt Cdr Tim Gedge (who had been CO of the
recently reformed 809 NAS) flew ZA190 to Invincible. On 19.05.82 the other SHARs allocated to Invincible were flown off Atlantic
Conveyor to the carrier and integrated into 801 NAS.
The 809 NAS pilots who joined 801 were Lt Cdr Dave Braithwaite, Lts Dave
Austin and Alasdair Craig.
As
with the Hermes ex-809 aircraft,
after arrival on Invincible the ROYAL NAVY and 809 badge on the fin were overpainted
in the nearest approximation of MSG available on the ship.
801 side codes were applied in the usual 801 location and standard RN
style with the last digit inside the airbrake in a locally mixed pale blue,
which appeared richer in hue than the Pale Blue of the roundels (a Roundel Blue
+ white mix?); the last digit was also painted in white on the starboard
outrigger cover. By its return the
inside of ZA190/009's intakes had been repainted in MSG, though when this took
place is yet another of those questions yet to be answered.
All I can say is that during the conflict photos show that the intake
interiors were still white. (As
before, if you know…!)
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA174
F/F
15.09.81 - pilot Heinz Frick. 08.04.82
- seen operating with 809 but in 801 NAS colours as N/002, it had been left in
the UK when 801 sailed on Invincible
as it was unserviceable at that time.
Serial
- 3" high, unconfirmed, this size presumed from its fellow ex-801 SHAR
XZ499. Side code - rich pale blue 000.
30.04.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
01.05.82 by Lt Cdr Dave Braithwaite.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
19.05.82
- flown off to Invincible piloted by
Lt Alasdair Craig.
29.05.82
- while positioning for take-off in a very rough sea, the ship rolled heavily,
the aircraft sliding off the deck into the water, its pilot Lt Cdr Mike
Broadwater ejected safely.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ491
F/F
20.06.80 - pilot Heinz Frick. 14.04.82
- moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan, still in its ex-801 NAS
codes N/004.
Serial
- 3" high, unconfirmed, this size presumed from its fellow ex-St Athan SHAR
XZ458. Side code - rich pale blue 002.
30.04.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
01.05.82 by Lt Bill Covington.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
19.05.82
- flown off to Invincible piloted by
Lt Dave Austin.
26.08.82
- flown from Invincible direct
to Illustrious to join 809 NAS.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ458
F/F
10.01.80 - pilot Heinz Frick. 07.04.82
- moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan, still in its ex-800 NAS
codes H/124.
Serial
- 3" high, confirmed - photo 110, page 60, Ref.9. Side code - rich pale blue 007.
30.04.82
- flown from Yeovilton to Banjul in The Gambia then to Wideawake, Ascension on
0.05.82 by Flt Lt John Leeming.
06.05.82
- embarked Atlantic Conveyor off
Ascension, sailing for the TEZ on 07.05.82.
18.05.82
- flown off to Invincible piloted by
Lt Cdr Dave Braithwaite.
26.08.82
- flown from Invincible direct
to Illustrious to join 809 NAS.
BAe
Sea Harrier FRS.1 ZA190
F/F
05.11.81 - pilot John Farley. 07.04.82
- moved to RNAS Yeovilton from storage at St Athan; uncoded.
Serial
- 3" high, confirmed - photo page 94, February 1983, Scale Models. Side code
- rich pale blue 009.
21.05.82
- Lt Steve Thomas as wingman for Lt Cdr "Sharkey" Ward, destroyed two
Daggers (C-404 and C403 of Grupo 6) with two AIM-9Ls (see also ZA195/004).
17.09.82
- returned on Invincible.
By this time the inside of the intakes had been repainted MSG and the
yellow and black warning arrows on the canopy reinstated.
Postscript
- the known fates of the Falklands veterans are:
XZ492
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P20) 1994.
XZ460
- 09.05.90 flew into the sea just after take off from Invincible , Lt Holmes (800 NAS) killed.
XZ500
- 15.06.83 (127, 800 NAS) Lt Simon Hargreaves ejected safely from inverted spin
over Bay of Biscay.
XZ459
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P18) 1993.
XZ496
- 16.03.84 suffered engine failure alongside Illustrious,
pilot ejected safely.
ZA193
- 25.08.92 (126 of 800 NAS) ditched alongside Invincible
when forward pitch nozzle control was lost during landing approach, pilot - Lt
Wilson - ejected safely.
XZ455
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P8) 1992.
14.02.96 crashed into Adriatic 30m off Bosnia.
XZ457
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P10) 1993.
20.10.95 (714 of 899 NAS) crashed near Yeovilton.
XZ494
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P31) To
MoD(PE) BAe Dunsfold.
ZA191
- 04.10.89 (004, 801 NAS) hit Ark Royal's
mast during flypast, Lt Simmonds-Short ejected safely over Lyme Bay.
XZ499
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P30). To
MoD(PE) BAe Dunsfold.
ZA176
- 07.06.83 (001, 801 NAS) Lt Ian Wilson landed on Spanish freighter Alraigo
after NAVHARS failure. FRS.2 DB1,
converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P6) 1991. 06.10.94,
000 of 801 NAS.
ZA177
- 21.01.83 (711, 899 NAS) crashed in a spin, Lt Fox ejecting but suffering
spinal injuries.
ZA194
- 10.10.83 (716, 899 NAS) crashed following control restriction, Major O'Hara
USMC ejected safely.
XZ493
- 15.12.94 (126, 800 NAS) ditched alongside Invincible
when yaw control in the hover lost, Lt Kistruck ejected safely.
Nose section recovered, restored and fitted to a Harrier GR.3 airframe,
painted in its pr-Falklands 801 NAS scheme as 001 and displayed at the Fleet Air
Arm Museum Yeovilton.
XZ495
- converted to Sea harrier F/A.2 (P4) 1992.
05.01.94 (713, 899 OEU) crashed into the Bristol Channel after engine
failure, Lt Wilson ejected safely.
ZA175
- converted to Sea Harrier F/A.2 (P23) 1994.
Preserved at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Bungay, Suffolk.
XZ498
- 16.4.94 (002, 801 NAS) shot down by SAM near Gorazde, Bosnia, Lt Nick
Richardson ejecting safely and evading capture as described in his book "No
Escape Zone".
XZ451
- 30.11.89 (005, 801 NAS?) crashed near Sardinia, Lt Auckland ejected safely.
XZ491
- 16.04.86 (000, 801 NAS?) crashed near Benbecula when out of fuel, Lt Cdr
Sinclair ejected safely. XZ458 - 01.12.84 (125, 800 NAS) crashed after bird
strike caused engine failure near Fort William, Lt Collier ejected with eye
injuries.
ZA190
- 15.10.87 (006, 801 NAS) crashed in Irish Sea after bird strike, pilot ejected
safely.
Extra
Dark Sea Grey BS381C:640
Humbrol 123, Xtracolor X005, Gunze Sangyo 335
Medium
Sea Grey
BS381C:637
Humbrol 165, Xtracolor X003, Gunze Sangyo N/K
Barley
Grey
BS4800:18B.21
Humbrol 167, Xtracolor X017, Gunze Sangyo 334
Dark
Sea Grey
BS381C:638
Humbrol 164, Xtracolor X004, Gunze Sangyo 331
Dark
Green
BS381C:641
Humbrol 163, Xtracolor X01, Gunze Sangyo 330
Roundel
Blue
BS381C:110
Xtracolor X030
Roundel
Red
BS381C:538
Xtracolor X031
Pale
Blue
RDM28A
No match
Pale
Red
RDM28A
No match
Pale
Blue (801NAS)
Not known
No match*
*It
is presumed this colour was a local mix of Roundel Blue and White
REFERENCES
1.
Falklands – The Air War
Rodney A Burden, Michael A Draper, et al
(Arms & Armour Press)**
2.
Sea Harrier over the Falklands -
A maverick at war Cdr N. D.
“Sharkey” Ward**
3.
Air War South Atlantic
Jeffery Ethell & Alfred Price
(Sidgwick & Jackson)
4.
Battle for the Falklands [3] Air Forces
Roy Braybrook (Osprey – Men-at-arms 135)
5.
Harrier at War Alfred Price (Ian
Allan)*
6.
The Harrier Story Peter E Davies & Anthony M Thornborough
(Naval Institute Press)*
7.
World Air Power Journal Vols. 6
(Harriers) and 41 (Sea Harrier)*
8.
Sea Harrier and AV-8B
Robert Jackson (Blandford [Weapons & Warfare])
9.
Harrier
Michael J. Gething (Arms
& Armour Press - Warbirds Illustrated – 20)*
10.
The Sharp End - Sea Harrier Front Line
Neil Mercer (Airlife)*
Scale
Aircraft Modelling
Vol.
5, No. 3 December
1982**
Falklands Campaign
Vol.
22, No. 7 September 2000 Sea
Harrier Falklands Scoreboard
Vol.
24, No. 6 August 2002**
Aircraft in Detail – Sea Harrier FRS.1 / F/A.2
Scale
Models
February
1983 Sea Harriers in Action*
May
1983
Sea Harrier Special*
Air
Pictorial
Vol.
46, No. 5 May 1984 Reflections on
the Falklands War 1 (Cdr N. D. “Sharkey” Ward)
Vol.
46, No. 6 June 1984 Reflections on the
Falklands War 2 (Cdr N. D. “Sharkey” Ward)
Fly
Navy (The
Journal of the Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association)
No.30
Summer 1996 "Fearless
Goes To War"