Thread by @PinguiDeQ

@WarDiaryF82
The Last Mission - Bombs for Moore

On July 13, the British troops had taken the main heights that surround Puerto Argentino and, from there, the Argentine troops had tremendous fighting, resisting with all available resources.
#FW82 #Malvinas

It was necessary to hit the British command posts to delay the advance towards the capital.

Argentine electronic intelligence had detected the concentration of troops near Monte Dos Hermanas where the command posts of General Jeremy Moore with his staff were located.

Two A4-B Skyhawk 'squadrons from Squad I were enlisted for a ground attack.

The first squad (indicative Nene) was made up of:
* Captain Antonio Zelaya (C-230)
* Lieutenant Omar Gelardi (C-227)
* Lieutenant Luis Cervera (C-212)
* Ensign Guillermo Dellepiane (C-221)

The second squadron (indicative Spark) was made up of:
* Captain Carlos Varela (C-222)
* Lieutenant Mario Roca (C-250)
* Lieutenant Sergio Mayor (C-235)
* Ensign Marcelo Moroni (C-237)

During the refueling procedure, Captain Zelaya’s plane had a problem entering fuel into his turbine, so he had to turn around, leaving Captain Varela in charge of the two squadrons.
Upon entering Soledad Island, the Malvinas radar indicates the presence of several British CAPs

flying over Bahia Agradable, causing the squadrons to be surrounded and without a clear exit after the attack. While Lieutenant Cervera suggests to the Captain an exit route through the same place of entry (a very risky 180-degree turn), Captain Varela gives the order to shoot.

The explosions of the 12 bombs of the Spark Squadron are observed, while the Nene squad prepares to unload its cannons on the same target.
Captain Varela says that the British camp had incredible prolixity seen from the air.

His 250kg parachute-braked bombs brought an Argentine out of control to the scene, with the well-known response of a Sea King that kept shooting at him.
The smoke from the explosions of the first bombs does not leave, in the first instance, a clear panorama for the second

squad to operate, but when flying over there are several destroyed helicopters, as well as some shelters.
Moments later, Lieutenant Cervera gives the order to unload the Nene's bombs, with a Sea King meeting at the exit at the same height as the Tucu.

With the 260mm adjustable sight, he begins to shoot the mass that was on him in the eye. The Sea King could barely be dodged by the Lieutenant.
After that, he sets sail for the sea and with the tranquility that no Sea Harrier followed, he faces the destination of San Julian,

after dodging an enemy frigate. But there was a problem, there are 1,900 pounds of fuel left and I needed 2,000 to reach my destination safely.
The pilot sets height and level to save fuel and to pray.
Dellepiane had been touched in the tanks of the wing, so he had been losing

fuel and with 1500 pounds, he would not arrive. Almost out of fuel, at just 100 pounds, he screams on the radio “I have 100 pounds! You, sons of bitches, where is the fucking Hercules? ”
It is there when he hears a "Stay calm, asshole, you arrive"

then he manages to hook up to the resupplier and reach his destination without ever being able to leave the Hercules until seconds of landing. Dellepiane owes her life to Cmdr Litrenta and her saving machine.

The attack on the command post was calculated with precision and achieved the surprise effect.
In subsequent interviews, General Moore (who died in 2006) would admit that this was one of the days that he felt the most fear when he was attacked by seven Argentine planes.

The Gazelle ZA728 and Scout XT637 helicopters had to be airlifted to San Carlos for repair, with considerable damage.

This was the last combat action of Group 5 Hunting in the Malvinas Campaign.

Grupo 5 de Caza
Argentinian Air Force
AD ASTRA PER ASPERA