Marshal of the RAF Sir Michael Beetham - obituary

[colin m]

An interesting read through the link below.


Colin M..


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11957795/Marshal-of-the-RAF-Sir-Michael-Beetham-obituary.html

[Guest]

Thanks for that Colin. Missed it.


Interested in the Falklands part that he paid. Difficult as they were of the


three services involved the one with the minor role the RAF.


Typical RAF not to be out done he had the Vulcan attack the Falklands


long range. One of the incredible feats of this conflict. An incredible


refuelling regime.


A lot of critics of these attacks. What did they do, what harm to the


Argentinians. After reading many pieces I came to the conclusion


that it was worth it. It kept a lot of the Argentinian aircraft at home


as the Vulcan could have made raids on the mainland.


I suspect that was not the intention of the RAF but it did have


real effect.


It also stopped their aircraft using Stanley Airport which would


have been a disaster as they would have much more time, which


in fact they did not, than after a 400mile flight from the Argentinian


mainland. Although they could use the airport after the runway was


put back in action, after the raids, they were never sure when another


Vulcan was coming along. Good old Vulcan.


The RAF under Beecham also had the Harrier GR3 acting as support


aircraft for the ground troops. Something the Sea Harriers were not


equipped to do.


Laurie

[Guest]

Amen to that Laurie, he was probably the only top brass leader that thought it all through and gave excellent leadership orders.


Not saying the Army or Navy didn't have good leaders, but the navy bigwigs failed to understand the level of threat, and then failed to estimate that threat by leaving their ships visible to the mainland and observable by the Argentinian FC teams, who called In positioning to the AAF.


And the Army brass were out there giving orders to attack and manoeuvre on the enemy without realising the terrain and needs. The officers and NCOs on the ground did a much better job of manipulating those orders, along with the troops ability to enact them.


Sir Michael Beetham listened to his advisors, and understood the capabilities of the equipment he had on offer, and used that to inflict maximum damage and disruption and minimal loss. Even the AAF didn't have a chance to engage the Vulcan bombers, nor the harriers doing strike strafe runs on the Falklands.


I agree wholeheartedly, that man deserved the recognition and the praise for his role in the RAF.


I may slag off crab air occasionally, but they do a fantastic job, and should be proud to have had a leader of this calibre.

[Guest]

To be fair Dave the it was not the army in charge it was the Marines in charge.


With the uncertainty of the air war plus there being only one Marine Officer


who had sailed in the area and knew about the terrain nothing else was known.


With the loss of the large lift helicopters it scuppered many plans which had to


be hastily re-written.


It always grabs me that more was not done to curb the Argentinian Airforce.


after the Vulcan raids. That was to warn the Junta if they kept up their raids


they would receive some Vulcan raids on their airfields etc. This was little


different from sinking the Belgrano. In war you look after your own forces


not your enemies.


Apologises for digressing on the subject Colin.


Laurie

[colin m]

To be fair Dave the it was not the army in charge it was the Marines in charge.
With the uncertainty of the air war plus there being only one Marine Officer


who had sailed in the area and knew about the terrain nothing else was known.


With the loss of the large lift helicopters it scuppered many plans which had to


be hastily re-written.


It always grabs me that more was not done to curb the Argentinian Airforce.


after the Vulcan raids. That was to warn the Junta if they kept up their raids


they would receive some Vulcan raids on their airfields etc. This was little


different from sinking the Belgrano. In war you look after your own forces


not your enemies.


Apologises for digressing on the subject Colin.


Laurie

Not need to apologise, it's all very interesting reading.