1. Operation BLACK BUCK 30 April – 1 May 1982
‘It was dreadfully turbulent, we were in and out of the cloud tops, there was a lot of electrical activity with St Elmo’s fire dancing around the cockpit. The Victor was trying to refuel in that, it was having enormous problems. We could see the two aircraft bucking around, with the refueling hose and basket going up and down about 20 feet.’
BLACK BUCK TO THE FALKLANDS, RAF Air Power Review, Vol 5 Number 2 Summer 2002
LOA Members,
Thirty-six years ago, I was finishing up technical training at Lowry AFB, Colorado and heading home to Louisville, Kentucky for 10 days leave prior to my first assignment to Spangdahlem AB, West Germany.
Other young Royal Air Force airmen (aircrew, engineers, and logisticians) during April 1982 were preparing aging “nuclear bombers” for a conventional strike against military units from Argentina who had recently invaded the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.
The key capability to ensure the success of these hazardous missions—aerial refueling—and adaptable logisticians and aircrew!
Col Decker
PERSPECTIVE READINGS:
BLACK BUCK TO THE FALKLANDS, RAF Air Power Review, Vol 5 Number 2 Summer 2002
PERSPECTIVE VIDEO:
Falklands Most Daring Raid

2. Operation BLACK BUCK 30 April – 1 May 1982
XM607 Martin Withers Black Buck 2
Flying Officer Peter Taylor (Co-pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Bob Wright (Navigator Radar)
Flight Lieutenant Martin Withers (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Hugh Prior (Air Electronics Officer)
Flight Lieutenant Gordon Graham (Navigator Plotter)
Flt Lt Withers received the Distinguished Flying Cross and his crew was “Mentioned in Dispatches”
Victor K2 XL189 – call sign “White Two”
Squadron Leader Ernie Wallis (Navigator Radar)
Flight Lieutenant Mick Beer (Air Electronics Officer)
Squadron Leader Bob Tuxford (Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant Glyn Rees (Co-pilot)
Flight Lieutenant John Keeble (Navigator Plotter)
Sqd Ldr Tuxford received the Air Force Cross and his crew received the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Services in the air.