The Falklands SAS mission known as 'Op Certain Death'

OHHH I remember this episode..amazing and brave! The helicopter was a Sea King and the crew was helped by people to reach Punta Arenas. The remains of the helicopter were collected by local people. I still have a piece of a blade of the main rotor of that helicopter at home. It has a patch like a repair and a serial number inside the aluminum skeleton. Greetings from Chile!

There is a book, "Exocet Falklands" by Ewen Southby-Taylor, that tells the full story of this. It was a "rogue mission", dreamt up by The SAS, without any military or political backing. It was never countenanced by the top military people, back in the UK, or even Margaret Thatcher. It was part of a two part mission, this was part one. Both would have been doomed to failure from the start. The Argentinian military were waiting for them, having tracked the helicopter from just after it left the task force. The leader of the Argentinian Airfield Security Group had actually been trained by the British a few years before the war, to defend airfields from such an attack. He knew they would try it, and knew how to prevent it. The author, tells of 3 operations, 2 mounted by the SAS and one by The SBS that were all cancelled because they would have been catastrophic for both special forces groups. Well worth a read.

It sounds like something Blackadder would say. 'We have an exciting new mission for you Captain Blackadder'. -'Yes Sir. Would this mission by any chance be named ''Operation Certain Death'' perhaps..?'

There are a few missions dubbed “Op Certain Death”. There is only one true Op Certain Death post WW2 for me and that was Op Barras.

The French we're selling Argentina those Exocets... there's an interesting documentary on how MI5 stopped the sales buy buying up the Exocets posing as different countries... someone has it

Managed to train with British Soldiers along with some SAS. They are some very tough individuals and like a good fight. Have a high degree of respect for them. One thing I can honestly say is that it’s not about who is better to them but we are all equal. Would go into battle side by side with them.

I was privileged enough to go on two air to air refuelling flights while serving in Ascension Island. The C130 and Victor are two phenomenal aircraft but the skill of both aircrews was out of this world.

The last exocet hit HMS Invincible.

I remember the strange story of the Sea King landing in Chile, now I know why.

4:07 Compounding the recce team's difficulties was the ludicrous last minute decision for them to carry demolition charges in "case they got a chance to blow up an aircraft" using the planning principle for many overloaded operations of "you never know". Out came rations and cold weather gear from their Bergens so an element tasked with pre-attack surveillance of a target could walk maybe onto it and blow up airplanes and/or missiles. Brilliant!

I knew this episode many years ago. Although I m argentine, I was happy to know that those brave SAS men were not conducted to such a suicidal operation

The British do a lot of these "operation certain deaths"

Every operation doesn’t go to plan obviously but the bravery n improvisation of the SAS is second to none n I mean non n the fact is the SAS is the best trained special forces regardless of the ego’s of certain other countries shall we say 🫡 n that’s definitely not taking nothing away from the other professionals. Unfortunately one of the only things left we have to b proud of, thank GOD for the SAS💪🏻

Just thinking what Paddy Mayne would have done ??

I believe at the time the ARA helped foil the plans aswell, 2 of the older destroyers were based along the coast, close to the airfield and would have used their radars to pick up incoming aircraft, and possibly their 5in dual purpose guns to knock them down

As a civilian with no experience or knowledge of the military - what I take from this is 'you are on your own' .... Politicians make decisions and expect you to overcome anything and risk it all. Fortunately the UK had a functional and professional force. Deep respect for you all.... You did this with limited resources and still do to this day

Can't believe I'm sitting here and it's the 18th of May to!

A good friend of mine was on this mission.

It was some spectacular feet. 8000 miles away.Opperation on the go. Just like the Iranian Embassy, goes to show how highly training the British Forces are.

A friend of mine, SGT Ray Alderson, 47, AD RCT from RAF Lyneham, was part of an Air Despatch team prepped at Ascencion to do an engine running discharge for this op.