Image: Fleet Air Arm Museum (11368442603)

Description: Royal Navy. Fleet Air Arm Museum . Yeovilton. Somerset. UK Wessex HAS.3 (XP142) Humphrey Humphrey is one of the most famous aircraft of the Falklands Conflict and was the helicopter stationed aboard the destroyer HMS Antrim. Antrim was one of several ships sent to retake the Islands of South Georgia, as part of Operation Paraquat. On the 21st April Humphrey led two other Wessex HU.5 helicopters onto the Fortuna Glacier to drop Special Forces troops with orders to observe Argentinean positions at Grytviken. The weather was appalling and deteriorated, forcing the troops to request evacuation. Using its radar to guide them through the storm Humphrey led the helicopters back to collect the troops. Blizzard conditions caused the other helicopters to crash as they tried to take off from the glacier. Humphrey made a return trip to rescue all the troops and crew. On the 23rd April Humphrey was back in action, locating and retrieving more Special Forces troops from their disabled boat. The Argentinean submarine, Santa Fe, was reported in the area. On the 25th April Humphrey was sent out on patrol and spotted the Santa Fe on the surface. Humphrey’s crew attacked with depth charges damaging the submarine. Helicopters from other ships joined the attack with torpedoes and AS.12 missiles, causing Santa Fe to be abandoned. By May Antrim had joined other ships to assist with the landings on the main Falkland Islands. She was attacked by Argentinian Dagger jets that strafed her with their canons. Humphrey was damaged by splinters from the shells, making many holes that are still visible. These holes were patched with tape and Humphrey carried on flying.
Title: Fleet Air Arm Museum (11368442603)
Credit: Fleet Air Arm Museum Uploaded by tm
Author: Ian Kirk from Broadstone, Dorset, UK
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes