CANBERRA IN MALVINAS: THE B.62 AND T.64
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By Silvio Sosa - Drawings: Juan José Martin

 In the Argentine Air Force
The Argentine Air Force has incorporated, as soon as begun the ‘70 decade, the Canberra bombers to its dowry. On a total of 12 airplanes, of which 10 were B.62 and 2 T.64 trainers, towards the principle of the conflict there were in good condition 10 airplanes. This mark that the “Canberra Squadron” had a good level of security by the lost of only 2 airplanes throughout 12 years. The Canberras of the  Grupo de Bombardeo 2 (Bombing Group 2) was painted with the typical English colors: Dark Green and Medium Sea Grey. The numerals of these were painted in white, with the letter "B". The numbers, also in white, went from the 101 to the 110, for the B.62, and 111 and 112 for the T.64. They will be able to appreciate better the details in the graphs that illustrate the text. The only outer difference between the B.62 and T.64 is the nose, while the first had the transparent nose, because they carried the acquisition target equipment, the seconds had it plated in aluminum.

	Detail of the nose of the Canberra T.64 B-111, and Grupo de Bombardeo 2 (Bombing Group 2) badge.

The first positioning of Group 2 was made in the Trelew Aeronaval Base (BAN), where 8 airplanes arrived. This patagonic base was the remotest of the theater of operations. The distance (1,080 km) did not present a problem for the good autonomy of the airplane. When the positioning was completed, the intensive bombing practices began, which initially were centered in antiships attacks. As we will see, the greatest preoccupation of the Air Force was the sophistication of the ships of the Royal Navy. Of all ways they assumed that it would be a quite dangerous mission.

	The B-109, today preserved at the National Aeronatical Museum in flight status, here seen in a exposition in the Buenos Aires airport.

In Malvinas
The 1^st. of May, date in begin the battle, was planned 3 sorties with Canberras. In the first of them did not find the targets, but in the second were in inferiority of conditions, since they were intercepted by the Harriers of the Invincible aircraft carrier. These downed the B-110, whose crew, First Lieutenants Ibáñez and González, ejected themselves but they never be recovered. The guide of the squadron returned at few minutes to look for them, but of all ways it was an unfruitful search. Thus also they were in vain the efforts on part of the Argentine Navy to recover these pilots. From 1^st. of May, and with the experience of the happened, the bombing priority of the Canberras changed. This was a healthful measurement due to the defenselessness that these airplanes had respect to the Royal Navy airplanes. It is enough to remember that the other airplanes of the related episode could escape thanks to the ability of its crews who, with evasive maneuvers, could avoid three of the four Sidewinder AIM 9L which were launched by the Harrier of the 801 Sqn. It was so until the 21 of May the Group 2 had time to evaluate its tactics again. From that date they began to operate at night from high altitude. Thus, the Canberra began to bomb, primarily, troops and materials concentrations. These operations took place on the San Carlos Bay, against the troops stationed there. As the war intensified, and the British came near to Puerto Argentino, the Canberra continued bombing the British troops until the last day of the conflict. Although these incursions were not absolutely precise, generated annoyance between the British troops. So it was so the Royal Navy in vain tried to neutralize them. In several occasions the Harriers take off in alert to intercept them, but the opportune control from Puerto Argentino (Malvinas CIC), with the AN-TPS 43F radar, avoided always such interceptions. Of all ways, towards the last days of the war, the Canberra formation flew with escort of Mirage III of the Group 8. In one of these last missions, the B-108 was reached by a Dart missile of the destroyer Exeter, downing it. His pilot, Captain Pastran, could eject itself, not therefore the navigator, captain Casado. Like peculiar data, a pair of Canberras attacked an oil tanker of Liberian flag that supposedly took fuel for the Task Force. It is possible to be appreciated in one of the profile drawings profile of the airplanes that carried out the bombing, with its respective kill mark

Canberra B.62 B-105 nose with their "kill marks".

Group 2 altogether fulfilled 35 missions, 25 of which were nocturnal bombings, and 45 tons of bombs were thrown, at the cost of two airplanes and three crew. As final of the note its to emphasize that the Canberras of the Group 2 were retired 12 years later, when they were left two machines operative. For the Argentine Air Force and the pilots who flew their loved Canberras, they landed for a deserved rest after 30 years of service and one war.