Mirage III vs Sea Harrier (Pt2) - The First Dogfight (01 May 1982, Falklands)

After the initial inconclusive engagements between British Sea Harriers and Argentine Mirages and Daggers, Argentine leadership launched a major effort against what they believed was an amphibious landing in the East Falkland. Strike aircraft were escorted by Mirage III and Dagger fighters. The ’Dardo’ flight flown by capitán García Cuerva and primer teniente Carlos Perona arrived over the islands first. They were directed to engage the northern Sea Harrier combat air patrol flown by Flt Lt Paul Barton and Lt Steve Thomas. This would lead to the first dogfight of the 1982 war. Main sources: - Douglas C. Dildy and Pablo Calcaterra - Sea Harrier FRS 1 vs Mirage III/Dagger: South Atlantic 1982 - Jeffrey Ethell - Air War South Atlantic - Rowland White - Harrier 809: Britain’s Legendary Jump Jet and the Untold Story of the Falklands War - Carlos Perona, la historia del primer piloto derribado en Malvinas