801 Naval Air Squadron - Falklands War

Falklands War

The squadron operated the Sea Harrier equipped with Blue Fox radars aboard HMS Invincible during the Falklands War. The Squadron was supplemented by five pilots from 899 NAS and was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Nigel "Sharkey" Ward Royal Navy.

801 NAS Pilots

• Lt Cdrs Nigel 'Sharkey' Ward (CO), Doug Hamilton
• Lts Charlie Cantan, Alan Curtis (KIA), Brian Haigh, Steve Thomas and Flt Lt Ian Mortimer

899 NAS Pilots

• Lt Cdrs Robin Kent, John Eyton-Jones (KIA) and Mike Broadwater.
• Flt Lt Paul Barton and Lt Mike Watson.

From an air combat perspective, 801 Squadron were effective to the extent of shooting down eight Argentine aircraft

• 1 May 1982 - A Mirage III of FAA Grupo 8 shot down north of West Falkland by Flt Lt Paul Barton using a Sidewinder. The Argentine pilot ejected.

• 1 May 1982 - A Mirage III of FAA Grupo 8 damaged in same incident north of West Falkland by Lt Steve Thomas using a Sidewinder. The Mirage was then shot down over Stanley by Argentine AAA defences killing the pilot.

• 1 May 1982 - A Canberra B62 of FAA Grupo 2 was shot down north of Falklands by Lt Alan Curtis using a Sidewinder. The Argentine pilots ejected but were not rescued.

• 21 May 1982 - A Pucará of FAA Grupo 3 was shot down near Darwin by Lt Cdr Sharkey Ward RN in one of three Sea Harriers using 30 mm cannon fire, the pilot ejected from the aircraft at about 40 ft above the ground, he survived and walked back to Goose Green.

• 21 May 1982 - Three Dagger A's of FAA Grupo 6 were shot down north of Port Howard, West Falkland using Sidewinders, two by Lt Steve Thomas and the other by Lt Cdr Sharkey Ward. All three Argentine pilots successfully ejected.

• 1 June 1982 - A C-130E Hercules of FAA Transport Grupo 1 was shot down 50 miles North of Pebble Island by Lt Cdr Sharkey Ward RN using two AIM-9 Sidewinders and cannon. The crew of seven were killed.