Dildy Doug - Sea Harrier FRS 1 vs Mirage III/Dagger

25 June

First flight of Dassault MD 550 Mystre Delta prototype.

5 May

Extensively modified following initial flight testing, the MD 550 now renamed the Mirage I demonstrates significantly improved performance.

17 November

First flight of Dassault Mirage III prototype.

9 October

First flight of Mirage IIIC interceptor.

13 March

First flight of the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) experimental prototype.

5 April

First flight of the improved multi-role Mirage IIIE.

7 July

First Mirage IIIC is delivered to Arme de lAir three months later, Israel orders its third batch of 24 Mirage IIICJs.

8 February

P.1127 XP831 lands on board HMS Ark Royal.

7 March

First flight of the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA 1.

15 December

UN Resolution 2065 calls on the governments of Argentina and UK to negotiate with a view to finding a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas. Negotiations proceed in a desultory fashion for the next 12 years.

31 August

First flight of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier developmental aircraft.

19 May

First flight of the dedicated ground attack variant of the Mirage III, designated the Mirage 5J.

510 June

ArabIsraeli Six Day War Israeli Defence Force/Air Force (IDF/AF) Mirage IIICJs claim destruction of 50.5 enemy aircraft, for the loss of nine.

1 January

First Royal Air Force (RAF) Harrier GR 1 unit No. 1(F) Sqn declared operational.

October

Argentina orders its first ten of an eventual 17 Mirage IIIEA interceptors.

21 March

First flight of the IAI-assembled Nesher S single-seat ground attack variant of the Mirage III.

July

FAA activates the I Escuadrn de Caza Interceptora (1st Fighter Interceptor Squadron) with the Mirage IIIEA. Unit expanded into Grupo 8 de Caza in December 1975.

15 May

MoD announces order for 24 Sea Harrier FRS Mk 1s, later increased to 34.

20 August

Maiden flight of first production Sea Harrier FRS 1 XZ450.

December

Argentina purchases its first 24 of an eventual 35 Nesher Ss along with two (of eventual four) Nesher Ts from Israel as Dagger As and Bs.

31 March

First operational Sea Harrier squadron 800 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) and the SHAR headquarters and training squadron 899 NAS formed at RNAS Yeovilton.

28 January

Second Sea Harrier squadron 801 NAS formed for deployment on board HMS Invincible.

29 March

The Junta of Army Commander-in-Chief General Leopoldo Galtieri, Navy commander Admiral Jorge Anaya and Air Force chief Brigadier General Basilio Dozo takes power in Argentina. Repossession of the Islas Malvinas becomes a national priority.

25 June

British government publishes MoDs 1981 Defence White Paper The UK Defence Programme The Way Forward, inadvertently encouraging the Junta to consider repossessing the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas.

18/19 March

While salvaging scrap-metal from abandoned whaling stations on South Georgia Island, Argentine workers raise their national flag over their camp, precipitating the BritishArgentine confrontation over the possession of the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas and South Georgia Islands. Both respond by despatching naval auxiliaries and marines to South Georgia Island.

26 March

Argentinas Junta decide to forcibly repossess the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, launching Operacin Rosario.

2 April

Operacin Rosario repossesses the islands for Argentina.

5 April

The Thatcher government responds by despatching a carrier and amphibious task force to the South Atlantic, beginning Operation Corporate.

1 May

Negotiations fail to conclude the crisis peacefully. Combat operations over the islands begin with the Black Buck (RAF Vulcan) and Sea Harrier bombing raids. First engagements between SHARs and Mirages/Daggers result in two Sea Harrier victories.

2125 May

Royal Navy amphibious task group (TG 317.0) arrives in San Carlos Water and begins disembarking troops for the land campaign. The Argentine response is a five-day long maritime air campaign using Dagger and Skyhawk fighter-bombers. Losses are high on both sides.

8 June

Last Argentine anti-ship strike against Royal Navy amphibious operations.

14 June

Argentine garrison at Port Stanley/Puerto Argentino surrenders to British forces.

20 June

British government announces that South Atlantic hostilities are concluded.