AIRPOWER IN THE FALKLANDS CONFLICT

◗ John Shields ◗ Pen and Sword Air World (2021) ◗ £25 ◗ 370 pages (hardback) ◗ ISBN:9781399007528 ◗ penandswordbooks.com

The author is a serving officer in the Royal Air Force (the subtitle is: An Operational Level Insight into Air Warfare in the South Atlantic) which caused me to approach the book with some caution. The conflict showed the poverty of the RAF arguments against carriers in the 1960s and that service’s involvement was minimal. I was not disappointed in my expectations. As the author states in his introduction, he was intent on busting the myths, including that of the Sea Harriers, which grew from this maritime campaign.

That said, and setting bias aside (including my own), this is a good book with a wealth of detail and an excellent analysis of operational level planning, planning principles and a discussion of Argentinian and British centres of gravity. Air combat is highly researched using official information from both sides in the analysis of air engagements. It discusses the merits of the various types of sidewinder missiles and their contribution, both presumed and actual, to the campaign and the later Gulf conflict. It is a masterly contribution to the history of this conflict, well presented and thoughtfully analysed. Personally, I would disagree with some of the arguments and conclusions, but it is very strongly recommended for all readers.