{"product_id":"the-falklands-guns-the-story-of-the-captured-argentine-artillery-that-became-part-of-the-raf-regiment-9781526774422","title":"The Falklands Guns: The Story of the Captured Argentine Artillery that Became Part of the RAF Regiment","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eThe Oerlikon twin 35mm anti-aircraft gun was a significant weapon in the Argentine armoury during the Falklands Conflict in 1982. It was recovered from the battlefields by a young squadron leader, Michael Fonf, who created two Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment squadrons to operate the guns. The gunners compared the British equivalents with the Oerlikons and saw the benefits of capturing them for the RAF. Fonf was promoted to Wing Commander and was responsible for all RAF ground-based air defence weapons during the Cold War. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 256 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 30 March 2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Pen \u0026amp; Sword Books Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Oerlikon twin 35mm anti-aircraft gun played a significant role in the British air campaign during the Falklands Conflict in 1982. General Mario Benjamin Menndez, the temporary Argentine Governor of Las Islas Malvinas, proudly boasted that the anti-aircraft gunners were the only Argentine forces on the Malvinas who did not face direct defeat by the British. Following the Argentine surrender, the latest of these Swiss-built all-weather Skyguard radar-directed guns, purchased by the Argentine Government for $30 million, were recovered from the Falklands battlefields by a young squadron leader named Michael Fonf. Fonf was then tasked with creating two Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment squadrons from scratch to operate these guns.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis story of the Falkland Guns begins with an account of the experiences of three Argentine anti-aircraft artillery units during the Falklands War. These units, unable to take their documents with them as prisoners of war, left behind valuable insights into the enemy's gunners' perspectives. The gunners, who had to operate British equivalents, compared them unfavorably to the Oerlikons, recognizing the significant benefits the capture of these new guns would bring to the RAF.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFonf's efforts were remarkable. He successfully incorporated Nos. 2729 and 2890 Squadrons into the RAF Regiment's structure, which included women in combat roles for the first time. His dedication and leadership earned him a promotion to Wing Commander. Subsequently, Fonf was entrusted with the responsibility of managing all RAF ground-based air defense weapons during the long years of the Cold War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Oerlikon twin 35mm anti-aircraft gun was a game-changer in the Falklands Conflict, and its capture and utilization by the RAF were instrumental in ensuring British air superiority. The story of the Falkland Guns highlights the importance of innovation, adaptability, and the dedication of individuals in the face of challenging circumstances. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel and the impact that technology can have on the outcome of conflicts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 634g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 166 x 244 x 37 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781526774422\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wing Commander Mike Fonfe","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44138561143034,"sku":"9781526774422","price":18.3,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/noImage_1_eb6a18c8-dc30-4dc3-b66a-870682f44c51.jpg?v=1680274967","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/the-falklands-guns-the-story-of-the-captured-argentine-artillery-that-became-part-of-the-raf-regiment-9781526774422","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}