MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands War Pilot and RAF Chief Retires
A front-line pilot of the 1982 Falklands War who several times narrowly escaped death or injury on many dangerous missions has retired as head of the Royal Air Force.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, GCB, DFC, AFC, ADC, D.Sc. was the first front-line officer of the Falkland War to become professional head of one of the three armed services, though since followed by the First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Alan West, whose frigate, HMS Ardent, was sunk by Argentine air attack in 1982, with the loss of 22 crew.
Air Chief Marshal Squire led the Harrier attack on Dunnose Head air strip in which some buildings were destroyed and an Islander, Tim Miller, was blinded in one eye by shrapnel. The two men were later to become friends. Peter Squire went back to the Falkland Islands as a tenth anniversary guest in 1992.
Air Chief Marshal Squire has been an effective and highly respected Chief of Air Staff for the past three years, and before that Commander in Chief of Strike Command and NATO Air Force Commander for North-West Europe. It was a period of intense and challenging activity for the RAF carrying out many missions over Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and in the second Gulf War, as well as continuing to provide the front-line defence of the Falkland Islands and the air link to Brize Norton in the United Kingdom.
Perilous Falkland's missions In 1982 Wing Commander Squire was commanding officer of the RAF's Number 1 Fighter Squadron of Harriers when it was hurriedly mobilised as part of the Falklands Task Force.
His squadron of ten Harriers flew a total of 151 sorties, two a day for each pilot, mainly ground attack and battlefield air interdiction, in dangerous low-level flying which took a heavy toll. Four of the Harriers were brought down, and another three damaged, leaving only three unscathed. They became the first RAF aircraft to operate from an aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes, since the Second World War.
Wing Commander Squire flew his Harrier off the cargo vessel, Atlantic Conveyor only a few days before she was sunk by an Argentine exocet missile. From then on, he was in the thick of the action, day after day, with no respite, attacking Stanley Airport and other Argentine targets.
In a pioneer mission, he became the first ever RAF pilot to launch a laser-guided "smart" bomb ? attacking Argentine troops on Mount Longdon.
He had narrow escapes when he crash landed at Port San Carlos airstrip, and again just days before the war ended when a blowpipe missile exploded near his Harrier, and a bullet penetrated the cockpit, almost hitting him. After the war, engine failure forced him to eject before his aircraft crashed into the sea off Cape Pembroke.
Wing Commander Squire kept a fascinating personal day-to-day diary of operations. His awards include a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Force Cross.
Old foes meet in Argentina In his last year of nearly forty in the RAF, he paid an official visit to Argentina in December and met the Argentine Air Force Chief, General Walter Barbero, who flew Boeing reconnaissance aircraft in the Falklands. One on occasion Wing Commander Squire was tasked to seek out and shoot down such a reconnaissance aircraft but it turned back to the Argentine mainland.
Commenting on the possibility he might have shot down General Barbero, Air Chief Marshal Squire remarked: "It would not have been personal. We had great respect for the Argentine Air Force. They flew with great courage and skill".
In Argentina, Sir Peter flew an Argentine aircraft of the kind he was up against in 1982. In a spirit of reconciliation, Sir Peter laid a wreath on the Argentine war memorial.
General Barbero returned to him the personal flying documents of a Sea Harrier pilot, Lieutenant Nick Taylor, shot down and killed over the Falklands.
New RAF Chief Sir Peter is succeeded as Chief of Air Staff (on August 1st) by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, who, early in his service, saw action on loan to the Oman's Air Force in the Dhofar War. He was involved in the First Gulf War. Recently, he was UK National Contingent Commander and Senior British Military Advisor in the United States-led action Operation "Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan. Before that he was a senior NATO Commander.
Air Chief Marshal Squire, who is married with three sons, may now have more time to indulge his interests of golf and cricket.
Harold Briley, (MP) London
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