MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Argentina's new Army chief flew helicopters during Falklands/Malvinas conflict
Argentina's new Army chief, Division General Ricardo Luis Cundom, 59, is a Malvinas war veteran and although originally from the Infantry he commanded the Army's air wing and has received commando and parachutist training, according to the reports in Buenos Aires. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesI wonder if he still has the towels and toiletries he nicked from 'Canberra' on his way home.....
Jun 25th, 2015 - 08:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0l laughed when l read-“Argentina's 2014/15 Antarctic campaign, plagued with……blah blah blah AND even Graft!”
Jun 25th, 2015 - 10:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Even”-no less! lol!
So someone had their sticky fingers into the Arctic survival kits!
Or did they steal fuel from the Sno-Cats!
No Eskimos there so the RGs couldn't flog the stolen gear to them.! lolz
In the top photo he looks like the Colombian baddie cop from the 80s classic 'Romancing the Stone'.
Jun 25th, 2015 - 11:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Here's an excerpt from naval-history.net
Jun 25th, 2015 - 12:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Army Aviation Command or Comando de Aviacion del Ejercito - Equipped with aircraft and a large variety of helicopters, many of which were deployed to the Falklands and all lost - two Chinook CH-47C's, five Puma SA.330L's, three Agusta A-109A's and nine Iroquois UH-1H's.”
So if he flew helicopters for the army during the Falklands War, he didn't fly them for very long!
...just curious if he flew any one way helicopter rides out over River Plate...
Jun 25th, 2015 - 12:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@4
Jun 25th, 2015 - 12:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0He is a soldier who fought in a real war unlike you that are a useless “keyborad” warrior.
@5
He fouhgt a real war. He pilot an helicopter under terrible conditions.
You, like Conqueror and Augusto Pinochet, were a “desk” warrior. Your skills were with pencil, rulers and A4 size pages....envy him..
#6 Pgerman
Jun 25th, 2015 - 01:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I was just asking an innocent question... you know... like how many bodies?
By the way, General Ricardo Luis Cundom's grandfather emigrated from Palermo with the surname of Cumdomazzi, but the family shortened it in Argentina.
Desk warrior I was and now remain in active reserves as one. Pinochet in his early service was not. I cannot speak for Conqueror, nor can you.
You seem testy today...
Chile won over Uruguay 1-0 last night.
And yes, sometimes our rotos can be... roto...
“grandfather emigrated from Palermo”?
Jun 25th, 2015 - 02:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0If only he had AA Roadside & Recovery...
Jun 25th, 2015 - 02:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6169681
@6
Jun 25th, 2015 - 02:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“He fouhgt a real war. He pilot an helicopter under terrible conditions.”
So did the UK pilots-so what?
If you are criticising keyboard warriors-were you a helicopter pilot in the 1982 war?
@2
“l laughed when l read-“Argentina's 2014/15 Antarctic campaign”
So did I-is keeping people who are inadequately provisioned in the first place, a war campaign?
I assume he gets a medal for that.
A former helicopter driver from a failed and illegal occupation conducted in violation of UN resolutions is put in charge of Argentina's currently empty Army. Sort of reminds us of how Argentina employs over-the-hill and overweight former airline stewardess like Alicia to play ambassador to the UK. Or how a Peronista like Kretina who claims to be a successful lawyer (but never got a law degree) ends up as presidenta overseeing massive increases in debt, inflation, and poverty in the country and then lies about all of it.
Jun 25th, 2015 - 02:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Who were they fighting in the Antartica? Probably those naughty “ nuclear penquins ” from the FALKLANDS.
Jun 25th, 2015 - 03:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0General Ricardo Luis Cundom(azzi) replaces General Cesar Gerardo Milani...
Jun 25th, 2015 - 03:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0...sometime ago, I posted a long list of all the Argentinian presidents and generals of Italian heritage. It goes all the way back to Belgrano and includes even Peron.
@ 6 pgerman
Jun 25th, 2015 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, he is an implant from Palermo squatting on land robbed from murdered Indians.
Who saw action trying to conquer and occupy someone else’s land?
Like the Waffen SS.
On the bright side the name is hilarious.
Being responsible for the Argentine Armed Forces is got to be depressing if a leader really cared. Inoperable aircraft, domestic manufactured tanks that can't fire, ships that roll over by themselves and submerse, submarines that are incapable of submersing, untrained demoralized non-commissioned conscripts and a corrupt administration. On the bright side, the life for commanding officers is that of royalty. Their military club is Buenos Aires in my opinion is one of the finest in the world with white glove service of only the very best.
Jun 25th, 2015 - 04:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@6: Is it OK if I take the piss out of him then - I have four real wars, with real combatants involved, behind me?
Jun 25th, 2015 - 04:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#16
Jun 25th, 2015 - 04:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Go right ahead...
...I might add that I haven't seen any negative press about him.
”when he landed in Stanly (SIC) on 12 June fuel deposits were blown up by incoming mortar fire. He saved his life miraculously although the chopper was hit with shrapnel and had to be abandoned....A second helicopter that flew in with Cundom was blown to pieces.“ BUT WAS HE ON IT? Of course not!
Jun 25th, 2015 - 06:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0So, he ran away, the story of all argie ”military“ irrespective.
I bet he tells lies just like ”The Engineer“ P German, who has TWO oily rags to prove he's an engineer. NOT.
I wonder if he will be the one to make a military takeover or ”coup” of The Dark Country to sort things out. I doubt it.
There are lots of disparaging remarks about a militar who fought a war he was sent to. The conditions and risks of the operating argentine helicopters were terrible. Mush worse than the conditions suffered from the Birtish ones.
Jun 25th, 2015 - 07:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As an US Army told to an argentine journalist about the HU-01 and Chinooks in the FI war: “I have never heard about these material operating under such threaths and conditions against them. The argentine pilots won't have a movie like NAM but they deserve one”. There is a nice book about this topic called “Angeles sobre la turba”. Anyway these concepts are “like flowers to pigs” in this forum. Chicureo (a pencil and ruler warrior), Conqueror (a keyboard warrior) and others won't care about this becuase they have alwasy been lazy people living a confortable live in their homes.
@ChrisR
It is much better to be an argentine engineer living and working as engineer in Canada than a British Islander living and working in Uruguay....try not to mention this again...it's your shame !!!!...
What a load of bollocks. Have you never heard of Afganistan and Iraq? Do you not think that the pilots of the helicopters in those two countries had more balls than Condom? I have actually been on active service in Aden in 1965/6 so I know a bit more than you. Who was he ( Comdom ) fighting in the Atlantic?
Jun 25th, 2015 - 08:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#20 golfcronie
Jun 25th, 2015 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Cheers!
At war college I remember a lecture about the Aden conflict only because of the outragious act of a British officer that recaptured a rebel stronghold with his troops and the loud psy op bagpipe and drums playing. Apparently the rebels fell apart and they gave up.
@21
Jun 25th, 2015 - 09:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Long time ago but I remember the Arabs preferring to leap out of 4/5 floor windows than face the swirling kilts and the hideouis screech of the bagpipes.
Mind you the Gurkas were there as well and of course the SAS. Actually looking back there were some good times.
@ 19 P German
Jun 25th, 2015 - 09:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“than a British Islander living and working in Uruguay....try not to mention this again...it's your shame !!!!...”
You fucking CRETIN!
I am retired, I don't have to work and have most of our money INVESTED in Uruguay, unlike you living in Canada and being loathed by your neighbours as evidenced by the posts in that rag you publish and edit.
We moved here for the health of my wife and we both love the country. I detest the former murdering bastard commie president who seemed to take delight in damaging the teaching profession and him an illiterate idiot. The Uruguayos are however, with the exception of the stinking lazy poor living off everybody else's taxes, a great people as are my Argentine friends of which there are now many.
What a pity that The Dark Country has to endure 15M thieves, liars and general wankers and of course you in Canada. Frightened to go back home are you?
Anyway, if the truth hurts tough luck: from now on I am going to deal with you in a much more serious way.
#22 golfcronie
Jun 25th, 2015 - 09:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I assume you were non-commissioned serving under WWII veteran officers? Am I correct? What group did you serve, if it's ok to ask.
@23
Jun 26th, 2015 - 03:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0ChrisR you are a disgrace and mediocre person. Certainly I prefer to be an argentina engineer (with master included) working as engineer in Canada that a British Islander living and working in Uruguay....try not to mention this again...it's your shame !!!!...loser !!!!
Conqueror is another disgrace even for islanders.
Chicureo. I remember when you mentioned that the ARA sailors were cowards. But you have never attacked with a conventional submarine the Royal Navy or similar navy. You have never attacked it, wait and scape without been detected by them.
Chicureo. You will never recognize but you are a mediocre “desk” militar. You will never be able to have and reach the professional level and experience of Cundom. You have never risked your life serving your country and you will never risk it. The last day of your life you will noticed that you have done nothing as a militar.
Golfcronie. Let me know the day you find a regular army helicopter fighting against another regular army, navy and air force with the best weapons of the time. Please, let me know. In Afganistan and Irek there were not the terrible conditions suffered by the argentine helicopters.
By losers..don't make me waste my time with your stupid comments.
Some one has rubbed pgerman's raw nerve! lol.
Jun 26th, 2015 - 07:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0Hey pgerman, whats with this “mediocre” label?
Have you been hob-nobbing with our old mate Axel Arg?
Thats one of his favourite words……come to think of it, l haven't heard anyone else using that word.
@25
Jun 26th, 2015 - 08:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0Tell us again how long was the FALKLANDS so called war? And you are going to compare that little spat to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? You are a knobhead Sir.
@25.... ' the terrible conditions suffered by the argentine helicopters. '
Jun 26th, 2015 - 09:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Well what did they expect? Devonshire tea on the lawn? Fuckem....and the horse they rode in on...
Argentine aircraft losses 3 April - 15 June 1982 http://www.naval-history.net/F64-Falklands-Argentine_aircraft_lost.htm
Jun 26th, 2015 - 09:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0I don't see any entries for 12 June. I smell bullshit.
Pgerman the pretend engineer...
Jun 26th, 2015 - 10:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0I have no doubt that you have absolutly no advanced education or training to qualify as an engineer of even the lowest classification. Furthermore, I'm as well convinced you live on Canadian public assistance.
Chile has invested a significant percentage of its GNP in defense spending in order to NOT go to war. Not to expend our territories, nor to bully our neighbors, but instead to protect us from territorial kleptomaniacs like yourselves. The only armed conflicts we've elected to participate in have been exclusively regarding UN peacekeeping operations and sadly we've suffered fatal casualties in Bosinia and Haiti. Those are our modern heroes, the troops dedicated to maintaining peace.
And yes, I have served my country without participating in warfare, but unlike you, I consider it an honor and privilege. I've never menacingly pointed a loaded automatic weapon directly at a terrified mother with her children like your “brave” soldiers did in the Falklands.
When I received my commission, I swore a blood oath to defend Chile with my life if need be. ...but... There is absolutely no disgrace in peace. There is no cowardice in avoiding conflict, only HONOR.
There is however pathetic COWARDICE and distainful DISGRACE in attacking without warning a peaceful small population of the Falklands Islands like you did in 1982.
Let me remind you Pgrman, emost of the civilized world looks upon your county with disgust and repugnance of your recent unforgivable continuous bullying of the islands. Especially since it's nothing more than a tired worn out tactic to distract the Argentine populace away from their own self inflicted economic troubles.
______________________________
Oh, and don't forget... The SIS recreation team is anxiously awaiting your upcoming visit to the Mount Pleasant Resort and Spa...
Can some people tell me what these Rgidiots mean by calling someone “mediocre”?
Jun 26th, 2015 - 11:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0Axel, German and the other idiots that don't have a good command of the English language use this term all the time and I don't understand what it may translate to in English...
any help is greatly appreciated..
“Argentina lost the Belgrano and the Santa Fe, both of which were built in WWII.
Jun 26th, 2015 - 11:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0The Royal Navy lost the Sheffield, the Coventry, the Antelope, the Ardent, the Sir Galahad, all of which were built in the '70s, and had an additional 11 ships damaged to varying degrees. ” I quote from another source
#29 knarfw
Jun 26th, 2015 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0I think your sense of smell is excellent.
Argentinian soldiers were routinely decorated for bravery based on wartime fake propaganda.
@6. “He is a soldier who fought in a real war unlike you that are a useless “keyborad” warrior.” Hahahahahahaha. Really? What is a “real” war? One where there's a declaration of war? Argieland didn't declare war before the Falklands Invasion. Is it a “war” if there's violence? I was with the “goodies” fighting against criminals where violence took place. I was injured. I went into situations where “the opposition” was armed. And into situations where I could have died. I served my country. Can you say the same? Best to keep your mouth shut when you know nothing about the person you are accusing. Incidentally, where does it say that he “fought”?
Jun 26th, 2015 - 12:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@19. “There are lots of disparaging remarks about a militar who fought a war he was sent to.” Oh really, I thought all the argies were ignited by patriotic fervour. “Liberating” the population, only to find that the population viewed them as what they were. Belligerent, criminal cowards that decided they could invade to confront 80 Royal Marines. I wonder if any of them ever thought about how 80 troops could control 1,500 people? Add more attributes for argies. Ignorant and stupid. I'm nearly 67 now. But, if you want, I'll travel down to the Falklands. When you come ashore, I'll be waiting for you. Okay with you if I use a bayonet? Just so I can see whether you've actually got any guts.
@25. Of course I'm a disgrace. I happen to be proud of my country. Not because I'm English, but because I can see the necessities and the courage of the British forces and British people. If you were to have the courage to live in argieland, how long would you last having your hovel bombed day and night for EIGHT months? In 1982, British forces took more prisoners than the strength of their own forces. British forces = 10,000 (less those killed). Argie PoWs = 11,313. And Britain even had to repatriate them. Because argieland didn't want them back. Where were you in 1982?
@32. You have a point? We made a mistake. Using wrong materials.
Slight problem with the story here, there were no Bell 212s destroyed on the 12 June 1982 at Stanley. The following aircraft were captured in Stanley though:
Jun 26th, 2015 - 12:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Eleven Pucaras of FAA Grupo 3
Two Bell 212's of FAA Grupo 7
Three Aermacchi MB-339A's of CANA 1 Esc
Puma SA.330L of PNA
Chinook CH-47C of CAB 601
Two Agusta A-109A Hirundos of CAB 601
Nine Iroquois UH-1H's of CAB 601
Eight of the helos were still airworthy and that included the two Bell212s. No Bell 212s are listed by either side as having been lost in combat.
#35 Capt Rockhopper
Jun 26th, 2015 - 12:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It seems we have an inflated CV of another typical “heroic” Argentine Malvinas veteran.
@20 golfcronie
Jun 26th, 2015 - 04:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Then you may have had the privilege of guarding my school bus.
@21 Chicureo
Colonel Campbell of the Argyle & Southerland Highlanders, otherwise known as Mad Mitch.
Listened to it going on, I asked my father why they were playing pipes (clearly audible amidst the gunfire) he said, “by morning any insurgence that aren’t dead, will be raving mad”.
By morning it was all over.
#37 Pugol
Jun 26th, 2015 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting! I spent some time for reserve training at Bedford, England and there was a group that would get together at the recreation hall and play the bagpipes and drums. I can only imagine the reaction of primitive Arab tribesmen to the spectacle and noise.
@38 Chicureo
Jun 26th, 2015 - 07:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I know Bedfordshire, my father was posted there as well.
Mitch actually wrote a book about his military career called “Having been a soldier”, an excellent read, especially if you are interested in counter insurgency technics.
Although make no mistakes they were not primitive nor tribesmen in the conventional sense, although not the suicidal fanatics of today, they were the local Armed Police augmented by insurgents.
The British were pulling out, very soon to be gone, it was an attempt by a local faction to seize control just prior to that happening.
Some detail of the story is incorrect or he has been embellishing.
Jun 26th, 2015 - 07:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There were no UH-1U AE-412 destroyed in the Falklands War, they were captured intact. Nothing on the Argentine side in the Falklands was flying on 12 June.
@34
Jun 26th, 2015 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“I'm nearly 67 now”? Really...I cannot believe that. You are really more stupid than I have ever thought. I would immagined that you were a teen. I mean, the counterpart of young fascists from “La Campora”. An elderly person of 67 year making such comments and posts...
Really you, along with Chicureo (a poor a failure and mediocre “desk” warrior”), ChrisR (the retired “Uruguayan investor”), Geofcronie, Yanuqeeboy, etc....are a bunch of LOSER...bye guys get your satisfaction writing stupid things.
#39 Pugol
Jun 26th, 2015 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Poor Yemen, the only thing I know about the place is from the movie “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” which is fantasy.
The Chilean Naval reserves follow a very similar program of the HMS Ferret and fell in love with the area.
@42 Chicureo
Jun 26th, 2015 - 08:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Up country”, in the mountains, Yemen was breathtakingly beautiful, especially if you like rugged isolated places.
Yes, I know it well, at one time I went to school just down the road from there.
Although it was USAF at that time, I went to many good parties & drunken barbecues there.
#43 Pugol
Jun 26th, 2015 - 08:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I was there in 2005 assigned to signals, well after the USAF decamped Chicksands.
You do wonder if this gentleman was one of those brave Argentinian pilots who threw political prisoners from altitude into the River Plate estuary during the heroic Junta regime. We need to be told.
Jun 26th, 2015 - 08:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@29 @35 @40 all have exposed the helicopter bravery story. What else has he lied about?
Jun 26th, 2015 - 09:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Isn't it about time that Argentina's war crimes during the 1982 Falklands war got some proper investigation and prosecution? The Argies are always crying to the UN about something, invariably without any truth, trying to hide their own guilt. Not just the many crimes the Argies forces committed against their own troops, which have gotten a good bit of press in Argenzuela, but the crimes committed against the islanders.
Jun 26th, 2015 - 10:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, the Falkland Islanders have not forgotten how, after the Argentines completed their cowardly invasion, their courageous soldiers delighted in pointing their rifles at women, pulling the trigger and then laughing when they just went click. Very brave. Never forgotten
Jun 26th, 2015 - 10:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Since the Argentine presence in Antarctica was mentioned in this article, it's worthwhile reflecting on that for a moment as a reminder of Argentina's land-grabbing in recent years - which is not limited to the Falklands. Recall that a good part of the Antarctic peninsula and nearby islands were discovered, explored, and claimed by the UK in the 19th and early 20th centuries (going back to around 1820, before the grass-skirted Argentines had even discovered boats). So it's not surprising that those places have British names like the South Shetland Islands. Now, Chile made a rather cowardly move in 1940 while Britain was at war with the fascists that both Chile and the Argentines were supporting, and claimed much of British Antarctica. And then Argentina, in classic arrogant Argentine fashion, in 1943 decided to claim the territory that was previously claimed by both Chile and the UK. Its justification is just as weak as its pseudo-claim to the Falklands: “well, it's sort of close to the rest of the territory that Argentina had previously colonised.”
Jun 27th, 2015 - 01:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0#49 Marti
Jun 27th, 2015 - 10:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0“Chile made a rather cowardly move in 1940”
With due respect, there were several nations placing their claims upon the frigid continent, including Nazi Germany.
Chile was the nation that rescued Ernest Shackleton and has always had very warm relations with the United Kingdom. By establishing our claims to Antarctica, our nation affirmed our territorial rights to the Beagle Channel.
@50
Jun 27th, 2015 - 02:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The cowardly move to which I referred was Chile making a claim to British territory in 1940 while Britain was at war and unable to contest the silliness. A more honourable action would have been to wait until the end of hostilities, though in 1940 the “neutral” Chilean government was still allowing a great deal of support for the Nazis within the countries, something that did not materially change until 1943 when Germany's fortunes were failing in the war. The portion of the UK Antarctic territory that Chile claimed in 1940 was uniquely a UK territory, with no other countries claiming that area at that time.
Chilean territorial claims to Navarino and the associated archipelago extending to Cabo de Hornos have nothing to do with UK territory some considerable distance across Drake's Passage.
It's worthwhile noting that the Argentines fired a machinegun on the British Antarctic Survey team at Hope Bay (Antarctic Peninsula) in 1952. Rather predictable behaviour for Peronist Argentina.
Regarding Piloto Pardo, I agree that he does not receive proper recognition in the angloparlante world. En cambio, cerca de donde vivo en la XIIa Región, hay una calle que lleva su nombre.
un saludo,
51 Marti Llazo
Jun 27th, 2015 - 05:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Interesting argument, but the decision was prudent, not cowardly.
Chile has significant German, British and Italian heritage inhabitants and the country was internally conflicted with illegal acts of breaking neutrality and assisting both Germany and Great Britain during WWII. Argentina collaborated with the Nazis even after the war! About half my heritage is from the British Isles and my paternal Chilean grandfather volunteered and joined the RN in the Pacific. A lot of British-French-Italian-German Chileans did the same for their ancestral homelands as well.
During the period of 1940 the future of the British Empire from Chile's perspective was in serious question. Just a few years earlier, Nazi Germany had claimed a large part of the Norwegian dependent Queen Maud Land naming it New Swabia - Neuschwabenland and in 1940 Germany was occupying Norway.
The motivation for the German interest of Anartica: “Whale oil was then the most important raw material for the production of margarine and soap in Germany and the country was the second largest purchaser of Norwegian whale oil, importing some 200,000 metric tonnes annually.”
If Nazi Germany occupied Great Britain, they would also claim the Antarctic Peninsula. As the United States in 1940 was still remaining steadfastly neutral, many expected the worst.
That's why Chile made its questionable move.
The Chilean and British Royal Navies have always shared very close ties regarding the Antarctic Seas as well as scientific bases; there have been numerous incidents of each nation providing assistance to each other. Now even more today as the British Antarctic Survey was joined with the Chilean Antarctic Institute in 2012 to cooperate on science, innovation and climate change.
Chile and the UK work as partners and the Punta Arenas Chilean air base and port a a second home for UK Antarctic operations.
My best regards,
One of the lesser known events of WW2 was the bloodless capture of the Norwegian whaling fleet.
Jun 27th, 2015 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.warsailors.com/raidervictims/pinguin2.html
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!