This is the Heller 1:72 scale Alouette III helicopter in the colours of 1 Esc de Helicopteros, Taskforce 40, Falklands of the Argentine Navy in 1982.
The Argentine Naval Aviation operated a total of 14 Alouette III helicopters. A single SA316B was on board the ARA General Belgrano when she was sunk by torpedoes fired by HMS Conqueror during the 1982 Falklands War. A second Alouette III played an important role during the Argentine Invasion of South Georgia.
I built this helicopter to portray its involvement in the invasion of South Georgia, also known as the Battle of Grytviken or Operation Georgias, which took place on 3 April 1982, when Argentine Navy forces seized control of the east coast of South Georgia after overpowering a small group of Royal Marines at Grytviken. It was one of the first episodes of the Falklands War, immediately succeeding the invasion on the Falkland Islands the day before.
I’ve built this helicopter to portray its involvement in the invasion of South Georgia, also known as the Battle of Grytviken or Operation Georgias, which took place on 3 April 1982, when Argentine Navy forces seized control of the east coast of South Georgia after overpowering a small group of Royal Marines at Grytviken. It was one of the first episodes of the Falklands War, immediately succeeding the invasion on the Falkland Islands the day before.
Update: In May 2023 I was loaned an amazing book with the title "Falklands The Air War" published by the British Aviation Research Group. This attempts to document every aircraft used by both sides during the conflict. Under the Alouette, it records my 0736 helicopter in March 1982 as being with 1 Escadrille as '3-H-111", but not confirmed as being used operationally during the War though in service at Espora.
It was helicopter 0699 which in March 1982 was with 1 Escadrille as '3-H-110' that was deployed with ARA Bahia Paraiso which landed Argentine Marines on South Georgia. It was flown during all phases of reconnaissance and capture of South Georgia from 25 March to 3 April 1982. Slightly damaged by gunfire at Grytviken on 3 April it was immediately repaired and returned to service. It survived the war to then be involved in a fatal crash near Espora on 21 April 1983.
So, one day, I may change that last '1' to a zero! However, this may not in itself be sufficient. I took my painting guidance for the Alouette from archive photos which I believed to be contemporary, however, this new found resource speaks of there being know now changes having been made to the markings of the Alouette for the emergency period. This meant that they wore dark brown and green camouflage with the only light marking being a small national flag on the forward part of the boom. The serial was applied in tiny digits on the door and the code was in larger script on the rear boom. So quite different to that I've seen for '3-H-111'. Meanwhile, an anonymous Alouette used for ambulance duties was painted overall white with large red crosses on the side doors and a small one on the nose. Food for thought ...
This kit was a real challenge, probably because I bought it half started with glue sticking bits to the box and the cockpit stuck together totally wrong but it finished up looking OK and an interesting addition to my Falklands War collection.
