The Falklands Guns by Mike Fonfe

The Falklands Guns by Mike Fonfe. For those who enjoy word as well as pictures of RAF Regiment activity, this story was made possible by the 14 Regulars and several hundred civilian men and women who joined the RAuxAF Regiment to bring the fearsome ex Argentine Oerlikon twin 35mm AA guns and their superb Skyguard Fire Control radars back to full operational status. Indeed, so good are the radars, they are still in operational service at RAF Spadeadam.

Written by Wg Cdr Mike Fonfe MBE RAF Regt (Retd), it’s a detailed and engaging account of how the Skyguard-Oerlikon guns found their way into the RAF short-range air defence inventory during the Cold War period. It covers the Argentinian employment during the Falklands Conflict and subsequent staffing – in his own time while in the MOD RAF Regiment Directorate – and how the frequently bureaucratic and ‘Jobsworth’ obstacles were overcome. An amazingly deft and ingenious piece of personal staff work!

The Falklands Guns by Mike Fonfe is a great read and worthy of a place on any Falklands and RAF Regiment bookshelves.

The £20-25 hardcover book available from Amazon, WH SMITH and Waterstones. Also available in Kindle format. 

The Falklands Guns by Mike Fonfe – Amazon link: Click here.