Third Escuadrilla Tábanos
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Patch
Handle
Heritage
- 01 MAR 1971: the Third Navy Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque was established at Aeronaval Comandante Espora Provincia de Buenos Aires.
- DEC 1986: the Third Navy Escuadrilla was disestablished.
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Home Ports
- 01 MAR 1971: Base Aeronaval Comandante Espora Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- APR 1988: Navy Río Grande Base in Tierra del Fuego State, Argentina.
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Air Wings
Deployments
- 02APR82 to 05MAY82: Aircraft Carrier 25 de Mayo - A-4Q - Malvinas (Falkland Is.)
- Rio Grande - The Malvinas War
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Aircraft
- MAR 1971: Douglas A-4Q (A-4B) Skyhawk.
- Original Argentine serial numbering of 0654 to 0669 with side numbering of 3-A-3xx:
- 301 = 144872
- 302 = 144882: on display in Argentina as 3-A-302
- 303 = 144895: believed lost prior to 1982 War.
- 304 = 144915: on display in Argentina as 3-A-304
- 305 = 144929
- 306 = 144963: believed lost after the 1982 War, possibly on 11 NOV 1982.
- 307 = 144983: Lost 21 MAY 1982 in the war, Capitan de Corbeta Philippi was recovered
- 308 = 144988: on display in Argentina as 3-A-314
- 309 = 144989
- 310 = 145001: believed lost prior to 1982 War
- 311 = 145004: believed lost prior to 1982 War
- 312 = 145010: Lost 21 MAY 1982 in the War, Teniente de Navio Jose Cesar Arca was recovered
- 313 = 145025: believed lost prior to 1982 War.
- 314 = 145050: Lost 21 MAY 1982 in the War, Teniente De Fragata Marquez KIA
- 315 = 145030: believed lost prior to 1982 War
- 316 = 145061: believed lost prior to 1982 War
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Commanding Officers
- 1971: Capitán de Fragata Sergio Trenchi
- 1972: Capitán de Corbeta Eduardo Invierno
- 1973: Capitán de Corbeta Horacio Estrada
- 1974: Capitán de Corbeta Camilo Nabías
- 1975: Capitán de Corbeta Jorge Troitiño
- 1976: Capitán de Corbeta Jorge Czar
- 1977: Capitán de Corbeta Eduardo Alimonda
- 1978: Capitán de Corbeta Julio Lavezzo
- 1979: Capitán de Corbeta Julio Lavezzo
- 1980: Capitán de Corbeta Jorge Colombo
- 1981: Capitán de Corbeta Alberto Philippi
- 1982: Capitán de Corbeta Rodolfo Castro Fox
- 1983: Capitán de Corbeta Alberto Philippi
- 1984: Capitán de Corbeta Roberto Agotegaray
- 1985: Capitán de Corbeta Roberto Agotegaray
- 1986: Capitán de Corbeta Alejandro Francisco
- 1987: Capitán de Corbeta Luis Collavino
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Events
- 1971:
Sixteen A-4Q Skyhawks were purchased for the Argentine Navy for use on its aircraft carrier the "25 de Mayo". The A-4Q Skyhawks were rebuilt United States Navy and Marine A-4B Skyhawks. Third Escuadrilla Skyhawks were painted sea gray and initially based at Comandante Espora, Argentina.
- 01 MAR 1971:
The Argentine Navy Third Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque was established. The Third Escuadrilla was based at Aeronaval Comandante Espora Provincia de Buenos Aires (Navy Base Commander Espora, state of Buenos Aires).
The Third Escuadrilla was equipped with sixteen A-4Q / A-4B Skyhawks with additional equipment including Omega-VLF navigational systems.
Color scheme and markings courtesy of "FCM Decals," a Brazilian decal manufacturer. Graphic from Valter Sousa Andrade.
- March 27, 1982:
The Third Escuadrilla had eight operational Skyhawks.
- 28 MAR 1982:
Six Argentine Navy A-4Qs were loaded on Argeninta's Aircraft Carrier "25 de Mayo" for a naval exercise announced for
the last fifteen days of March. This exercise was a cover for the "Blue Operation," which was the
April 2, 1982 invasion of the Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands).
- 02 APR 1982 - 14 JUN 1982 Malvinas (Falkland) War : The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean located aproximately 300 miles east of the coast of Argentina. They are a territory of the United Kingdom, but are claimed by Argentina. In South America the islands are known as the "Islas Malvinas".
Argentina Malvinas War Aviation Events.
Photograph provided by Jose Gonzales
- Third Escuadrilla Pilots at Rio Grande May 20, 1982 (Rank is that of December 1998).
Standing left to right:
- Teniente de Fragata Márquez --- KIA,
- Capitan de Corbeta Carlos A. Lecour,
- Capitan de Fragata Carlos S. Oliveira,
- Teniente de Fragata Zubizarreta --- KIA,
- Capitan de Corbeta Philippi,
- Commanding Officer Capitan de Navio Rodolfo Castro Fox,
- Capitan de Navio Benito I. Rótolo,
- Capitan de Fragata Marcos A. Benítez.
Front row left to right:
- Capitan de Corbeta Félix Médici,
- Capitan de Fragata Roberto G. Silvestre,
- Capitan de Fragata José César Arca,
- Capitan de Fragata Alejandro D. Olmedo.
Ten of the twelve Third Escuadrilla pilots pictured survived the war.
During 21 MAY through 14 JUL 1982, the Third Escuadrilla at Río Grande (radio call sign "Tábanos") flew ten combat missions during the high point of the hostilities, losing 3 planes and 2 Naval Aviators. The detachment was hampered by shortages of personal, parts and planes.
- 1983:
The United States imposed an aircraft sale embargo on Argentina.
- 1986:
The Third Escuadrilla was deactivated although there were still six A-4Q Skyhawks in service.
- APR 1988:
Last flight of an Argentine A-4Q Skyhawk.
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Awards
Sources
- Rico Angerman
- Capitan Alejandro Amoros, Argentine Air Force.
- Valter Sousa Andrade.
- Juan Manuel Baiutti.
- Jose Gonzales.
- Maximiliano Guillen.
- Gervasio Vazquez.
Argentine Skyhawk Naval Aviators KIA - Malvinas:
Teniente de Fragata Márquez, A-4Q 21 MAY 82
Teniente de Fragata Zubizarreta, A-4Q 21 MAY 82
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