Product Description

As a Commando helicopter pilot, the author served with 846 Naval Air Squadron in the Falklands War and was decorated for gallantry (DSC). The author re-lives his part in operations, in particular Special Forces intelligence gathering and direct action missions, including the Pebble Island raid. Events are described in detail including the development of pioneering night operating procedures and the conduct of covert and other operationally sensitive missions. The book includes hitherto undisclosed material relating to Operation MIKADO, the ill-fated Special Forces mission in Argentina with its disastrous consequences for the Task Force. Dick was Captain of the Sea King that carried the Special Forces team into Argentina. The operation is described in detail including events in the air and on the ground in Argentina and Chile. Dick recalls his encounter with the Chilean authorities, meetings with British Embassy officials in Santiago, the international press conference, his eventful repatriation to the UK, debriefings in the MoD and time spent in an MI6 safe-house somewhere in England. The book concludes by describing a follow-up visit to Chile by the author in November 1982, at the behest of the Chilean Government.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47079 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book
I received my copy of 'Special Forces Pilot' the day after publication after having waited patiently for publication. I first heard about the book in our local newspaper (The Whitehaven News) as the author is a local resident and have been eagerly awaiting publication. The wait was not disappointing and I finished the book in two days. It is a well researched, fast paced personal account of flying operations during the Falklands War and includes, for the first time, first hand detailed information about the insertion of an SF recce patrol into mainland Argentina. I would fully recommend this book to anyone interested in military aviation, military history or just true adventure stories. Hats off to Col Hutchings DSC.

From a veteran's perspective
During the Falklands War I was in charge of flying in HMS Fearless, the Commando Assault Headquarters Ship in San Carlos Water. Many of the SF missions staged through my flight deck and on occasion I sat in on some of the briefings. I was aware of the outline of Dick Hutchings mission and knew it was happening but until now I have never known the details. From an insider's viewpoint I found the book fascinating and highly readable. The story of the mission on the mainland should have been told sooner and now there is a clear difference in the facts of the published accounts. Dick Hutching's exciting book has the ring of authenticity for me. One issue it highlights once again are the quite serious errors made by the SAS in the campaign. Here was a professional SF outfit with a high reputation questioning the navigational competence of similarly professional Fleet Air Arm helicopter aircrew. The failure of the SAS transit of the glacier in South Georgia and subsequent final rescue by Ian Stanley in a lumbering Wessex 3 helicopter was another. Then there were the three SBS troops killed one night during an accidental encounter with the SAS. Pebble Island was a huge success but they must be balanced by several avoidable failures, including the landing on the Argentine mainland.Dick Hutchings and the rest of the crew did as much as they could to achieve sucess. But the loss of the aircraft and the unavailability of three valuable aircrew may not, in the end, have been worth it.
One issue in the book where Dick is unequivocal and detailed in his criticism is the Vulcan raid on Port Stanley airport which he characterises as a failure and a waste of resources. Rowland White in "Vulcan 607" paints an entirely different picture. It would be interesting to hear further debate on this operation. At the time I thought it was just a ploy by the Chief of the Air Staff to get some good publicity for the RAF at a time when the purpose of having a separate Air Force was being questioned, as it still is....
Ed Featherstone

An exceptional book!
This is a highly readable book full of previously unpublished information on the Falklands war, especially from a Fleet Air Arm perspective. There have been some superb books already written about the Sea Harrier experience, for example Sea Harrier over the Falklands and Hostile Sky's - but this book tells the story of front-line helicopter operations - and especially full information on the author's part in Operation Mikado.

I hope many others will go on nd read this superb book!