SS Canberra c1982 Operation Corporate

[rickoshea52]

While going through some of my late father's possessions I came across these two fantastic photo's taken of and aboard SS Canberra on the journey South to the Falkland Islands.


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[PaulTRose]

they are some cracking shots


did he take them?

[rickoshea52]

they are some cracking shots
did he take them?

I don't think so. Interestingly, the Chinook in this photo crashed in a whiteout on the Falklands in 1986 with the loss of three lives. ZA715 didn't see action from my research. It was most likely flown off Atlantic Conveyer at Ascension Island where this photo may have been taken.

[flyjoe180]

Great find Rick and thanks for sharing them. I remember the Canberra and on another occasion, HMS Invincible with Sea Harriers visiting NZ sometime in 1983/4, and having seen the war footage being quite mesmerised with the whole thing. Would have been about 9 or 10, so it was all awesome.

[rickoshea52]

My dad was one of about a dozen paratroopers returning on the Canberra with the battalion's equipment and effects of the dead...with all the Marines!


I remember being on the quayside at Southampton as she sailed home and docked. Because it was the marine's big day the Para's were the last off but I was lucky enough to go aboard for a few minutes and see my dad. The inside didn't look like a luxury cruise liner, sand bags and ammo boxes full of sand stacked up inside the corridors presumably for ballistic protection and the smell!


Later we all piled onto a coach back to Tidworth with the back seat piled high with SLR's and other weapons and a police escort. I was ten.

[Guest]

Cracking shots, many thanks for sharing them with us.

[Robert1968]

Very interesting reading Rick


Kind regards


Robert

[eddiesolo]

Those are superb piccies, thanks for sharing. I remember still being at secondary school when we went to war. It was exciting for a teenager to hear and see all these news programs, it hit home when a friends brother didn't come home and a subdued younger brother was distraught.


Si.

[Guest]

I don't think so. Interestingly, the Chinook in this photo crashed in a whiteout on the Falklands in 1986 with the loss of three lives. ZA715 didn't see action from my research. It was most likely flown off Atlantic Conveyer at Ascension Island where this photo may have been taken.

It flew in to terrain (Mount young) on the 13/05/86.