Story of a Falklands hero: the feat of Lieutenant Juan Carlos Buschiazzo

37 years ago, the thickness of fog and peat Malvinense made that visibility was very reduced in the archipelago. In the middle of this scenario, two British ships they accelerated their turbines, leaving the aircraft carrier battle group. So they got lost in the night of May 9 with the intention of take a position south of Puerto Argentino. It was the type 22 frigate HMS "Sword" (F88) and the Type 42 destroyer HMS "Concentry" (D118). His mission was reverse any flight that would perch at the airport Islands.

The British considered it essential to destroy the helicopters of our army in order to immobilize the Argentine defense. With this concept, the frigate HMS "Alacrity" started at 1:30 intense two-hour naval fire on the landing area of ​​Moody Brook helicopter, which received a rain of 90 fragmentary projectiles and three illuminants. The consequences were very negative for the Argentine forces: Two army helicopters and a prefectural helicopter were out of action, the latter being a Puma PA-12, used for search and rescue missions at sea.

It was 8 am when an air combat patrol opened a bombardment on Puerto Argentino, although this time without causing any damage. But back to the aircraft carrier "Hermes", they detected a radar echo about 60 miles from their position: This was the Argentine fishing boat "Narwal". After asking permission to attack, being already 8:50, they proceeded with successive shots with their guns on the boat.

At 09:05, an emergency message was received in Puerto Argentino. This came from the fishing boat, from where they alerted: "Here" Narwal "We are attacked by English planes, we have serious injuries". The last communication took place at 11:25, indicating that there was "Six men in a drifting boat, there are more lifeboats" Narwal "about to sink". The last known position was southeast of the sea lions, south of Isla Soledad. Faced with this desperate situation, Admiral Otero asked an army helicopter to search for and rescue possible survivors.

As a result of last night 's attacks, army helicopters had just set up on Mount Kent. They were out of reach of the naval artillery. While the last plane was still landing on the new base, they radioed the first lieutenant Juan Carlos Buschiazzo return to the initial point to comply with the relevant sea rescue mission.

Buschiazzo had joined the Force in 1976 as a professional pilot of an instrumented flight and had attended a six-month course at General Lemos School. He has been trained as a helicopter pilot and has participated with the Navy in several Antarctic campaigns. In 1982, he was badigned to the command of the arsenals, outside the aviation of the army. A few days ago, he was a father and could have stayed comfortably in his office, safe from the dangers of war. However, he volunteered to go to the Malvinas.

Going back to the story, that day, the Buschiazzo helicopter was not working properlybecause, when he reduced the power of his turbines, an engine stopped. For this reason, he changed Puma AE-505, the first lieutenant Roberto Fiorito and the aviation mechanic sergeant Horacio Di Motta. It should be recalled that during the Falklands War helicopters only flew with one pilot and that the co-pilot's position was occupied by an aviation mechanic. Due to the complexity of the mission, the second commander of the 601 Combat Aviation Battalion instructs another pilot to accompany Fiorito. Prior to this directive, several young officers volunteered despite the risks inherent in participating in the mission in question. Buschiazzo said: "The order was given, so the co-pilot, it's me". This behavior, in keeping with the values ​​that underlie the institution, reflects the integrity and value of Army Aviation Officers in combat.

Although for the second time, Buschiazzo was able to remain silent in the face of danger, the start of the rescue operation was imminent before his insistent bid to be part of the mission. Mission very dangerous and unknown in the experience of the members of the army, being rescue tasks for which naval or prefectural airmen are prepared.

The takeoff at Puerto Argentino was at age 16 and the helicopter automatically disappeared in the fog. Only the sound of its turbines testified to its existence in the region.

As the helicopter flew to the southwest near Puerto Enriqueta, it was detected by the frigate's surveillance radar. "Sword". The data was quickly sent to the destroyer "Coventry". The next step was predictable. The Argentinian crew continued its flight along the coast, unaware that it had been detected and imagining only finding the shipwrecked in the middle of the fog of the Falklands.

They were still out of range of Coventry's weapons. They decided to wait for the Argentinean helicopter to approach their position. When they were at a distance of 13 nautical miles, the captain of the "Coventry" ordered to launch a Sea Dar missile on the Puma AE-505 of our flag.

Luck was not on our side that day because the missile reached our heroes in the air by sealing forever the life and delivery of the crew of the Puma AE-505. According to the official part published by "Coventry", the demolition took place at 16:07.

During the conflict, on May 25 precisely, the Argentinian air force settled our debt with the rescue teams and sent the frigate "Coventry" to the ground. The helicopter and its crew have never been found.

Buschiazzo, Fiorito and Di Motta remain on the spot as permanent sentinels of our inalienable sovereignty. It is an example of initiative, dedication to service, integrity, honor and moral values ​​that have always accompanied the Argentine soldier.

* The author is the chief of personnel of the aviation of the army