I established a Buccaneer Ops Centre within the AHQ at Episcopi and manned it myself becoming what the Royal Navy call a “Long Day man!” That left the senior Buccaneer flight commander with the crews and aircraft at Akrotiri to be responsible for the leadership of the flying side of the operation. At the Ops Centre desk at Episcopi, the communicators quickly installed two HF networks, one to CTF60 and another to ComBritForLeb. The new comms plan encompassed the entire sortie profiles of the Buccaneers. I despatched a 208 flt cdr, Dutch Holland, to the USS Iwo Jima as an Air Liaison Officer but he soon transferred to the Dwight D Eisenhower where he could be more effective as part of the Carrier Task Force staff. To replace him amongst the flying crews, I called for an overland Pavespike designation expert to join us from RAF Germany. Enter Norman Browne! By now, the detachment could mount “show the flag” sorties across Beirut as per Likely Action 1. The aim was to demonstrate to BritForLeb in the block of flats that air support was on hand if required. The crews were to overfly the city ensuring at least 2 passes across the block of flats. The Liaison Officer’s work with CTF60 guaranteed deconfliction with both the USN fixed wing traffic and their helicopters.
Buccaneer 1981 - 1984 (5)
The Four Likely Actions were:
1 Show of Strength. *
2 Reaction to Attack (Bombardment). *
3 Immediate Defence.
4 Reaction to Attack on Multinational Force. *
* Actions 1, 2 and 4 required Ministerial Approval.
Amongst the staff at AHQ Episcopi, there was no expertise or experience in the tasking and direction of Buccaneer operations. The Air Cdr’s request for an Air Support Operations Cell to task the Buccaneers had been refused. Another major issue was CTF60, the American Carrier Force sitting off Beirut. Effective tasking of the Buccaneers and skilful co-ordination with the CTF60 air traffic were crucial. Our Buccaneer Detachment List of things to do was quite long but quite urgent. Our priority tasks were:
- Establish an ASOC even if it was with “single” or “digital” manning.
- Decide on communications requirements and draw up a comms plan.
- Identify a suitably experienced Buccaneer Air Liaison Officer to be with CTF60 aboard either Dwight D Eisenhower or Iwo Jima.
- Begin planning ROE 1 sorties for showing the flag.
- Brief the Forward Air Controller who was about to join BritForLeb in the block of flats in Beirut.
- Develop a Concept of Operations for all sorties under the ROEs.
