The Death of Lieutenant Nick Taylor over Goose Green
On 4 May 1982, the British invaders launched an air strike against the Pucará aircraft stationed at Cóndor Military Air Base near Goose Green. The mission ended in tragedy for the attackers. Argentine anti-aircraft artillery proved highly effective, while troops on the ground concentrated their small-arms fire on the incoming aircraft. Two of the three Sea Harriers were shot down.
The first to fall was Lieutenant Nick Taylor, flying Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ450. An eyewitness later recalled:
“Sea Harrier No. 2, flown by Lieutenant Taylor, came in almost directly behind No. 1. I then saw a burst of black smoke erupt from it, followed by red flames. It banked to the left and struck the ground on the left-hand side of the field beside the runway, producing a spectacular mushroom cloud.”
Lieutenant Taylor’s remains were subsequently recovered by Argentine servicemen, who gave him a Christian burial with full military honours. He still rests at Darwin, in the place where the Argentine forces laid him to rest.