8th Air Brigade (Argentina)

The 8th Air Brigade was an Argentine Air Force brigade that existed between 1976 and 1988 based at the Mariano Moreno Airport near Buenos Aires. It was created upon the procurement of Mirage III fighter planes and fought during the Falklands War.

8th Air Brigade
VIII Brigada Aérea
Active5 January 1976
Disbanded7 March 1988
Country Argentina
BranchArgentine Air Force
TypeMilitary aviation
RoleFighter
Garrison/HQJosé C. Paz, Buenos Aires
EngagementsFalklands War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Atilio Triulzi
C. A. Corino
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Aircraft flown
InterceptorDassault Mirage IIIEA (10)
Dassault Mirage IIIDA (2)[1]

History

In 1970 Argentina bought 12 Mirage III interceptors. It was created the Mariano Moreno Squadron.

In 1973 it was established the Military Air Base Mariano Moreno, as the seat of the 1st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Then, in 1976 it was created the 8th (VIII) Air Brigade and the 8th Operations Group, later renamed the 8th Fighter Group.[2]

In 1988 Air Force deleted the 8th Fighter Group, and transferred the aircraft to the 6th Fighter Group, based in Tandil. The VIII Air Brigade was dissolved too.

Falklands War
Mirage IIIDA "I-001".

In 1982 the G8C was deployed to Patagonia, concentrating the Mirage Squadrons at the bases of Comodoro Rivadavia and Rio Gallegos.[1] They were to defend the mainland against possible British attacks by long-range Avro Vulcan bombers and carrier-borne Sea Harriers. The Mirages were armed with air-to-air missiles, two R-550 and one R-530 and equipped with two additional fuel tanks.

Pilots
Service record
Part of South Air Force
Commanders Major H. Paez
Major J. Sánchez
Operations 56 missions

Source[3]

  • Major José Sánchez.
  • Major Luna.
  • Captain G. Ballesteros.
  • Captain G. A. García Cuerva (dead).
  • Captain Ricardo González.
  • Captain Raúl Gambandé.
  • Captain Carlos Arnau.
  • Captain Marcos Czerwinski.
  • Captain Jorge Huck.
  • 1st Lieutenant Perona.
  • 1st Lieutenant Yebra.
  • 1st Lieutenant Marcelo Puig.
  • 1st Lieutenant Carlos Selles.
  • 1st Lieutenant Alberto Maggi.
  • 1st Lieutenant Bosich.

Order of battle
  • 8th Air Brigade.
    • 8th Fighter Group.
    • 8th Technical Group.
    • 8th Base Group.

References
  1. Alejandro Golpe. "Avions Marcel Dassault Mirage III". AMILARG (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. Santini, Luis (4 September 2012). "40 years of the Mirage in Argentina". 3040100 (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  3. Santini, Luis (19 April 2012). "8th Fighter Group – Mirage III". 3040100 (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 June 2018.
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