Wessex SAM attack

[Kingfisher]

Does anyone have any info on the incident on July 19th 1991, when the IRA fired an SA-7 'Strela' missile at an RAF Wessex in Kinawley, Co Fermanagh? Did the pilot receive any award or commendation for evading the missile?

Thanks for the help.

[Oldduffer]

May I suggest you post this on pprune.org, in the military aviation thread. There you might find a man who goes by the nom de plume of 'teeteringhead' and he is probably able to give you the answer or at least know somebody who is willing to say.

As to the pilot (and his crewman) they received a free change of nether garments!

'nuff said.

[wwrsimon]

A Google search brings up a quote on Google Books from the book Aptitude for Destruction by Brian A. Johnson, Volume 2, who quotes from Toby Harnden's book Bandit Country:

"The only known deployment of a SAM-7 in Northern Ireland was against a Wessex at Kinawley on the County Fermanagh border in July 10991; the missile failed to lock on to the helicopter and exploded on the ground."

Regards

Simon

[Kingfisher]

Thanks for the help, guys. Very useful.