Page "Operation Black Buck" Paragraph 38

This mission, again flown by Squadron Leader Neil McDougall in XM597, attacked and destroyed a Skyguard fire-control radar of the army's 601 Anti-aircraft battalion on 3 June, killing four radar operators, an officer, a sergeant and two privates.

On its return flight the aircraft was forced to divert to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil after its in-flight refuelling probe broke.

One of the missiles it was carrying was ditched into the ocean to reduce drag, but the other remained stuck on the pylon and could not be released.

Sensitive documents containing classified information were jettisoned into the sea via the crew hatch, and a " Mayday " signal was sent.

The aircraft was cleared to land by Brazilian authorities with less than 2, 000 lbs of fuel remaining, not enough to complete a circuit of the airport.