Río Gallegos Air Base

Río Gallegos Air Base is a main military airfield in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina in the far south of the nation.

Río Gallegos Air Base
Base Aérea Militar Río Gallegos
Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz in Argentina
Río Gallegos AB is located in Argentina
Río Gallegos AB
Río Gallegos AB
Coordinates51°36′27″S 69°19′05″W / 51.6075°S 69.318°W / -51.6075; -69.318 (Río Gallegos AB)
TypeArgentine Air Force Base
Site information
OwnerArgentina
OperatorArgentine Air Force
Site history
BuiltJune 24, 1952 (1952-06-24)
In use1952 – present
FateOperational

It was the nearest air base to the Falklands Islands in the 1982 war.

History

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It opened in June 1952.[1]

Falklands War

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Ernesto Horacio Crespo, the head of the F.A.S, coordinated attacks on the islands from the base, which was 380 miles to the west of the Falklands Islands.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Anniversary[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Times Monday May 24 1982, page 1
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