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Harrier 809: Britain’s Legendary Jump Jet and the Untold Story of the Falklands War

Rowland White

4.44 · Rating details · 186 ratings · 16 reviews

‘A military adventure, written with expertise…a tale of initiative,skill and courage, of pushing beyond the rules.’ The Spectator

April 1982. Argentina invades the Falkland Islands.

In response, Britain despatches a naval Task Force. Eight thousand miles from home, its fate hinges on just twenty Sea Harriers against the two hundred-strong might of the Argentine Air Force.

The ...more

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Hardcover, 512 pages

Published October 15th 2020 by Bantam Press

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Mar 03, 2021 John Lomnicki, rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Intriguing fast paced air war vignette

This is air war and overcoming details that plagued bad planning decisions that cost men their lives on both sides. It is a technical, yet human story that is actually exciting.

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Jan 12, 2021 Irwin Fletcher rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

I think I'm being kind of generous even giving this two stars but 1 seems a little harsh. I have never read a book in my life that had such an uneven focus and incomplete narrative. For starters this book assumes you've already read every book there is about the Falklands and want some supplemental material about the air war. The ground war is neglected to the point that I kept forgetting there even was one. I understand the focus of the book is on the Harriers (though not too focused as I'll ex I think I'm being kind of generous even giving this two stars but 1 seems a little harsh. I have never read a book in my life that had such an uneven focus and incomplete narrative. For starters this book assumes you've already read every book there is about the Falklands and want some supplemental material about the air war. The ground war is neglected to the point that I kept forgetting there even was one. I understand the focus of the book is on the Harriers (though not too focused as I'll explain) and it's not going to go into the finer points of the ground war but they don't even give you enough information about it to give the air war any context. I was a 1 year old American when the Falklands happened and went to school at a time where it wasn't old enough to really be history or new enough to be a current event... in America at least, so my knowledge was limited to something a saw on the History Channel probably 15 years ago and the Top Gear Patagonia special. I was hoping this book would remedy that, though it was focused on the air war I'd hopefully/probably get the broad strokes of the entire war but I had to do a lot of Google searches just to figure out what all was happening. The sinking of the Belgrano was barely mentioned and the only mention of the Argentine surrender or the end of the war at all was an offhand mention in one of the photo captions: "After the Argentine surrender on 14 June, HMS Hermes sailed close to the islands for the first time". I don't even know how or why they surrendered or how it came about, and after reading a book THIS size about the Falklands War that's pretty amazing.

If the author were just laser focused on the Harriers or 809 I could understand but a good 1/3 of this book could have been completely cut because it had nothing to do with the narrative or it just went nowhere. Like Operation Folklore, this operation and the people on the ground trying to make it happen plus the personnel whose names I had to learn all end up just not happening. It's like the second biggest focus for a good portion of the book then they just cancel it and I think they ended up spending the war on Easter Island or Hawaii or something. I can understand mentioning it but going into so much detail was pointless filler and it wasn't even that interesting. The author would rather talk about ANYTHING but the Falklands sometimes. He goes into the whole history of the Hurricat plane just because there's a similarity (in so much as it's similar to launching any plane from a carrier I suppose) to a proposed plan to launch one of the Harriers from Atlantic Conveyor... an operation which also doesn't happen. So I got the history of a WWII plane that has nothing to do with this and all for the sake of an operation that doesn't take place. Near the end he goes into more detail about Mike Tyson's 1981 Junior Olympic fights (just to compare him to the Sidewinder missile because I guess it was also dangerous or some crap) than the ground war and Belgrano combined. Those are just two examples, he covers a wide variety of topics that have nothing to do with it while ignoring so much that was not just relevant but vital to telling the story. While this guy was talking about everything under the sun he could have painted a more complete picture of what was going on. It's hard to care about the missions these guys are flying when it's not always clear why they're flying them. Oh it's a ground support mission? Supporting who doing what? I have no clue what happened on those islands except that overhead there were jets and out to sea there were boats.

And as others have mentioned, even the air war focus is kind of uneven. The title implies the focus is on the 809 but as I said it covers things like Operation FOLKLORE, various refueling efforts and just about anything a plane did in the war. It's only when they talk about the Harrier pilots that the focus is on 809. Which is kind of a weird focus given their late arrival but I'll admit their struggle to get operational and moving in time was extraordinary. However while the book focuses on the administrative work, training and new paint jobs being applied the Harrier pilots who were already in the fight take a backseat to everything. Which once again I could understand if it were focused solely on the 809 but they take a backseat to the Operation Folklore people who spent the war on some far off island.

Lastly though the author didn't make me care much for any of these people. With the exception of Tim Gedge and Ian North most of them are just names in a book with too many names to keep track of. It's all just very dry and more about airplane minutiae than the people who flew them or even the war they flew in. ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Dougie Brimson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: military

I should preface this review with a few facts. First, I'm an RAF veteran, second, I was on Ascension Island throughout the conflict and third, up to 1982 I served with the Harrier Force as part of 4 Sqn at RAF Gutersloh. In other words, I have some insight into both the events covered in the book and the world of the Harrier.

With that in mind, this book isn't about the RAF per se, and having read Vulcan 607 I approached it with some trepidation. It surely couldn't be that good could it? In all h ...more

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Mar 12, 2021 Roy Szweda rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: planes, war-modern

Hmm nominally finished, well, I got more than two-thirds in and I had a rest then this morning tried again… Tom can have his copy back. Sometimes, quite often in fact, I thought I was reading a racey novel the hyperbole just overwhelmed me. Modern non-fiction bookstore shelves are replete with these vox-pop treatments of wartime adventures and I suppose sales would confirm that market exists and maybe growing but it is not for me. Last month I had a go at Lancaster by an author who I had time fo ...more

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Feb 03, 2021 Brian rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book is fast paced and reads quickly. White is focused on telling the story and does not let this book get bogged down by analysis or other factors. There are some parts of this book that I enjoyed - White kept the book fast paced. I think his focus on 809 squadron was an interesting way to tell the larger story of the Fleet Air Arm's role in the Falklands War. I also appreciate that he worked to tell the story of the Argentine Air Force and Navy flyers.
In my view, there are also some drawb ...more

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Nov 10, 2020 Stuart rated it it was amazing

What a exciting and informative book this proved to be. Well written and well researched.

The information provided in relation to the operational level is intriguing. I always find the logistic element of any war interesting. The author provides a indepth insight into the planning and organization that went into 809sq and the wider task force. I loved all the information that was devoted to the Atlantic conveyer. As well highlighting the British task force shortcomings, of Radar, gun sights and ...more

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Feb 20, 2021 J R Boote rated it really liked it

I had already read Vulcan 607 and Into The Black by Rowland White so my decision to read his latest book was based on those two books which were excellent reads, Vulcan 607 being my favourite.
If you enjoy reading Rowland White's books, you won't be disappointed by Harrier 809 and you'll know what to expect. His books are well researched.
My only criticisms are that I had expected a bit more detail into the development of the Harrier in the first part of the book, and I had expected there to be a ...more

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Feb 18, 2021 Stephen Mercer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 03, 2021 Mark Milsom rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

First became of the book via the ‘We have ways’ Podcast and hearing Mr White talk about the conflict and the preparations to go to war. I found it absorbing and was completely astounded by some of the clandestine activity to ensure success. I would thoroughly recommend the book. It made me nostalgic for the days of the Sea Harrier and the GR3.

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Mar 15, 2021 DaveRed rated it it was amazing

Just brilliant . It is what I have come to expect from Rowland White . His books proudly sit on my bookshelf amongst titles by Hastings , Ambrose, Bishop, Arthur and Holland as an equal . Keep them coming .

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Feb 14, 2021 Gavin rated it it was amazing

A well written account of 809 getting to the war with some nice pictures included to compliment the text.

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Feb 21, 2021 Mark Polino rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, kindle-unlimited, 2021

Great book. Reads like thriller. It needed an improved timeline for specific events in greater narrative, but that’s a quibble.

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Dec 30, 2020 Andy Chase rated it it was amazing

An amazing book, as an ex RAF Officer I've served in the Falklands and read several books on the subject, this along with his previous work Vulcan 607 blurs the line between fact and fiction. It delivers a page turner that I was devastated to finish. Superb. ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Tom Watson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Excellent story of how the Falklands air war was won

I got this book to learn more about the air war over the Falklands that led to the British retaking the islands from Argentina. Its a really remarkable story of British ingenuity and grit that also characterizes great courage and creativity in solving huge logistic and operational issues. Written from the British point of view it gives great credit to the Argentinean airmen for the courage. White transitions from strategic to tactical to very p ...more

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Dec 15, 2020 Rick rated it it was amazing

Review 112 - Harrier 809 by Rowland White

This book is another fantastic book telling a true story about a Harrier jump jet squadron.

It is a bit slow to start, but this is because a lot of information is passed along setting up 809 squadron and introducing all of the people involved.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about another side of the Falklands War.

I've read several of this authors other books and have enjoyed them all.

I have one more book to read by him.

*****
5*
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ...more

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Nov 05, 2020 Terence Lionel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Awesome Book

Great Book it gave me a lit of information about the Falklands War I did not know and gave more information about the Argentines side. I wanted more about the movements of the Army troops. This book was a great technical read but the author made interesting.

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