It must have been a secret because only now the “Fénix” asks me to do this painting. I was surprised by the ASTUCIA of this plot. Without doubt only human imagination can limit the use of Air Power.
To the enemy radar the eco of a Lear Jet is very similar to those of a SUE or A-4B. Pretending to be fighter bombers the “Fenix” Squadron Lears pretended to be in flight refuelling and then descended towards the enemy fleet thus forcing the Harriers to fly towards them to intercept the “Super Etendrard”, “A-4B” or “A-4C” . Once they were below the radar lobe they would turn around at full speed to return while the British were looking for them.
This ruse forced the British fighters to burn fuel while the actual fighter-bombers carried out their attack.
Painting: 11-may-82. NorEast of Isla de los Estados the planes flying to be plotted as incoming SUE by the radar of the British Task Force.
The Escuadrón Fénix (Phoenix Squadron) operated civilian aircraft including Learjets and Boeing 707s on reconnaissance, decoy and logistics missions during the Malvinas War of 1982. Decoy missions aimed to divert the attention of Royal Navy radars and fighters, protecting the FAA’s attack aircraft. Exequiel Martínez was one of the first artists to document these secret missions that for years remained largely unknown. See more works on the Phoenix Squadron and the Malvinas War.
The Escuadrón Fénix missions in the Malvinas War are part of the untold history of the war. Civilian and military pilots who voluntarily flew in combat zones in aircraft not designed for combat. The art of Exequiel Martínez rescues these heroic missions from oblivion and makes them accessible to new generations.
The Phoenix Squadron’s decoy missions required pilots to fly unarmed civilian aircraft into areas monitored by Royal Navy radar, drawing attention away from the FAA attack jets. These were among the most dangerous and selfless missions of the entire conflict. Exequiel Martínez dedicates several works to this unit, ensuring that their sacrifice and ingenuity are remembered alongside the more celebrated combat missions of the Malvinas War.