1988 British Army Lynx shootdown

Since 1976, after a relentless series of roadside bombings and ambushes on military convoys, the British Army declared the area of South Armagh, roughly below a line stretching from Newtownhamilton to Newry, out of limits for military vehicles. Some exceptions were made, such as undercover civilian-type vehicles or, in certain occasions when heavy equipment or materials should be transported, lorries had to move through a series of checkpoints to reach their destination safely. Therefore, all military movement and resupply missions across South Armagh had to be carried out by helicopter. This decision bore criticism from both politicians and military officers, since this gave the IRA de…

On 23 June 1988, Army Air Corps Lynx helicopter XZ664 departed from the British barracks at Crossmaglen toward its base at Bessbrook Mill. The pilot was Royal Navy Lieutenant David Richardson, attached to the Army Air Corps 665 sq. Meanwhile, a 12-man strong IRA unit, hidden in the slopes of Aughanduff Mountain and armed with two DShK heavy machine guns, three M60 machine guns and AK-47 assault rifles waited for the Lynx, aware of the route usually taken by the helicopters coming in from Crossmaglen. At 12:55, some five kilometres from Silverbridge, as they approached the 234-metre high hill where the IRA men had taken positions, the aircraft was hit by 15 armour-piercing and incendiary…