Did helicopter pilot Prince Andrew, Duke of York, (aka Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor or, simply, HRH The Duke of York), see much “frontline” military action during the Falklands War? By frontline, I’m talking about a direct military combat role, or perhaps even support role. At the time, he was stationed on the light aircraft carrier HMS invincible.
Is there any indication that he was shielded from a more active role that other pilots might have been engaged in?
As I remember it at the time (could dig out cites but then so could you), he was engaged in active service, and his COs paid lip service, at least, to him being treated as a normal officer.
Here’s Wiki on the subject.
None that I’ve ever seen. The Falklands was a pretty precarious military operation at the end of a supply line several thousand miles long, I doubt there was any option of shielding a helicopter pilot.
Considering that the aircraft carriers in a strike force are considered frontline combat units in any naval context I can think of, everyone aboard would be doing “frontline” service. OTOH they are not in the same risk position as Marines landing.
Sounds like his primary billets were ASW/picket – trolling for subs, providing a “high” POV beyond the range of the surface vessels to look out for the other fleet, and “missile decoy” most likely meaning Electronic Warfare radar spoofing to confuse incomings, making the Exocet “see” ships where they aren’t. Over “blue” water, Argentine Naval Aviation and Air Force were mostly hunting for ships, and the Argentine Navy’s oceangoing fleet (which was not at a high state of readiness to begin with) was effectively neutralized early on, so it would not be the same kinds of danger as flying Marines/SAS into a hot LZ where you may be in range of AAA; but still bona-fide missions that do involve a risk of casualty and if opposing forces were mounting an attack from the direction he’s patrolling, he’s be in a tough spot.
IANAP, but I think flying helicopters off a carrier in the South Atlantic would be considered a risky job by most sane people, never mind in the middle of a war. Plenty of people have been killed on helicopters in the North Sea oilfields, which is not nearly so tricky.
On the other hand, this sort of thing is why aristocrats have always bred a lot - there’s a reason for the ‘heir and spare’ approach.
IIRC he was less involved in agressive action, I remember hearing about him flying evacuation missions. So he was certainly in the frontline and at risk.
This site details his military career - could I venture that if he wasn’t good at what he did he wouldn’t have served for over 20 years?
I’d also suggest that his not partaking in actual attacks was as concerned with preserving his use for post conflict diplomacy (with potential economic payoff) as with not getting a royal prince’s shot out of the sky. Andrew with his career and Anne with her stint in the Olympic Equestrian team have seen more of ‘real life’ and being treated as a ‘real person’ than "poor old"Charles ever could/will.
Sorry if I’ve strayed off the point but there we are.
That’s rather uncharitable considering that Prince Charles is known to occasionally post on the SDMB.
It wasn’t anything about sex with goats, I hope - his mom would flip.
You mean his Ma’am surely 
Okay, this is a trapeze act.