The aircraft, 2-AS-23, made its final operational flight, landing on the runway and performing its characteristic wing folding. This took place during a ceremony at the Comandante Espora Naval Air Base, in the presence of the highest naval authorities.
Commander Espora – Yesterday afternoon, an emotional ceremony took place marking the final operational flight of the S-2T Turbo Tracker aircraft belonging to the Anti-Submarine Naval Air Squadron. It was held at the parade ground of the Commander Espora Naval Air Base (BACE).
The ceremony was presided over by the Chief of the General Staff of the Navy, Admiral Carlos María Allievi; accompanied by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Navy, Vice Admiral Marcelo Ricardo Flamini; the Commander of Training and Readiness of the Navy, Rear Admiral Gustavo Fabián Lioi Pombo; and the Commander of Naval Aviation, Rear Admiral Román Olivero.
Also in attendance were military and civilian personnel serving in locations dependent on the BACE and the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base (BNPB), Malvinas War Veterans, retired personnel belonging to the squadron, family members, and special guests.
After the authorities entered, a historical overview of the Turbo Tracker class aircraft was read. These aircraft arrived in the country in two stages. The first group, Class A aircraft, arrived on May 31, 1962, aboard the aircraft carrier ARA “Independencia.” In 1978, six Tracker “E” aircraft were added, expanding the squadron’s operational capacity.
Because they had superior technologies for the time, these aircraft were deployed to the south of the national territory in support of the operations conducted in the Beagle Channel during 1982, under the command of then Lieutenant Commander Héctor Skare.
When mentioning task force 80.2.2.1, to which the aircraft belonged, four units of the naval air component flew over the ceremonial device: a Beechcraft B-200, a P-3 Orion, the S-2T Turbo Tracker, and a T-34 Turbo Mentor.
“In 1993, a significant technological leap for the 2-AS-23 took place when it became the first of its kind to be sent to Israel for modification according to the ‘TATA’ project (turbinating of the Argentine Tracker aircraft). Since then, the Turbo Tracker has continued training crews, participating in joint and combined exercises, operating in support of Fleet units, conducting anti-submarine and surface patrol operations, maritime patrol flights beyond the 200-mile limit, and SAR patrols over waters under national jurisdiction,” thus concluding the historical overview.
At the end of the speech, the 2-AS-23 Turbo Tracker finally made its last flight, landing on the runway and performing its characteristic wing folding maneuver, before joining the ceremony. Its final crew disembarked: Captain (Ret.) Juan José Membrana, Commander Fernando Spoglia, Lieutenant Commander Norberto Baumgartner, and Chief Petty Officer Leandro Núñez.
The military personnel presented themselves to Admiral Allievi to inform him that it was the unit’s last flight, receiving a “Bravo Zulu” from the highest naval command.
Later, the Commander of the Anti-Submarine Naval Air Squadron, Lieutenant Commander Baumgartner, stated: “It is difficult to summarize in a few words so much history since the first folding of our wings on Argentine soil (…) We have just been privileged witnesses to the last operational flight of the S-2T Turbo Tracker aircraft. For reasons only God knows, it is the 2-AS-23, the last of those that since 1962 arrived at our naval air bases of Punta Indio and Comandante Espora.”
In his speech he mentioned the milestones that marked the squadron, including its participation in the Falklands War, and highlighted the importance of having a Falklands War Veteran like Captain Membrana, who served as a pilot during the conflict, as part of that latest crew.
In closing, he expressed his gratitude to the squadron’s civilian and military mechanics, the pilots, and the Argentine Navy’s superiors. However, his most significant expression of gratitude was: “To you, dear Grumman Tracker in all your versions, this AS-23 proudly represents, with this landing, our affection for your nobility. Thank you for watching over us, forgiving our mistakes, and returning us, with the help of our Lord, to our homes.”
The ceremony concluded with the performance of the Navy March by the BNPB Music Band.