Investigation Summary
On February 17, 1978, a Royal Green Jackets observation post near Jonesborough was engaged in a heavy gun battle with a Provisional IRA unit positioned along the March Wall near the Irish border. Lieutenant Colonel Ian Corden-Lloyd, along with Captain Philip Schofield and Sergeant Ives, took off in Gazelle XX404 from Bessbrook Mill to assess the tactical situation and provide support to the ground troops. The Gazelle was escorted by a Westland Scout helicopter carrying an Airborne Reaction Force. As the Gazelle hovered over the engagement zone, it was targeted by IRA volunteers using small arms, including an M60 machine gun, receiving a barrage of 7.62 mm tracer rounds. To evade the incoming fire, the pilot executed a high-speed turn, during which he lost control of the aircraft. According to witnesses in the escorting Scout, the Gazelle hit the ground twice, its rotor blades striking the soil on the second impact, before cartwheeling across the field. The aircraft struck a wall and came to rest on its right side approximately 2 kilometers from Jonesborough. Although the pilot survived the impact due to his flight helmet, Corden-Lloyd was killed, and the two other passengers were injured. The incident occurred on the same day as the La Mon restaurant bombing, which largely displaced the crash from contemporary news headlines.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the crash was caused by the pilot losing control of the aircraft while conducting high-speed evasive maneuvers under fire. Although the British Army initially downplayed claims that the helicopter had been shot down because no direct bullet strikes were found on the wreckage, they eventually acknowledged that the IRA's ground fire was the direct cause of the maneuvers that led to the loss of control and subsequent crash.
Video Analysis
IRAs South Armagh unit shoot down a British Army Gazelle — Historical overview of the 17 February 1978 incident where a British Army Gazelle (XX404) crashed near Jonesborough while evading IRA ground fire.
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Systems & Failure Modes
Aérospatiale Gazelle
A light scout helicopter that had recently replaced the aging Bell H-13 Sioux in British Army service for reconnaissance missions.
M60 Machine Gun
A powerful machine gun recently acquired by the IRA, which was reportedly used to target the helicopter during the engagement.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Westland Gazelle AH1, serial number XX404, MSN 1336.
- 02Lieutenant Colonel Ian Corden-Lloyd was a former SAS officer and was posthumously mentioned in despatches.
- 03The IRA unit involved was part of the South Armagh Brigade.
- 04The pilot remained trapped in the wreckage but survived the crash.
- 05The incident was overshadowed by the La Mon restaurant bombing, which killed 12 civilians on the same day.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Tactical Flight Profile Review
Following the loss of XX404, the British Army Air Corps reviewed low-level tactical maneuvering procedures under fire, emphasizing the risks of high-speed turns at low altitudes which could lead to loss of control or ground impact before mechanical failure occurs.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Dispute over 'Shootdown' Classification
Reference ↗The British Army initially denied the IRA's claim that the helicopter was shot down, citing a lack of bullet holes in the wreckage, before later admitting the crash was caused by the IRA's actions.