April 02, 1982

With the help of airpower, Argentina invades and captures the Falkland Islands, a British crown colony. On May 4, an Argentine airplane sinks the British destroyer HMS Sheffield with an Exocet missile. Argentine aircraft sink three more British ships, including two frigates and a destroyer, before British forces prevail, aided by land and carrier-based aircraft. On June 14, the last Argentine forces surrender to British troops in the Falklands.