From Collino we created this website with the purpose of supporting and giving visibility to a project we consider part of our history and collective memory.
Mission Owen – Purpose
“Mission Owen” is the project for the repatriation, restoration, and subsequent exhibition in an Interactive Museum of the emblematic aircraft Aermacchi MB 339 4-A-115, which Lt. (VGM) Owen Guillermo Crippa used on May 21, 1982, to attack the British fleet on his own.
The main goal of Mission Owen is to keep alive the memory of the Falkland Islands, promote reflection and patriotic feeling, in favor of national sovereignty and peace.
It is a private endeavor, led by Crippa himself and a group of tenacious collaborators who worked tirelessly to bring the aircraft back to Argentine soil—finally achieved on Friday, January 24, 2025.
The recovered aircraft was assembled by professional technicians from the Argentine Navy, pending completion of its original equipment.
In parallel, the construction of an Interactive Museum is being planned, to be located at one of the entrances to the city of Sunchales. It will be the aircraft’s permanent home and one of the country’s main landmarks to remember the Malvinas campaign, honor the memory of the heroes, and serve as a place for training, information, and recreation for the entire community.
It will be a space for exhibiting the aircraft, promoting interactive activities via virtual platforms and simulators, organizing talks and related conferences, fostering social and recreational activities, pilot training, generating memorial landmarks, and integrating harmoniously with the urban landscape and National Route 34.
Funding is being generated through donations and voluntary contributions.
Owen Guillermo Crippa
Lt. (RE) VGM Owen Guillermo Crippa (Sarmiento, Santa Fe; January 27, 1951) is a naval aviator of the Argentine Navy. He fought in the Falklands War in 1982, serving as a pilot in the First Naval Attack Squadron.
He flew the “Aermacchi MB-339 A4-115” trainer and light attack aircraft. He is renowned for his action on May 21, 1982, when he detected and attacked—alone—the British Task Force disembarking in San Carlos Water.
Crippa attacked the HMS Argonaut with rockets and cannons, disabling its communications systems. He escaped flying at low altitude among all the British ships and, after evading a missile, returned to jot down the exact position of each ship on his knee pad.
For his performance, he received the Cross for Heroic Valor in Combat, the highest decoration awarded by the Argentine Republic.
More than forty years after that feat, Crippa—together with the entire Mission Owen team—managed to repatriate the aircraft to exhibit it in an Interactive Museum in Sunchales.
Aermacchi MB-339 4-A-115
The Aermacchi MB-339 is a jet military trainer and light attack aircraft built by the Italian company Alenia Aermacchi. It was developed as a replacement for the Aermacchi MB-326.
The Argentine Navy was the first foreign user of the MB-326GB, purchasing a batch of eight aircraft in 1969. In 1980, COAN ordered ten MB-339A as advanced trainers and light attack aircraft.
During the Falklands War, six were deployed in Port Stanley. Along with Turbo-Mentor and Pucará aircraft, they were the only jets operating from the islands.
Other Aermacchis operated from mainland bases such as Almirante Zar, Bahía Blanca, and Río Grande.
On May 21, Owen Crippa aboard 4-A-115 carried out a solo attack on the British fleet. He hit HMS Argonaut, and his heroic act earned him the Cross for Valor in Combat.
The aircraft was later sold to the U.S., and after decades of effort, it was repatriated by Mission Owen.
Historic Event – May 24, 2025
May 24, 2025 marked a historic milestone when the Aermacchi MB-339 4-A-115 finally returned home. This moment represented not only the culmination of years of effort and dedication, but also a tangible symbol of our historical memory and national sovereignty.
The ceremony was attended by naval authorities, war veterans, families, and the entire Sunchales community, who gathered to witness this historic moment. The event symbolizes the unwavering commitment to the memory of our heroes and the cause of the Falklands.
Mission Owen – Film
Owen Crippa Interactive Museum
The Owen Crippa Interactive Museum will be a cutting-edge architectural work that combines history, technology, and education in a unique space. Designed to blend harmoniously with the urban landscape, the building will be located in Sunchales, on National Route 34 in the section known as Vicente Cipolatti.
Exterior View
Modern façade with large windows that allow the Aermacchi to be seen from outside, integrating with the Route 34 landscape.
Main Hangar
Climate-controlled central space with permanent LED lighting where the Aermacchi MB-339 will be showcased in all its magnificence.
Simulators Room
Interactive area equipped with state-of-the-art flight simulators and virtual reality technology for immersive experiences.
Auditorium
Space for 150 people for conferences, documentaries, and educational events about the history of the Falklands.
Memorial
Area dedicated to honoring the memory of all Falklands heroes, with commemorative plaques and spaces for reflection.
Night View
The museum will feature architectural lighting that will make it a 24/7 visible beacon, a permanent symbol of our memory.
The architectural design prioritizes functionality, universal accessibility, and environmental sustainability. It will have solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy efficiency technologies, making it a model of responsible construction.
Its mission is to preserve the memory of the Falklands, honor our heroes, and promote values of sovereignty and peace. It will be a space for the exhibition of the aircraft, interactive activities with simulators, educational conferences, social areas, memorial landmarks, and pilot training.
Your support gives us wings!
Donate and send the receipt by email or by scanning the code.
MISION.OWEN is a savings account of the Sunchales Aero Club.
misionowen@gmail.com
Alias: MISION.OWEN
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