missions that may have been heroic but made zero difference in the
outcome of the war?

So what do you think of the "Black Buck" missions in the Falklands war
from that standpoint? Definitely a tour de force of planning and
airmanship, but what was their result on the fight?

Some say they had little effect in terms of their ostensible goals
such as runway denial, but caused Argentina to hold back forces to
defend their mainland. Or is that just a popular misconception?

I might add, speaking in general rather than about Black Buck, that
making zero difference on the outcome is not at all the same as making
zero difference in the path to that outcome. Causing a war to end
sooner or later, with more or less casualties, is definitely on the
table when discussing these things, I should think.

Cheers,
--Joe