Moving swiftly along!
The combat between Steve Thomas and Sharkey Ward against Donadille. Senn and Piuma on 21 May 1982 has thrown up some significant discrepancies.
Sharkey and Steve were on a CAP orientated east/west over the middle of West Falkland Island at about 3000 feet.
On the westbound leg with Steve to the north and Sharkey to the south they initiated a parallel turn to the right to the east.
As Steve passed about north he conducted (as was his habit) a roll over to check his belly.
Passing directly underneath him he saw two Mirage V's in echelon port.
This was Donadille (the leader) now in echelon port because he had seen the CAP and called a break to the right and Senn his wingman to the right (Now in the lead geometrically)
Steve turns hard right and shoots Donadille and, quickly, Senn.
Now here is the really interesting bit.
On the run in the Argentinean No.3 was apparently to the north. (Piuma)
After Steve had shot his two targets he rolled out in approximately left battle on Sharkey at which stage Piuma was seen to fly RIGHT TO LEFT in front of Sharkey and subsequently got shot!
Both Donadille and Piuma claim to have shot at SHARS at various moments during the combat with their 30mm cannons.
I will try to publish the geometry from Donadille (which is amazingly detailed considering he was the first to be splashed) and you can compare it to Sharkey's account which seems to bear absolutely no relation at all to the accounts of Steve and the Argentineans.
Having read Sharkey's book it is hard to see how he could have done a 360 and still remained in contact with the fight. Yes, the SHAR could easily accelerate to 600 knots plus at low level but against a target doing 520kts?
ES