Sharkey Ward has got a blog

[FODPlod]

The IWM has some interesting photos including:

A Royal Navy Wessex Mk V helicopter from HMS ALBION carries stores ashore for men of 42 Commando on 25 November 1967. At this stage ships and aircraft of the Naval Task Force were assembled off Aden in preparation for the withdrawal which took place in the following week.

The departure of the High Commissioner of Aden, Sir Humphrey Trevelyan, from Khormaksar on 28 November 1967. The Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, Admiral Le Fanu, is seen in the foreground

A Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft of 800 Naval Air Squadron from HMS EAGLE on patrol over Aden and Khormaksar airfield, during the withdrawal of British troops on 29 November 1967

(So it seems that Sharkey was right. )

A British Westland Wessex helicopter of 848 Naval Air Squadron disembarks a party of Royal Marine commandos on an aircraft carrier off Aden.

The last British soldier to leave Aden: Lieutenant Colonel 'Dai' Morgan, Commanding Officer of 42 Royal Marine Commando, pictured as he arrived on board HMS ALBION by Wasp helicopter shortly after 3pm on 29 November 1967

Sad that the IWM categorises a Royal Marine as a 'soldier'.

[John Botwood]

The Paras "Leaving ofAden"

Throughout the day planes of the airlift shuttled through the runway as naval aircraft patrolled high above and helicopters prowled the perimeter wire. By afternoon the last planeload of Argylls was gone. Just before sunset, figures came out of the saltpans from the direction of Sheik Othman and swarmed at the far end of the runway like an apparition in the heat haze.

They had cut the perimeter wire and come through trailing rifles. More than five hundred dusted off their red berets, formed ranks of eight abreast and marched straight down the runway. A patrolling helicopter dipped in salute.A middle-aged RAF man, dressed only in tropical shorts, stood on the tarmac watching, tears of pride streaming down his face.

The First Paras, young veterans of eight hundred terrorist assaults with rockets, mortars, grenades and machine-guns in the Sheik Othman hell-hole, came out of the harsh saltpan positions they called the Pennine Chain. They were smart and proud as on passing out parade. A thin line of green-bereted men of 42 Commando had relieved them in the discomfort of their Pennine Chain line. The battalion commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Walsh, marched at their head. He explained,'We wanted to show that three months of tedious duty holding a quiet line sincewe pulled back from Sheik Othman has not made us in the least slipshod.'

General Sir Philip Tower, himself a para, took the salute. He told them,' You have lived up to the standards set by your predecessors at Arnhem. You have stuck out months and months in horrible conditions.'The First Paras had captured one hundred and twenty-eight terrorists, lost three killed and twenty-five wounded. They were flow nhomeward in a continuous stream of RAF transport planes that landed and took off through all that night.

Just wanted to remind us, as to what was happening on the ground.

JohnB

[Herod]

For some real horror stories of what went on on the ground, check out the day that the local army mutinied. I don't have the exact date to hand, but a search for "Mad Mitch" and "Entry into Crater" will put you in the right direction. We RAF aircrew had it easy; the Army and the Marines were in a pretty nasty hole.

[MAINJAFAD]

An RAF chum of mine from the 60s, Al Curtis, left the mob and ended up with the Navy via elsewher. I think he was one of the Harrier pair that departed and then dissapeared for unknown reasons

Does anyone have any knowledge of his contribution prior to the dissapearing act or the circumstances of it

He got a kill on 1st May as well (2nd Bomber Group Canberra with a 9 Lima) if memory serves.

[Mogwi]

Just found your thread!

I was in that area a few hours previously and the weather was pants. Sc from 2000 down to sea fog. I bottomed out at 50 ft looking for a surface contact without seeing the sea. Al was flying with John Eyton-Jones and went to investigate a "surface contact" and they were not seen again.

Possibilities:

Shot down by "surface contact". V unlikely and never claimed.
Mid-air collision in ****e cloud. Possible.
Both flew into sea in ****e vis. Also possible.

Take your pick. Most unfortunate loss of two top blokes.

[Tengah Type]

Prior to jumping ship to join the RNZ Navy Al Curtis was a co-pilot on 55 Sqn, flying Victor K1A Tankers, in 1967-69. An absolute gentleman.

[SASless]

Does the RAF really just see the Army as something to be transported about the place? Surely the Army does serve some other purpose however slight.

[The Helpful Stacker]

Does the RAF really just see the Army as something to be transported about the place? Surely the Army does serve some other purpose however slight.

It works both ways, with some in the Army regarding the RAF as only being there to transport them about the place. I say some though because in both organisations (and to an extent in the the RN too), at the level of those who do the work, such dated views of each other's roles are disappearing fast.

But if you want to carry on trying to stir feel free.

[SASless]

A true statement that exposes the truth is stirring? That it goes both ways....makes it all the worse.

Now that the Harrier is gone....where does the Army get its Tactical Air Support from? The Dutch and Canadians?

[Samuel]

Prior to jumping ship to join the RNZ Navy Al Curtis was a co-pilot on 55 Sqn, flying Victor K1A Tankers, in 1967-69. An absolute gentleman.

All very true except he was Flt Lt Al Curtis RNZAF.

[just another jocky]

Originally Posted by SASless

A true statement that exposes the truth is stirring? That it goes both ways....makes it all the worse.

Now that the Harrier is gone....where does the Army get its Tactical Air Support from? The Dutch and Canadians?

The RAF have been providing CAS in Afg since we arrived in theatre, and continue to do so today.

Though I suspect you already knew that.

[Haraka]

Airlift

I always remember a lecture from the "Towers" in the late 60's regarding Army requests for airlift ( in the M.E.). Communication had reached a nadir, with the RAF itself judging what it considered the Army needed. So the Army requested twice what it wanted, with the R.A.F supplying half of what was demanded . Fortunately common-sense eventually prevailed with the incoming local air commander getting off his butt and visiting his ground bound contemporaries.
Working "Purple" for most of my (abbreviated) time , it was a lesson I never forgot.

[Bob Viking]

Jointery

Let's all grow up a little shall we peeps? It seems to me that it is only on the hallowed pages of PPrune that people still think the services are incapable of working together. There are good and bad people in each branch of the UK forces (and I'm sure in all nations) but I think we do a pretty good job of all playing nicely nowadays. Let me go on record as saying (as an RAF type) that our Navy and Army are both extremely capable and effective forces. What the guys are doing in the 'Stan should make us proud, not argue about who is doing the better job.
Each of the services has a distinct role in modern warfare and carries it out bloody well. It's only the crusty old dinosaurs who hark back to the old days who think that problems still exist. Guys like Sharkey do himself no favours by commenting on modern issues based on opinions formed over 30 years ago. Some folks on here need to be careful they don't start to sound like him.
Lastly SASless I have to add that, despite your obvious experience and usually sound judgment the following:

"Does the RAF really just see the Army as something to be transported about the place? Surely the Army does serve some other purpose however slight."

I'm afraid that two open ended questions does not constitute a statement. It really does just come across as sh1t stirring I'm afraid. Though that can be fun too.
BV

[Herod]

Re the Army's attitude to helicopter airlift, one of the problems we faced back in the sixties was their likening the Wessex to a three-ton lorry. If there was space, fill it up; no real understanding of the effect of weight on performance. I have to admit though that it did get better with time, especially when the crewman simply off-loaded the excess: with a large boot if it was troops!

[CoffmanStarter]

If it's good enough for our Rocks ... It's good enough for the Pongos

[Courtney Mil]

My favourite is the BB's rant about getting down to the Falklands for the 30th. He even wrote to the Minister about how awful it was he and others couldn't guarantee to get there via "Transport Command". Obviously the RAF should kick operational personnel off the flights to make way for the star of the show. I suspect his real reason was that all his bitter venom over the years might have made him doubt the reception he might of received onboard. Assuming they let him onboard.

Oh, and a very convincing peice that mentions the Tornado "F1/F3". Credible stuff, Sharky.

[Rossian]

Re Herod's remark...

....I remember being lectured in a corner of the bar at Obberammergau by a German army colonel.

"The problem with you air force guys is you think a helicopter is an aeroplane. it isn't, it's a TRUCK!!"

A non meeting of minds it seemed.

The Ancient Mariner

[CoffmanStarter]

Similar story ... Army Officer referred to helicopters as "MT Air"

[LadyV]

Alan Curtis

Hi everyone,


I am the daughter of Alan's wife (and his daughter is my sister), I am trying to gather together information about him as my sister never met her dad and I feel that after all this time it would be nice for her to have some stories of him. If anyone has any pictures, stories or anything that they would like to share I would be very grateful.


Thanks
Lady V

[Flugzeug A]

‘Sharkey’ Ward’s website...

Just come across this via another post.
I have no Military or aviation experience , I’m just a civvie who likes flying things but I’m fascinated!
Is he self proclaimed ‘Mr Sea Harrier’ and ‘Her Majesty’s top gun’ or did someone else dub him that?
Are both correct?
Did he shoot down the most enemy aircraft in the Falklands?
WHAT did he shoot down in the Falklands?
I’m trying to read a sense of humour into the little I’ve read so far on his site but can’t find much , is that just me?
Why does he appear to hate the RAF so much?
Asking here as there are 2 sides to every story , I love discussion & it’s possibly more balanced than simply Googling it.
Thanks.