More nonsense from Nigel - who has written a new book!
My slightly more serious hypothesis about Sharkey:
He's one of those people who is his job. His job is gone, both in SHAR and retirement/career terms, and he can't let it go. He was an accomplished, brave, committed fighter pilot who doesn't see the bigger picture- he was a big fish in a tiny pond locally; but (like everyone else here who served) only a little cog in the big scheme of things. That's demonstrated by his one-dimensional whining about the RAF/carriers/Navy etc.
CG
He's one of those people who is his job. His job is gone, both in SHAR and retirement/career terms, and he can't let it go. He was an accomplished, brave, committed fighter pilot who doesn't see the bigger picture- he was a big fish in a tiny pond locally; but (like everyone else here who served) only a little cog in the big scheme of things. That's demonstrated by his one-dimensional whining about the RAF/carriers/Navy etc.
CG
Seems particularly graceless in the week that hard work by RN and RAF personnel have seen QNLZ and her crew declared trained and safe to conduct carrier strike operations. Perhaps some (maybe understandable) bitterness that a world he once dominated now goes on without him?
His naivety and narrow outlook is astounding for someone who reached the rank of Commander.
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Ward claims that “all air to air kills by British forces since 1948 have been achieved by naval aircraft – not one by RAF aircraft
Sorry, Vendee just noticed you got there first!
Last edited by Legalapproach; 24th Jun 2020 at 16:06. Reason: Acknowledging Vendee got that one in first!
Its all very very sad- someone coming across his mad raving & ranting now will just pigeon hole him forever as a bitter and twisted nut case. he was better than that once..............
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When was that? He was virulently and vituperatively anti-RAF (and anti-800, and anti-anything that wasn;t him or his) even before his first book.
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Let’s be a weeny bit fair. He’s not the only somewhat peculiar individual on the block.
Anyone here ever worked for/with AJCB? Or a few other rather strange personalities? At my retirement interview, taking redundancy, I mentioned a few to my AOC, who replied “Oh, you had drawn a few short straws”. I declined to mention he was on the list!
Anyone here ever worked for/with AJCB? Or a few other rather strange personalities? At my retirement interview, taking redundancy, I mentioned a few to my AOC, who replied “Oh, you had drawn a few short straws”. I declined to mention he was on the list!
he was better than that once.....
"All the air to air combat kills were achieved by naval aircraft (indeed, it is worthy of note that all air to air kills by British forces since 1948 have been achieved by naval aircraft – not one by RAF aircraft
I was his QFI/Flt. Cdr. at Linton (JP's) in the late 60's when we had RN courses. He was the course leader (Lt. RN) and I found him one of the most competent students going ! What happened since then I have little idea, but did meet up again briefly in mid -70's at MOD, and he still seemed the same reasonable guy that I remembered. (Maybe it is my fault !!)
Bill
Bill
Met him at Deci during ACMI. Seemed a reasonable chap, but he spun some yarn about RM (or Para?) having shot dead some mercenaries they discovered in some hut on the Falklands...
He didn't show any antipathy towards the RAF at the time.
He didn't show any antipathy towards the RAF at the time.
If you ask the standard person on the street about the Falklands,
a) they’ll say that the Vulcan raid was the most important part of the air war. They’ll not even know there was more than 1.
b) they’ll say that the RAF Harriers were brilliant. (They’ll have no idea Fleet Air Arm exists, all flying things are RAF right?)
c) They’ll say we lost all those ships because the French gave the Argentinians the codes to launch Exocet.
(I’ve not even checked if it’s true, I’ve been told it so any times, I’ve presumed that’s how it was reported at the time)
Do a a straw poll of any friends who have not served and this will be what they say, I guarantee it!
i think that’s all Mr Ward is grumpy about.
a) they’ll say that the Vulcan raid was the most important part of the air war. They’ll not even know there was more than 1.
b) they’ll say that the RAF Harriers were brilliant. (They’ll have no idea Fleet Air Arm exists, all flying things are RAF right?)
c) They’ll say we lost all those ships because the French gave the Argentinians the codes to launch Exocet.
(I’ve not even checked if it’s true, I’ve been told it so any times, I’ve presumed that’s how it was reported at the time)
Do a a straw poll of any friends who have not served and this will be what they say, I guarantee it!
i think that’s all Mr Ward is grumpy about.