Another rant from the Bearded One

[Auxtank]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

I´ve never seen anyone on here get at Ward on grounds of his flying skill nor his bravery in the FI War. it´s his mono-maniacal belief (which seems to get worse with age) that

a) only the FAA were there,

b) everyone else is an idiot at best and a danger to The Nation at worst

There's no balance, no discussion, no........... sensibility......

Absolutely this.
His bravery and flying skills were above and beyond; taking on Daggers and Mirages, outnumbered 3:1

[just another jocky]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

b) everyone else is an idiot at best and a danger to The Nation at worst

But specifically the RAF. He hates us with such a vengeance that it completely warps his viewpoint and thus makes it impossible to take him seriously. Even his own service folk disown his rantings and he seems only favoured by a few old mates.

Such a shame for one who was once so capable.

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by olster

What is it that attracts such animus

I am going to guess that this sentiment is RAF-centric, and that the FAA (Fleet Air Arm) vets may be less likely to get all up in arms over whatever Ward sends forth. (Granted, he seems to have an ax to grind with the RAF).

[Auxtank]

Nobody who's seen action in either the RAF or FAA has any axe to grind with one another. Apart from a few beers being chucked in messes and a piano or two being mercilessly burned to the ground, a flag being snatched from the stern, there is only quiet camaraderie.
And those in the know don't need to give a monkey's anyway.

Let's get this straight; the man is trying to sell his books.

[POBJOY]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

I am going to guess that this sentiment is RAF-centric, and that the FAA (Fleet Air Arm) vets may be less likely to get all up in arms over whatever Ward sends forth. (Granted, he seems to have an ax to grind with the RAF).

Except that he credits he RAF Harrier training scheme for training the SH pilots so well. I think his main beef is with the 'Political level Top Brass' not the drivers. He also seems to encompass the Navy system when he gets going. Lets face it, it does make for an 'entertaining' read' when you edit out the more extreme bits !!! Good value on ABE for a couuple of quid. He needs to drink more milk.

[Finningley Boy]

Originally Posted by just another jocky

But specifically the RAF. He hates us with such a vengeance that it completely warps his viewpoint and thus makes it impossible to take him seriously. Even his own service folk disown his rantings and he seems only favoured by a few old mates.

Such a shame for one who was once so capable.

This is the Golden Jackpot question with Sharkey, where does his, and other service veterans', from outside the RAF, animosity hale from? I believe he did some training early on with the RAF and possibly the UAS? Did some miserable old sweat of a QFI give him a wrap over the knuckles unduly perhaps?

FB

[FODPlod]

I suspect his resentment stems mainly from the near demise of FAA fixed wing being predicated on the RAF being able to provided global air cover for the Fleet when quite clearly it couldn't/didn't, particularly during the nasty business involving the heavy loss of ships and sailors in 1982. Landing the odd bomb on the runway at Stanley provided little consolation.

[Finningley Boy]

Originally Posted by FODPlod

I suspect his resentment stems mainly from the near demise of FAA fixed wing being predicated on the RAF being able to provided global air cover for the Fleet when quite clearly it couldn't/didn't, particularly during the nasty business involving the heavy loss of ships and sailors in 1982. Landing the odd bomb on the runway at Stanley provided little consolation.

Indeed FODPlod, in fact the RAF didn't get what it was angling for at the time which was for the Government to refrain from scrapping the F-111 and other bits and pieces. The defence review of 1966 was classic case of pitting each of the three services against one another, the idea being they would destroy each other's case, this ploy always works as governments do not hold any real brief for defence spending. This time around of course we have a government advisor at the helm! Incredible.

FB

[Asturias56]

It's his lack of balance that puts me off - - and he seems to get worse with age

It's very sad

[SOX80]

I have some sympathy for Sharkey Ward for the following reason:

His Son was a Navy Harrier pilot (and a very fine chap for those who knew him).
His Son effectively 'lost his job' when the Harrier was culled, a decision that many in the Navy blamed on the RAF.
His Son went on to fly for Jet 2 but took his own life on 15 Nov 2018.

I do not pretend to know the reasons behind this but as a father myself I can only imagine the effect that such an event would have on someone.

[charliegolf]

Originally Posted by SOX80

I have some sympathy for Sharkey Ward for the following reason:

His Son was a Navy Harrier pilot (and a very fine chap for those who knew him).
His Son effectively 'lost his job' when the Harrier was culled, a decision that many in the Navy blamed on the RAF.
His Son went on to fly for Jet 2 but took his own life on 15 Nov 2018.

I do not pretend to know the reasons behind this but as a father myself I can only imagine the effect that such an event would have on someone.

Very fair points, but Sharkey's anti-RAF rancour can be traced officially to his first book; and probably predates the Falklands War by years.

CG

[Bill Macgillivray]

Finningley Boy

I was Sharkey's QFI and Flt. Cdr. at Linton when we still did the basic flying training (JP 3&4) for the RN. He was a Lt. and thus the senior student and course leader. Never a problem - in fact he used to save me a lot of time and effort in the way he managed his course. A first class student who took any advice/critiscm as it was meant. A great guy in the late '60's certainly!

Bill

[FODPlod]

Originally Posted by charliegolf

Very fair points, but Sharkey's anti-RAF rancour can be traced officially to his first book; and probably predates the Falklands War by years.
CG

Yes, possibly as far back as the 1966 Defence Review which saw the cancellation of CVA-01, the planned ‘full fat’ replacement for the RN’s rapidly ageing aircraft carriers, in favour of RAF global coverage. He had already joined the RN and this was just two years before he qualified as a fixed wing pilot. In his eyes, the losses of ships and sailors to aerial attack in the Falklands no doubt demonstrated the tragic folly of this decision.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_D...Defence_Budget

[Finningley Boy]

Originally Posted by Bill Macgillivray

Finningley Boy

I was Sharkey's QFI and Flt. Cdr. at Linton when we still did the basic flying training (JP 3&4) for the RN. He was a Lt. and thus the senior student and course leader. Never a problem - in fact he used to save me a lot of time and effort in the way he managed his course. A first class student who took any advice/critiscm as it was meant. A great guy in the late '60's certainly!

Bill

Indeed Sir, I hope I didn't come across as overly flippant, I suspect as many are posting now that his enmity toward the light blue began during the inter-service conflict provoked by Healy's quest for heavy defence cuts to help pay for the planned expansion in public expenditure. The RAF's consolation prize, the F-111, for dipping out on the TSR2, was lost when the government did what they assured all they wouldn't do, devalue the pound. Aimed at improving export orders thus helping to balance the books, always a forlorn hope, instead achieved what was certain, a much less favourable exchange rate with the dollar price of an F-111 being much higher. Hence, the cancellation announced in January 1968. You'll of course recall the RAF abandoned Geilenkirchen at the same time, and after only just pulling out of our commitment to Aden. So there's the smoking gun for Sharkey's fury at the junior service.

FB

[alfred_the_great]

And whilst I bow to no-one in thinking Sharky has turned into a tiresome bore about this all, there is a small percentage of the RAF who continue behaviour that sustains the fires.

Only recently the (attempted) behaviours of a RAF 2* was enough for an Army 3* to give him a “cease and desist” order over his attitude to the F-35 programme*. That kind of thing poisons the well for everyone, but against that, said RAF 2* is reportedly loathed by most of his own Service and MoD MB...


*The individual concerned wasn’t in the F-35 programme BTW.

[Finningley Boy]

Originally Posted by alfred_the_great

And whilst I bow to no-one in thinking Sharky has turned into a tiresome bore about this all, there is a small percentage of the RAF who continue behaviour that sustains the fires.

Only recently the (attempted) behaviours of a RAF 2* was enough for an Army 3* to give him a “cease and desist” order over his attitude to the F-35 programme*. That kind of thing poisons the well for everyone, but against that, said RAF 2* is reportedly loathed by most of his own Service and MoD MB...


*The individual concerned wasn’t in the F-35 programme BTW.

This isn't the F-35A versus the F-35B argument again is it? From the RAF perspective, the A is the only choice. For the Navy....

FB

[alfred_the_great]

Originally Posted by Finningley Boy

This isn't the F-35A versus the F-35B argument again is it? From the RAF perspective, the A is the only choice. For the Navy....

FB

No, dickwaddery of the highest order about something else by someone sticking their oar in. Indeed, my understanding is that it pissed off the Lightning Force just as much as NCHQ.

And in all likelihood it was done deliberately just to muddy the waters...

[sandiego89]

Originally Posted by ExAscoteer2

What is telling for me is that, if you read his Combat Report of the C-130 shoot down (and I did before I first deployed onto 1312 Flt), and then read the 801 NAS Official History, and then read his account in 'Sea Harrier Over The Falklands', all 3 accounts differ.

What is the gist of the 3 differing accounts? I have only read the one in Sea Harrier over the Falklands, which I seem to recall as a report from a ship of a blip on the radar screen, Sharky instantly turning to intercept, ID, AIM-9 and cannon fire. Thank you.

I did enjoy the book immensely by the way (and other books from those that were there). Each provides a unique perspective, and personalities and perceptions do creep more into some accounts more than others.

[Treble one]

Wasn't he on CAP when BB1 was inbound to the FI, and they (in the Vulcan) didn't acknowledge his greeting to them? Its surely not something a simple as that?

[Willard Whyte]

Originally Posted by Finningley Boy

This isn't the F-35A versus the F-35B argument again is it? From the RAF perspective, the A is the only choice. For the Navy....

FB

... C

probably