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A piss poor paper written by someone no longer taken seriously in the corridors of power.

Originally Posted by Purple_twiglet

A piss poor paper written by someone no longer taken seriously in the corridors of power.

Don't sit on the fence - say what you really mean.

Even as a non Wafu, I can see that parts of it are valid.

Originally Posted by Purple_twiglet

A piss poor paper written by someone no longer taken seriously in the corridors of power.

maybe so ..but that not matters a jot, you or your likes could never hold a candle to him, he has done it and got the tee shirt, to prove it. Dont diss the pilot, he has more balls than you will ever have....rant over

Yeah; and he's not massively embittered at all now, is he.....??

Purple Twiglet is bang on the money - Ward is veiwed as a deranged old idiot by the elders and betters. And he did a good job in a wartime environment in the Falklands you say?? There are 20 year olds doing exactly the same day in day out in Garmsir right now, and I don't notice any snivelling, sycophantic, toadying, hero-worship heading their way.................

Shame really, because someone who could have been an icon for the FAA has now ended up embarrassing it. Have you seen "The Phoenix Think Tank" - second rate bilge at best. After about 4 months anyone with a star or more quietly slid away, leaving Sharkey and his buddy Alexander Clarke looking like the pair of f**kwits that some might allege they are..........

Whoops! As I said, I'm no Wafu - I just thought it seemed like a reasonable argument. Looks like we are going to get one now! I have NO idea who Sharkey Ward is or was - enlightenment?

"maybe so ..but that not matters a jot, you or your likes could never hold a candle to him, he has done it and got the tee shirt, to prove it. Dont diss the pilot, he has more balls than you will ever have....rant over"

Scouse - you are entitled to your opinion. I'll merely say that I've been on enough operations, and been under hostile fire enough times, and been working on foot outside the wire enough times to feel that I've got my own tee shirt thanks. I would also suggest that there are thousands of matelots and marines serving today who can say the same thing.


Sonar - Sharkey Ward is a fighter pilot who did a good job in the Falklands. He later wrote a book which portrayed his war, and made him quite a few enemies. He has squandered his legacy as a talented and brave fighter pilot on a increasingly futile quest to make the Navy do what he wants. His efforts to push the harrier cause have increasingly made him a figure of ridicule, and his association with well respected Admirals is damaging both their reputations. He is unable to write objective assessments, and his seething hatred of anything light blue means he is merely a figure of mockery now among those still serving. The reputation he had has been squandered for little tangible result.

Have to agree with PT's previous comment.

It is a new Navy now and what has now become Sharkeys 'rants' are not convincing anyone. The future is in the hands of the present aviators not the past. No one will argue that Sharkey put on an admirable display of flying ability and bravery 30 years ago but that was then. The F35 is not the Harrier nor ever will be.

Uh - OK!

Now, as an aside, several years ago on an exped, I actually met and dived with a Harrier jock called Sharkey. He was somewhat disabled (ejection?). Could this be the same guy?