Just finished this incredible story near 400 pages of it. Read it & you will not want to put it down. Known as "Mr Harrier".
Sharkey Ward commanded 801 Squadron on the Invincible. Immense controversy with the Flag on Hermes. Admiral Woodward being a Submariner did not understand the Harrier's capability. Ward did. A few months before the Falklands he & his partner were challenged by the US Airforce to a dual in the F-5e which is faster than the Harrier. In the Shar Ward had four kills to none. His partner 3 to 1.
Then they took on the F-15 two against two. The Shars won 7 to 1.
Read about the Vulcan. He slates, not the Vulcan, but sending it down to the Falklands. One bomb on the runway hole filled next day. From memory it took 139,000 gallons of aviation fuel with all the tankers. As he says the myth is that the raid detered the Argentinians as they feared the Vulcan bombing their country. As Ward points out they had good radar on the mainland which would have spotted the Vulcan miles away. It only needed two of their Migs which have downed the Vulcan in quick time.
Sharkey Wards Squadron used the Shar's Radar to its absolute limit. 800 Squadron in Hermes had little idea of its capabilities. A lot was down to 801's ground crew who not only serviced the sets but provided with their own ingenuity answers to problems which arose with the sets. Hermes sent out 3 caps, 6 aircraft to look for approaching enemy aircraft believe it or not with their eyes. Ward was able to sanitize (from memory) 3000 square miles on his radar in seconds.
So a controversial exciting book. One of the best that I have read. Just finished for the third time.
Laurie
Sharkey Ward commanded 801 Squadron on the Invincible. Immense controversy with the Flag on Hermes. Admiral Woodward being a Submariner did not understand the Harrier's capability. Ward did. A few months before the Falklands he & his partner were challenged by the US Airforce to a dual in the F-5e which is faster than the Harrier. In the Shar Ward had four kills to none. His partner 3 to 1.
Then they took on the F-15 two against two. The Shars won 7 to 1.
Read about the Vulcan. He slates, not the Vulcan, but sending it down to the Falklands. One bomb on the runway hole filled next day. From memory it took 139,000 gallons of aviation fuel with all the tankers. As he says the myth is that the raid detered the Argentinians as they feared the Vulcan bombing their country. As Ward points out they had good radar on the mainland which would have spotted the Vulcan miles away. It only needed two of their Migs which have downed the Vulcan in quick time.
Sharkey Wards Squadron used the Shar's Radar to its absolute limit. 800 Squadron in Hermes had little idea of its capabilities. A lot was down to 801's ground crew who not only serviced the sets but provided with their own ingenuity answers to problems which arose with the sets. Hermes sent out 3 caps, 6 aircraft to look for approaching enemy aircraft believe it or not with their eyes. Ward was able to sanitize (from memory) 3000 square miles on his radar in seconds.
So a controversial exciting book. One of the best that I have read. Just finished for the third time.
Laurie