Product Description

Sharkey Ward commanded 801 Naval Air Squadron, HMS Invincible, was senior Sea Harrier adviser to the Command, flew over sixty missions and was awarded DSC. Yet had he followed all his instructions to the letter, Britain might well have lost the Falklands War. HIs dramatic first-hand story of the air war in the South Atlantic is also an extraordinary, outspoken account of inter-Service rivalries, bureaucratic interference, and dangerous ignorance of the realities of air combat among many senior commanders. As Sharkey Ward reveals, the 801 pilots were fighting not just the enemy, exhaustion, and the hostile weather, but also the prejudice and ignorance of their own side.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25778 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Navy News
"the definitive account of the battle above the South Atlantic islands"

Review
"the definitive account of the battle above the South Atlantic islands" (Navy News )

About the Author
Nigel David Ward was born in Canada of 'RAF' parents in 1943 and joined the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as an Officer Cadet in 1962. After Basic Flying Training he completed his Fleet Air Arm training on Hunters and Sea Vixens before joining 892 Naval Air Squadron in 1969, where he flew the F-4K Phantom from the deck of the HMS Ark Royal. A qualified Air Warfare Instructor, he worked at the Ministry of Defence and in 1981 took command of 801 Naval Air Squadron in HMS Invincible. Commander Ward holds the Air Force Cross for services to maritime VSTOL aviation and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross in the Falklands Honours List.

Customer Reviews

A must for anyone interested in air combat or the Falklands
I read this book years ago and I dont agree with some other reviews slating Sharkey Ward for being arrogant and spoiling the book. This book is about the Sea Harrier, its operations in the Falklands war and the views of the man known as "Mr Sea Harrier". What you get is interesting insight into the development of this marvellous aircraft, the preparations undergone by pilots sailing to the Falklands, air operations during the war and the immediate aftermath. This a warts and all kind of a book. The behaviour of some parties was not up to scratch and the author makes no bones about it but does support opinions with facts. Was it right to think of court martialling a pilot for being shot down by a SAM? Was it right to have the air patrols at 10-15,000ft when attack aircraft were coming in on the deck? Was the RAF determined not to be "left out"? Sharkey gives his views on these. This book is great - you feel your are sat with this great fighter pilot listening to him talk. It is clearly his view on that aircraft in that war.

Cdr Ward
I served at RNAS Yeovilton where Cdr Ward was based with 801sqn. He had assumed almost legendary status even prior to the publication of this book. It was very apparent that if you wished to learn about the role of the SHAR his was the voice to listen to. This book is the voice of reason in an otherwise politically correct world. As a fighter pilot you HAVE to tell it as it is. This book does just that warts and all. A must read for any student of the Falklands war or modern air warfare.

brilliant story of a true fighter pilot's war
I couldn't put this down! It is a great read. Sharkey puts his spirit and his passion into this book, as he must have done into his flying and fighting.
He delivers some great knocking copy against the RAF, so I bought Vulcan 607 too in the interests of balance. Sharkey goes to some length to knock the RAF's efforts in the Falklands - the Vulcan raids used up so much fuel to very little effect, but he does miss the point that the RAF's mission was as political and strategic as well as military. Also, he appears to have felt that the Royal Navy, the FAA, and the Sea Harrier didn't get enough respect before during and after the war. I hope that isn't true. From what I recall, the Navy played the major role, the Harrier was highly vaunted and the sailors and airmen regarded as heroes, and rightly so.

This book isn't pure history, but an excellent memoir from a true fighter pilot hero. Nice one Sharkey, and thank you for all you have done for you Country.