Complex sentence: Eyewitnesses saw a MIG aircraft blown to pieces by a direct Terrier missile strike at only a few thousand yards; pieces of the virtually disintegrated MIG fell into the sea in view of the eyewitnesses (Commander Destroyer Squadron Nine staff).
Split into simpler sentences: Eyewitnesses saw a MIG aircraft blown to pieces by a direct Terrier missile strike at only a few thousand yards. Pieces of the virtually disintegrated MIG fell into the sea in view of the eyewitnesses (Commander Destroyer Squadron Nine staff).