In cockpit A-10 Friendly fire video released.

[grassrootsflying]

That sucks, here's an excerpt from the story, the rest found in this link
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070206/...NlYwNtdm5ld3M-

LONDON - A leaked cockpit video published Tuesday captures a dramatic exchange between two American pilots whose voices choke up when they learn they have killed a British soldier in Iraq. "I'm going to be sick," one pilot says, later adding "we're in jail, dude."

Ever since the friendly fire incident nearly four years ago, the Pentagon has said the video was classified. That meant the footage could not be presented in open court during a British inquest into the death of Lance Cpl. Matty Hull, who was killed when at least one U.S. jet fired on his convoy in the southern city of Basra.

But after excerpts of the video were published in The Sun newspaper and the footage was widely broadcast, U.S. authorities agreed to release it for the inquest.

Neither pilot from the Boise, Idaho-based 190th Fighter Squadron was disciplined in the U.S. military's own investigation, which concluded the pilots "followed the procedures and processes for engaging targets," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Tuesday.

The leaking of the tape strained relations between the Department of Defense and their British counterparts, who were previously given a DVD of the classified video.

The dramatic cockpit video and recording begins with two pilots identifying a target and checking with ground control that there are no coalition troops in the area — to which ground control says, "That is an affirm. You are well clear of friendlies," according to the transcript released by The Sun.

Tempers flare between the two pilots, with one saying it looks like the prospective targets are carrying orange rockets. Coalition troops are often equipped with bright orange markers to identify them as friendly forces.

"I know what you're talking about!" the first pilot says, after asking about the location of the prospective targets.

"OK, well they got orange rockets on them," the second pilot says.

"Orange rockets?" the first pilot asks again, telling the other pilot they need to get back to base soon.

"I think killing these damn rocket launchers, it would be great," the second pilot says.

At least one of the U.S. A-10 jets opened fire on Hull's tank, which was part of a five-vehicle convoy engaged in combat outside Basra on March 28, 2003. Four other soldiers were wounded, including the convoy's leader, Capt. Alexander MacEwen.

Gunfire is heard. Minutes later they learn there are friendly forces in the area and that one person is dead and another is wounded

[Kristie]

http://www.jetcareers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=97

I'll move it for you!

[amorris311]

cruddy situation all around.

[JaceTheAce]

I saw that today on the news. Can't imagine how that guy must've felt. Just sad.

[surreal1221]

Tough one to swallow.

RIP

[Screaming_Emu]

must be absolutely the worst feeling in the world

[Doug Taylor]

One of the voices sounded familiar, we're talking REALLY familiar, but I read that it was the Idaho ANG so I knew it wasn't who it sounded like.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

One of the voices sounded familiar, we're talking REALLY familiar, but I read that it was the Idaho ANG so I knew it wasn't who it sounded like.

The same thought ran through my mind as well.

[Doug Taylor]

Glad I wasn't the only one!

I'm sitting there snacking on a subway sang'wich, MSNBC on in the background working on the 757 electrical system presentation and I about got sick when I heard the voice.

Hell, I even emailed that bonehead to see where he's disappeared to!

[JEP]

I know we had talked about friendly fire before and said individual kept saying how the final call had to be the pilots. Listening to the tape it sounded like the pilot was questioning a few indications but kept getting word that there were no friendlies in the area. Then was told to take care of it.

And then almost right after the hit it seems the info comes that there are friendlies in the area. I didn't see a time lapse, but if it was second for second, there was not much time.

[I_Money]

Very sad for those guys, I am sure they are great pilots, and cared deeply - sucks.

[MFT1Air]

Speaking from personal "friendly fire" experience, I hope they get over it, for it truly never goes away. You can rationalize/justify a bad situation over and over again in your mind, but truly it never goes away.

[SeanD]

I keep reading that this was a classified video that leaked onto Youtube. Can someone verify this?

[I_Money]

It came in via the Sun, British media behaves very differently than US - very free spirited really!

[fiveninerzero]

Originally Posted by SeanD

I keep reading that this was a classified video that leaked onto Youtube. Can someone verify this?

Usually stuff like this is classified Secret.

Apparently the Sun "acquired" it from where I do not know. The Sun is Britain's version of the National Enquirer.

[I_Money]

It is not quite like the national enquirer - it is classified as a mainstream paper, and not a tabloid.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by MFT1Air

Speaking from personal "friendly fire" experience, I hope they get over it, for it truly never goes away. You can rationalize/justify a bad situation over and over again in your mind, but truly it never goes away.

Nailed it on the head. So sad for the loss of life, but I really feel for the pilots in this situation. THe long-term pychological issues would be horrible.

[NickH]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XKDzTHvKRgw

Good to know that the British media has found an American who fit's our stereotype of you all, to represent you in this matter.