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<i>Marine Blamed For Friendly Fire
Associated Press
March 30, 2004


WASHINGTON - On the Iraq war's deadliest day for American troops, March 23, 2003, as many as 10 Marines were killed by U.S. airstrikes ordered by a Marine air controller who mistook their vehicles for enemy forces, according to an investigation report released Monday.

The lengthy investigation recommended "appropriate administrative or disciplinary action" against the air controller and left it to the Marine Corps to decide what specific action to take.

The investigators determined that the A-10 pilots acted appropriately under the circumstances.

Eighteen Marines were killed in the fighting that day around the city of Nasiriyah, of which investigators said they could be certain that eight were killed by hostile fire. They could not conclusively state how many of the 10 others were killed by the mistaken U.S. airstrikes.

"The intensity of enemy fire, combined with friendly fire, makes it impossible to conclusively determine the exact sequence and source of fires that killed the other 10 Marines," the report said.

That same day, four days after the invasion began, 11 Army soldiers were killed when the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed after taking a wrong turn in Nasiriyah. U.S. forces also mistakenly shot down a British Tornado fighter jet that day, killing the two British pilots.

Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of Central Command, wrote in a memorandum attached to the investigation report that gun camera tapes which recorded the attacks on the Marines by the Air Force A-10 planes were not preserved for investigators, even though it was clear a probe would be called for. The lack of video evidence "did hamper investigative efforts," he wrote.

Family members of the Marines killed and wounded in the incident were briefed on the investigation's results over the weekend and on Monday.

The Marines who were attacked were members of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. They had taken control of a bridge on the northern edge of Nasiriyah - a mission that was key to opening an attack route for the main body of Marines driving toward Baghdad.

The investigators found "communications problems throughout the battalion." While under heavy fire from Iraqi artillery, rocket propelled grenades, mortars and small arms, Charlie Company requested close air support, and two A-10 attack planes responded to the call, the report said.

The Marine forward air controller who was southeast of the bridge cleared the A-10s to fire on vehicles north of the bridge, not realizing they were Charlie Company vehicles. The attack planes made multiple strikes until they were eventually told to cease fire.






</i>

Whatdya think the odds are that the jarheads that shot their mouth off here will come back and appologize now?

Glad i wasn't one of those poor bastards though.

"US Snipers, Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

IT WAS A BAD DAY.

BUT EVEN WITH THE REPORT SNIPE,I DONT THINK THAT THEY'LL EVER CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TOO AND THEY BELIEVE IT WAS THE A-10'S.

AS FAR AS THE CONTROLLER,HE'S GOING TO HAVE THAT ON HIM THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
THATS ENOUGH PUSHIMENT.

PRESS TO TEST

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Errr...

I posted this the day before yesterday in a thread titled "Report Details 'Friendly Fire' Casualties"

Cheers! M2

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
IT WAS A BAD DAY.

BUT EVEN WITH THE REPORT SNIPE,I DONT THINK THAT THEY'LL EVER CHANGE THEIR MINDS.
YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TOO AND THEY BELIEVE IT WAS THE A-10'S.

AS FAR AS THE CONTROLLER,HE'S GOING TO HAVE THAT ON HIM THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
THATS ENOUGH PUSHIMENT.

PRESS TO TEST
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Very true...its sad...as the "Fog of war" always is...

<img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/70th.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/Mav_shot.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/25.jpg" border=0>

_________________

accidents happen and the Marine who called in the strike will no doubt have plenty of memories every time he sees or hears mention of Marines an A-10 or even Iraq.

BUT the guy/gal that hosed the gun camera tapes should be dealt with severly, in the civie world that's tampering with evidence!

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
accidents happen and the Marine who called in the strike will no doubt have plenty of memories every time he sees or hears mention of Marines an A-10 or even Iraq.

<b>BUT the guy/gal that hosed the gun camera tapes should be dealt with severly, in the civie world that's tampering with evidence!</b>

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Do you honestly think this is the first time that's happened? Not saying it's right, but I thought I heard the same thing happened during the first gulf war & A-10 friendly fire....

<img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/70th.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/Mav_shot.jpg" border=0><img src="http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v70/prkiii/25.jpg" border=0>

_________________

Boomer is right...that shouldn't happen.

Ever.

"US Snipers, Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

I think some folks need to remember the conversation that took place quite a while ago on this same subject.

Hopefully those that inserted foot into mouth without knowing all the facts first learn from this thread:

http://forum.a-10.org/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3737

According to Air2Mudd vehicles look like specs at attack altitude, which i bought into then.

Sniper pods though....they'd be nice.

An IFF system, ANYTHING.

This does happen entirely too much, yes?

"US Snipers, Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

Thunderstruck

Thanks for the link, but that was one UGLY thread! Understandably, though, considering that the topic is also one ugly subject! Having not been there, I will defer any judgment to those who know/have the facts. I would just wish someone would come up with an effective way to put to an end these ugly fratricide events! Being at NATO right now, I am badgered (STS) by my UK buds on the constant problem we have not only in joint but also combined ops. There has to be a way to fix this, and instead of spending money on high-tech helicopters and more do-all pointy nose jets, the big guns should make this priority #1.

Sorry for the soapbox comments, but I hate to see the loss of any friendlies, either in combat, accidents, training, auto crashes, whatever. My condolences to the families of those lost, and to the Marine captain who has to live with this for the rest of his life. I am sure he was doing his best, and what he believed was right, when things went horribly wrong.

Let's all hope and pray it never happens again!

Cheers! M2

Snipe have you seen the IFF beacon for vehicles they are testing? I saw it in AvWeek a week or so ago. It's about the size of 2 ciggie packs, but it has to be lit up with a RADAR so it still wouldent help the HogFlyers.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

Edited by - boomer on Mar 31 2004 9:30 PM

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

No, havn't seen it yet.

It's about damned time though.

I mean IR beacons, IFF, something.

"US Snipers, Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

this is the article:
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>World News Roundup
Radar Tag Designed To Reduce Battlefield Fratricide
Aviation Week & Space Technology
03/15/2004, page 18


This autumn, the U.S. Army will demonstrate a radar tag system that promises to greatly reduce battlefield fratricide incidents involving aircraft-delivered weapons.

Developed by Sandia National Laboratories, the radar tag sensor--dubbed "Athena" by the Army--is a normally passive (nontransmitting) device mounted on tanks and other ground vehicles. When a fighter or bomber radar "paints" a tagged vehicle, the sensor attaches a bit of data to radar pulses being reflected back to their source. A distinctive icon presented on the aircraft's radar display tells a pilot where friendly forces are located, significantly improving situational awareness.

"Generally, the radar will be nearly as accurate in locating a moving tag as it would be in locating any other moving object," said Sandia engineer Lars Wells. Tests have confirmed the tag works with various aircraft types, although a radar software patch is required.

Early development of the Athena was sparked by the Energy Dept., which was researching ways to track weapons-related equipment and materials as part of its nonproliferation efforts. But with battlefield fratricide incidents historically accounting for 10-15% of all wartime casualties, it was a natural for tracking friendly forces, as well. An initial demonstration for the Army in January 2003 led to additional development last year to refine the system.

The current project is sponsored by the Army's Communication Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, which will showcase the tag's performance during a large exercise this fall.

Sandia officials believe tag systems can be produced for about $1,000 each via partnerships, enabling most Army vehicles--and perhaps every soldier--to be equipped. So far, Sierra Monolithics and General Atomics have been working with Sandia as industrial partners.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us". George Orwell

Fighting For Justice With Brains Of Steel !
<img src="http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/atengun2X.GIF" border=0>

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

God i hope it works.

"It should come as a surprise only to the fools among the men of our generation that we liked war."

Major V. 'Popski' Poniakov, British LRG, WWII