Charges Expected to be Announced Today for F16 Pilots

[Hammer]

The investigations conducted by both American and Canadian officials regarding the accidental bombing of Canadian ground forces by American National Guard pilots finish and they are expected annouce what the 2 pilots will be charged with.

Link

 

[thedan]

I bloody well hope so. Was it the canadians in the wrong, or the bombs? Or the pilots?

 

[FrancesBeansRevenge]

Originally posted by: thedan
I bloody well hope so. Was it the canadians in the wrong, or the bombs? Or the pilots?

It was the trigger happy American pilot (a part-time National Guard soldier if I'm not mistaken) who ignored orders and protocol.
I am pleased that this incident wasn't swept under the carpet. Hopefully, this will help Canadians come to better terms with this tragic incident.
You can understand thier anger with thier first combat deaths since Korea coming at the hands of a cowboy in an F-16.

 

[Stark]

good. hopefully the pilot will never get in a cockpit again.

 

[Atrail]

I was wondering how strict they would they would be with these guys.
They charged the flight commander too. He didn't drop the bomb, but he should not have let that other pilot drop his bomb.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: FrancesBeansRevenge

Originally posted by: thedan
I bloody well hope so. Was it the canadians in the wrong, or the bombs? Or the pilots?

It was the trigger happy American pilot (a part-time National Guard soldier if I'm not mistaken) who ignored orders and protocol.
I am pleased that this incident wasn't swept under the carpet. Hopefully, this will help Canadians come to better terms with this tragic incident.
You can understand thier anger with thier first combat deaths since Korea coming at the hands of a cowboy in an F-16.

I'd be pissed too!! Nothing like a good streak being broken.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Atrail
I was wondering how strict they would they would be with these guys.
They charged the flight commander too. He didn't drop the bomb, but he should not have let that other pilot drop his bomb.

IIRC, the pilots were ordered not to fire, but they claimed self-defense and fired anyway. I don't know why the flight commander would be charged.

 

[Atrail]

Umbach, the lead pilot, would face charges of aiding and abetting Schmidt in the involuntary manslaughter, the official said. As lead pilot, he should have more forcefully intervened to stop Schmidt from dropping the bomb until confirmation of the target was received, the Air Force says.