RAF aircraft 'shot down by US Patriot missile'
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news report 
Sunday March 23, 2003 09:47
by friendly fire
Evidence suggests a missing British air force aircraft returning from an operation in the Gulf was shot down earlier today by a US Patriot missile battery, a British military official said. There was no immediate news of whether the crew survived, and the Ministry of Defence said they were missing. Group Captain Al Lockwood, a spokesman for British forces in the Gulf, said the aircraft may have been shot down over Kuwait in an apparent incident of friendly fire.
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6Group Captain Al Lockwood, spokesman for British forces in the Gulf, told Sky News that evidence suggested the plane was engaged by a US Patriot missile battery in an apparent incident of so-called friendly fire.
He said: "We try hard to keep friendly fire incidents to a minimum and we'll be very keen to investigate this with our US colleagues to find out exactly what went wrong."
US soldier held after Kuwait grenade attacks kill comrade and injure 13
By Donald Macintyre at US central command, Qatar, Andy McSmith and John Lichfield
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=389924
Basra is cut off but 'guerrillas' slow allied use of key harbour
Hundreds of Iraqi soldiers have surrendered, but others are shedding their uniforms to take on British forces in the streets of Umm Qasr
By Andrew Buncombe in Kuwait City
23 March 2003
British forces spearheading the battle for Basra were hoping last night that Iraq's second city would fall without great bloodshed.
But while hundreds of Iraqi troops surrendered on the outskirts, and some were reported to have applauded the invading armies, others were putting up fierce resistance. US Marines were engaged in what they described as a "major battle" west of the city, and at least three were reported wounded.
Plumes of black smoke engulfed the city as Iraqi troops set fire to at least six oil wells in the vast oilfields around Basra. The British forces managed to secure most of them before they could be set alight.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=389902
Give that Patriot a Purple Heart.
As Canadians will be happy to point out these days, the American attitude toward friendly fire incidents is pretty much, "Bummer, Dude. You got in our way."
American bomber pilots killed four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and the US has decided courts martial will not be necessary.
The Canadian families, and for the matter most of Canada, is outraged.
Easy to understand why Canada wisely said, "We'll pass," on Mr Shrub's excellent Adventure.
Hey there Mr. Tidbit no sour grapes please ....
The Americans have already apologised and described the incident as "absolutely terrible" and very sad .... as yet no indication of anyone being under the influence of amphetamines has come to light ....
US ambassador to UK describes incident as 'absolutely terrible'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,920358,00.html
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