Inquest told of 'rogue' US attack on British convoy

[magellan]

Mods/Admins, I'm reposting this because the original was deleted from GD, I'm guessing for sourcing Prison Planet. The story is on the Guardian, London Times and BBC sites as noted.

Inquest told of 'rogue' US attack on British convoy

Matthew Taylor
Wednesday January 31, 2007
The Guardian

A group of British soldiers yesterday described their frantic attempts to stop an attack on their convoy by "rogue" US warplanes that left one dead and four injured.

Oxfordshire coroner's court heard that two US A10 planes opened fire on a patrol in southern Iraq in March 2003, killing Lance Corporal of Horse Mattie Hull three days before his 26th birthday.

snip...

" could not contact the US pilots because they had switched frequencies and were talking to each other."

Soldiers in the five-vehicle convoy released smoke canisters to identify them to friendly pilots. The smoke was visible as one of the planes returned at low level and attacked a second time.

more... http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2002479,00.html

See also http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2575509,00.html

A video from the A10 gunship appears to be in the hands of the MoD: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6318565.stm

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Update: MoD refuses coroner's video plea

A cockpit video recorded in Iraq will not be played at a hearing despite a coroner's attack on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for withholding evidence.

Coroner Andrew Walker demanded the footage be available for the inquest into the death of 25-year-old Lance Corporal Matty Hull from Berkshire. ]
...
The barrister for the defence for the MoD said it had not been possible to get permission from the Americans to lift its classified status.

The BBC has learned that the video was only given to the coroner this week
...
The MoD was further criticised by the family of L/Cpl Hull's family who had previously been told "categorically" there was no such evidence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6323289.stm

[malaise]

2. I have no sympathy for the Brits

hang out with dogs, catch fleas.

[magellan]

3. Thanks, I was looking for that

Hubby told me about it. The MoD is protecting the US instead of helping get to the bottom of L/Cpl Hull's death by releasing the video to the inquest. I can't begin to imagine the betrayal his family must be feeling. There's simply no excuse good enough.

[magellan]

4. kick

[seemslikeadream]

5. Thanks

good thing you found another source