Michael Yon

[ORAC]

An excellent blog piece, as usual, but very bleak.

Sgt Godsmack vs. Nazar (http://www.michaelyon-online.com/sergeant-godsmack-vs.-nazar.htm)

[glojo]

Thank you very much for supplying the link. A well wrote article that will stimulate debate from all sides..

It has left me thinking about the sense of having a Red Cross on the sides of our helicopters?

Question
If the aircraft mounts any type of weapon then should it have these markings?

If any of the aircrew fire a weapon from the aircraft should it display those markings?

These are questions on a forum where hopefully we have those that have walked the walk and can now talk the talk. I am NOT saying these aircraft should not mount weapons.

I am NOT suggesting the crew should not defend themselves, I am asking should it display a red cross and if so why?

I have TOTAL, 100% respect for the pilots, the crew and the medics whose dedication has saved countless lives and thanks to their bravery\courage, children have been able to tell their friends how their parents lives were saved 'by those magnificent men in their flying machines'!

Respect where respect is fully deserved

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/images/stories/pedro/Michael-YonaccR-730.jpg

This U.S. Army rescue helicopter parked at Camp Bastion (Helmand) flies with the red cross symbol allowing the enemy to get a better aim at the helicopter. Unfortunately, by displaying the red cross symbol, the helicopters are not allowed to carry miniguns or other large weapons. This seems a rather questionable decision given that the Taliban and other enemies could not give a hoot about law. It is unclear why the Army decided that a red cross provides more protection than miniguns.

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/images/stories/pedro/Michael-Yon-17acc-730.jpg

These Air Force “Pedro” rescue helicopters have two miniguns each (total of four miniguns), and the PJs all carry M-4 rifles. They do fire those weapons in combat. In July, a helicopter swooped down during a rescue and picked up some wounded soldiers and then was shot down. The second Air Force helicopter had to get the U.S. Army patients off the bird that had been shot down. Do the USAF rescue helicopters display red crosses? (I think not but stand to be corrected)

PLEASE note I am NOT offering an opinion, I am asking questions

[chinook240]

Wasn't this covered in a thread back in Jan 12, something about armed helicopters carrying the Red Cross?

[glojo]

Thanks Chinook
Link (http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/477153-us-army-medevac-policy-kills-another-soldier.html)

[StopStart]

It was but his latest piece covers a bunch of other stuff. Like I said in the last thread on Yon, I've been following him for a while but frankly I think he's becoming increasingly la la and paranoid with every passing day. He has posted some good stuff in the past but this latest one is just a rambling mish mash of a variety of his favoured "causes" (some very worthy) coupled with some his ongoing bitch fights with other journos and bloggers. Read around the subject a bit - its all a bit sad really.