RAF aircraft 'hit by US missile'
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BBC NEWS REPORT
RAF aircraft missing in Gulf
An RAF aircraft which was returning from an operational mission is missing, a Ministry of Defence spokesman at Central Command in Qatar has said.
It was not yet known what type of aircraft was involved or where it disappeared.
The statement from the spokesman said there were "no further details at this stage."
MoD Helpline Numbers
Royal Navy and Royal Marines - 08457 414544
Army personnel - 01980 615500
RAF personnel - 01452 712612 ext 7080 or 7045
It comes after two helicopter crashes involving British crew, on consecutive nights.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters collided over the Gulf, with the loss of all seven crew members - six British and one American.
And 24 hours earlier a US Chinook crashed over the Kuwaiti desert killing eight British and four American service personnel.
Baghdad has endured a fourth night of bombing on Saturday, but not on the scale witnessed on Friday night.
It is not known whether the missing plane was involved in the air strikes on the Iraqi capital.
RAF crews also fly support and cover missions.
US and Iraqi forces have clashed in the desert just 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad.
And Iraqi pockets of resistance have remained in southern Iraq, with an exchange of fire in Umm Qasr.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told a Sunday newspaper the military strategy is aimed at avoiding civilian casualties.
More follows.
RAF aircraft missing in Gulf
An RAF aircraft which was returning from an operational mission is missing, a Ministry of Defence spokesman at Central Command in Qatar has said.
It was not yet known what type of aircraft was involved or where it disappeared.
The statement from the spokesman said there were "no further details at this stage."
MoD Helpline Numbers
Royal Navy and Royal Marines - 08457 414544
Army personnel - 01980 615500
RAF personnel - 01452 712612 ext 7080 or 7045
It comes after two helicopter crashes involving British crew, on consecutive nights.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters collided over the Gulf, with the loss of all seven crew members - six British and one American.
And 24 hours earlier a US Chinook crashed over the Kuwaiti desert killing eight British and four American service personnel.
Baghdad has endured a fourth night of bombing on Saturday, but not on the scale witnessed on Friday night.
It is not known whether the missing plane was involved in the air strikes on the Iraqi capital.
RAF crews also fly support and cover missions.
US and Iraqi forces have clashed in the desert just 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad.
And Iraqi pockets of resistance have remained in southern Iraq, with an exchange of fire in Umm Qasr.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told a Sunday newspaper the military strategy is aimed at avoiding civilian casualties.
More follows.
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RAF aircraft 'hit by US missile'
An RAF aircraft is missing, following reports that it was hit by an American missile.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman at Central Command in Qatar said it had been returning from a mission over Iraq.
It was not yet known what type of aircraft was involved or how many crew were on board, although a search for survivors is underway.
It is thought the plane was brought down by a US Patriot anti-missile system stationed in the Gulf to protect Kuwait and coalition forces stationed there.
The MoD spokesman said there were "no further details at this stage."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2877349.stm
A Ministry of Defence spokesman at Central Command in Qatar said it had been returning from a mission over Iraq.
It was not yet known what type of aircraft was involved or how many crew were on board, although a search for survivors is underway.
It is thought the plane was brought down by a US Patriot anti-missile system stationed in the Gulf to protect Kuwait and coalition forces stationed there.
The MoD spokesman said there were "no further details at this stage."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2877349.stm
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Gp Capt Al Lockwood has just been on the Beeb confirming the suspicion that the (unspecified) RAF aircraft was brought down by a US Patriot battery. What with the 101st grenade tragedy, not a great start to the day really 
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With friends like these, who needs enemies
I think there are some hard lessons to be learned when the show is over, most of them about how to avoid unnecessary casualties..
My thoughts go out to all berieved
I think there are some hard lessons to be learned when the show is over, most of them about how to avoid unnecessary casualties..
My thoughts go out to all berieved
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Why does this come as no real surprise?
Our allies are (and always have been) bloody cowboys who shoot first and question later. I have seen it many times before and cannot see it stopping here.
Sort yourselves out, Americans, or your allied aircrew will become a lot less allied.
My sincerest sympathies to the families of the poor individuals concerned.
Our allies are (and always have been) bloody cowboys who shoot first and question later. I have seen it many times before and cannot see it stopping here.
Sort yourselves out, Americans, or your allied aircrew will become a lot less allied.
My sincerest sympathies to the families of the poor individuals concerned.
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Ok - the list so far.
1) A300 (the Vincennes incident)
2) UK Warrior AFV's in Gulf War 1
3) 2 UH60's at the end of Gulf War 1
4) Canadians on a training exercise in Afghanistan
5) 1 UK aircraft
The phrase 'bumbling amateurs' springs to mind. All the toys in the playground without the ability to play with them properly.
1) A300 (the Vincennes incident)
2) UK Warrior AFV's in Gulf War 1
3) 2 UH60's at the end of Gulf War 1
4) Canadians on a training exercise in Afghanistan
5) 1 UK aircraft
The phrase 'bumbling amateurs' springs to mind. All the toys in the playground without the ability to play with them properly.
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Sad but sadly inevitable.
I hope to god that they got out.
Maybe we should shut down and wait for the Yanks to get their acts together - they tell us that they don't really need us, anyway.
I hope to god that they got out.
Maybe we should shut down and wait for the Yanks to get their acts together - they tell us that they don't really need us, anyway.
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Appalling news, I find myself full of sadness and rage at the same time.
Its such a shame that this sort of thing happens, especially so when your hoping that it doesn't. Lets hope that this is the only Blue on Blue!
I echo the thoughts above and hope that the crew managed to get out in time.
God Bless.
Its such a shame that this sort of thing happens, especially so when your hoping that it doesn't. Lets hope that this is the only Blue on Blue!
I echo the thoughts above and hope that the crew managed to get out in time.
God Bless.
Guys and girls,
Don't go jumping to conclusions and allocating blame until all the facts are out. The full story has not been released yet, and until it is we cannot tell what happened, apart from some more of our comrades are missing.
God Bless them, and the thoughts and prayers of my family are with theirs.
Don't go jumping to conclusions and allocating blame until all the facts are out. The full story has not been released yet, and until it is we cannot tell what happened, apart from some more of our comrades are missing.
God Bless them, and the thoughts and prayers of my family are with theirs.
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This is not my area of expertise, but, is it possible the ac could have been mistaken for a missile? Was the ac squawking? Was it flying where it shouldn't have been?
I think at this early stage, it isn't particularly helpful to jump to conclusions.
I too hope the crew managed to bang-out.
I think at this early stage, it isn't particularly helpful to jump to conclusions.
I too hope the crew managed to bang-out.
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I think there are some hard lessons to be learned when the show is over
Journalist acquaintance tells me the MoD just said the type involved is a Harrier.
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Moggie, you seem to forget there are aircraft other than fast jets out there, not everyone can bang out...
Brings me to another point. Who was the idiot to release such scant information to the press. "An RAF aircraft is missing....." Every single family with aircrew in theatre is now dreading the phone to ring. We can only imagine how they must be feeling.
Information about how the war is going and the spread of misinformation as part of psychops are part of modern warfare but lose tongues giving partial information can only cause more grief and concern than is necessary. Get a grip out there, news should only be given out when families have been informed and you can then give real information.
As to slagging the Americans off all the time, at least they have some of the best kit that money can buy. I believe that Patriot is an auto-acquire system that relies on modern IFF systems for it to avoid blue-on-blue. Lets just hope that this wasn't due to our inferior kit failing at a crucial time. Only time will tell and even then we probably won't get the full story.
My thoughts are now with every family that has members or friends out in theatre.
Brings me to another point. Who was the idiot to release such scant information to the press. "An RAF aircraft is missing....." Every single family with aircrew in theatre is now dreading the phone to ring. We can only imagine how they must be feeling.
Information about how the war is going and the spread of misinformation as part of psychops are part of modern warfare but lose tongues giving partial information can only cause more grief and concern than is necessary. Get a grip out there, news should only be given out when families have been informed and you can then give real information.
As to slagging the Americans off all the time, at least they have some of the best kit that money can buy. I believe that Patriot is an auto-acquire system that relies on modern IFF systems for it to avoid blue-on-blue. Lets just hope that this wasn't due to our inferior kit failing at a crucial time. Only time will tell and even then we probably won't get the full story.
My thoughts are now with every family that has members or friends out in theatre.
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It is extremely unlikely they were following a Scud profile, but they could have been confused with an anti-ship missile (fired against land targets earlier) or possibly an Al-Samoud. That said, I am sure they were following a whole host of routeing and recognition procedures coming back from the other side of the lines and the US do not have a great track record in blue-on-blue. Let's wait for the real story before we start leaping to conclusions.
Hope they got out and, if not, my comiserations to friends and family.
Hope they got out and, if not, my comiserations to friends and family.
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Nav attacking - you are quite right. The same though about non-bang seat equipped aeroplane crossed my mind just after I posted (as a truckie myself this is unforgiveable).
Fingers crossed for crew member(s).
Fingers crossed for crew member(s).
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Lets cut the speculation and wait for the real news...
Brian Burridge has just been on BBC and refuses to say what type or how many personnel were on board. I hopehe is chewing somebody out right now for letting the press know.
Brian Burridge has just been on BBC and refuses to say what type or how many personnel were on board. I hopehe is chewing somebody out right now for letting the press know.