format_quote Originally Posted by
England
ERROR ONE came when they asked the Forward Air Controller, call sign Manila Hotel, if friendly forces were around the Iraqi vehicles — not to the west.
Error dispute:
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POPOV36: Hey, I got a four ship. Looks like we got orange panels on them though. Do we have any friendlies up in this area?
MANILA HOTEL: I understand that was north 800 meters?
POPOV35: Affirm, North 800 meters. Confirm there are no friendlies this far north on the ground?
MANILA HOTEL: That is an affirm. You are well clear of friendlies. Copy.
POPOV35: Describes types of vehicles to Manila hotel.
My commentary: They did report the orange panels, location was being monitored at this point in time.
POPOV36: I've got a four ship of vehicles that are evenly spaced along a road going north. Look down at your right 2:00, eh, 10:00 low - there is a... left 10:00 low... look down there north along the canal, right there. Coming up just south of the village.
My commentary: POPOV36 was speaking to POPOV35, who had circled back in order to maintain visual contact.
POPOV35: Evenly spaced... where we just strafed (fired previously)?
POPOV36: No. No. Further East, further West, right now! And there's four or five of them right now heading up there.
My commentary: POPOV 35 had circled back again, so East became west and POPOV36 made the adjustment for the other pilot at that time.
POPOV35: No, I don't have you visual (can't see the other pilot named POPOV36).
POPOV36: I'm back at your 6 - no factor.
POPOV35: OK, now where's this canal? Don't hit those F18s that are out there (just identified other aircraft in the area).
POPOV36: Ok, right underneath you. Right now, there's a canal that runs north/south. There's a small village and there are vehicles that are spaced evenly there. They look like they have orange panel on though.
My commentary: One comes to understand there were other aircraft to watch out for as well but despite all this, the pilot (popov36) noted the orange panels for a second time.
POPOV35: He (Manila Hotel) told me there's nobody north of here... no friendlies.
POPOV36: I know. There (the targets), right on the river.
POPOV35: I see vehicles though, might be our original dudes.
POPOV36: They've got something orange on top of them. (third comment on markings).
POPOV35: To Manila Hotel... Is Manila 34 in this area? (repeats request again)
MANILA HOTEL: Negative. Understand they are well clear of that now.
POPOV35: (to MANILA HOTEL) OK, like I said, multiple riveted vehicles. They look like flatbed trucks. Are those your targets?
MANILA HOTEL: That's affirm.
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Summary OK. They (friendlies) were
not "well clear of that (location) now (then)". It is for this reason, and the commentary from MANILA HOTEL (
I've got other aircraft working this push. Not sure they're coming to me (reporting to me). Someone else might be working this freak.) that lead me to believe the pilots were not at fault. After receiving word that there were no friendlies after three inquiries about the orange panels, I would convince myself they were something else too.
Guilt would then fall on MANILA HOTEL who were monitoring the mission, unless it could be proven someone was indeed working the area freak, and failed to report their mission.
Ninth Scribe