Court-Martial Urged in Copter Deaths
A military judge has recommended that an Air Force radar plane officer be court-martialed in the downing of two U.S. helicopters over Iraq that killed 26 people.
Another crewman aboard the AWACS plane should receive only administrative punishment, and charges against three others should be dismissed, Air Force Col. Bill Colwell recommended.
His recommendation, announced Wednesday, goes to Lt. Gen. Stephen Croker, commander of the 8th Air Force.
The Army Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in the “no fly” zone over northern Iraq on April 14 by two Air Force F-15 fighters. The F-15 pilots believed that the Black Hawks were Iraqi craft.
The helicopters were carrying members of an international group that had been working with Kurds in northern Iraq.
The AWACS officers were accused of failing to warn the jet pilots that U.S. helicopters were in the zone, failing to ensure that the helicopters broadcast correct identification codes and failing to monitor the area properly.
Colwell recommended a court-martial for Capt. Jim Wang, administrative discipline for 1st. Lt. Joseph Halcli and dismissal of charges against Maj. Douglas Martin, Maj. Lawrence Tracey and 2nd Lt. Ricky Wilson.
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