Where's the American Pilot?

[LancerMc]

For those who do not know, an American F-16C crashed or was shoot down over Iraq on 11/27/06. The aircraft was on a strafing run while supporting ground troops during an operation.

I find it horrible that apparently no CSAR mission was sent out to try to rescue the pilot. There are various media reports that the pilot died in crash and others say he maybe alive, though the Air Force has listed him MIA, but presumed dead.

Even if the USAF knew the pilot was dead, it shameful that no effort was sent out to rescue the body of the pilot. It seems in my opinion that U.S. military avoided the rescue to try not to initiate a fight with insurgents. What ever happened to never leaving a man behind? :frown :mad

 

[radiosilence]

its very disappointing if it is infact true that no CSAR mission was not sent out to look for the pilot. also, some in the media here in the US are reporting that military souces are telling them the plane was brought down by a lucky shot from an rpg.

 

[rjmaz1]

Wheres the pilot?

If he was in an A-10 he would be probably eating food right now.

 

[LancerMc]

It is disappointing. I read on af.mil today, that the USAF didn't want to send in SAR team untill insurgent activity died down. Isn't that what CSAR team is for? Aren't they supposed to go behind enemy lines and bring back our pilots? I am sure a lot of soldiers and airmen were like send us in and we'll get him back, but of course the brass didn't let people do their jobs.

I would find it difficult to believe an F-16 to be taken out by an RPG, a shoulder mounted SAM or light AAA seems like a more plausible idea. Mechanical issues could have played a part, since the F-16 isn't the most reliable fighter jet in the world.

I hope they find our pilot alive, if not at least they need to bring his body home for his family.

 

[Big-E]

some in the media here in the US are reporting that military souces are telling them the plane was brought down by a lucky shot from an rpg.

An RPG is not going to hit an F-16 unless it's coming in for a landing. It was a MANPAD... most likely SA-7.

 

[USNavySEAL3310]

I didn't hear about this. I am sorry to the family of the lost pilot. They have my sympathies.

I'm reading it @ http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123032925 and, according to this article, friendly aircraft on the mission spotted insurgents on the ground closing on the crash. Though ground forces were sent in, they arrived on-scene on the 28th (the crash was the day before). The pilot was nowhere near the crash. DNA samples taken at the crash are being examined.

It would be very difficult to take down a -16 with an RPG. If anything it was, as mentioned above, AAA/SAMs or an in-flight failure. They don't know what brought it down but an investigation is underway, according to the article.

I hope to hear results of the investigation soon.

 

[radiosilence]

An RPG is not going to hit an F-16 unless it's coming in for a landing. It was a MANPAD... most likely SA-7.

It was reported by cnn and msnbc pentagon correspondents from their military souces that the plane was brought down by mostly likely an rpg. The plane was flying low supporting ground troops.

 

[Big-E]

It was reported by cnn and msnbc pentagon correspondents from their military souces that the plane was brought by mostly likely an rpg. The plane was flying low supporting ground troops.

I'm sure thats what DoD would release, their is no way a witness with no military experience is going to know the difference b/w an RPG and a Strella. Heaven forbid if Americans see how well equipped this insurgency really is... :shudder RPG my foot

 

[Grand Danois]

Why use a MANPADS on a difficult target like a F-16. A helo should be easier and more casualty inducing.

My guess is on an engine failure.

The pilot could still be found alive.

 

[radiosilence]

The Air Force F-16CG fighter jet crashed Monday outside of Baghdad while flying on a low-level "strafing run" -- firing on targets on the ground at a low altitude -- a U.S. military official in Baghdad said.

its possible for an rpg to bring the plane down if it was on a strafing run.

cnn

 

[Big-E]

its possible for an rpg to bring the plane down if it was on a strafing run.

cnn

It's possible for it to have been struck by lightening too which is a greater probability than getting hit with an RPG. I don't see anything in that report about RPGs. In fact the witness said he saw it "flying erratically" which leads me to believe it was most likely a mechanical problem or possibly even stalled. It has happened to strafers before.

 

[radiosilence]

It's possible for it to have been struck by lightening too which is a greater probability than getting hit with an RPG. I don't see anything in that report about RPGs. In fact the witness said he saw it "flying erratically" which leads me to believe it was most likely a mechanical problem or possibly even stalled. It has happened to strafers before.

cnn and msnbc were reporting that their defence sources were claiming that the most likely explanation of the crash was a lucky shot from an RPG. If the plane was infact on an strafing run its possible to be shot down by an RPG.

 

[LancerMc]

Don't believe everything CNN and FOX News tell you. I bet Wolf Blitzer or Bill O'Reilly couldn't even tell the difference from an RPG then a Stinger or SA-7.

 

[radiosilence]

Don't believe everything CNN and FOX News tell you. I bet Wolf Blitzer or Bill O'Reilly couldn't even tell the difference from an RPG then a Stinger or SA-7.

i didn't say i believe the report but we can't dismiss it either when we don't have any facts. i was just pointing out that the possibility exist that the plane could have be shot down by an RPG.

 

[Big-E]

i didn't say i believe the report but we can't dismiss it either when we don't have any facts. i was just pointing out that the possibility exist that the plane could have be shot down by an RPG.

You said sources at CNN were saying it was shot down by an RPG... I see no evidence of this. From every account I have read it either stalled out or was shot down by a Strella. When strafing in a fighter you aren't going to get within operational range of an RPG for more than a second. When conducting a strafing run you climb far above it's vicinity, only on the most downward part of the pursuit curve is it within range. In fast movers like F-18s and F-16s you will not fly low enough to get within the RPG killzone. The Vulcan cannon is more than capable of taking out targets at over 300m which is far greater than an RPG altitude could EVER hope to acheive.

 

[radiosilence]

You said sources at CNN were saying it was shot down by an RPG... I see no evidence of this. From every account I have read it either stalled out or was shot down by a Strella. When strafing in a fighter you aren't going to get within operational range of an RPG for more than a second. When conducting a strafing run you climb far above it's range, only on the most downward part of the pursuit curve is it within range. In fast movers like F-18s and F-16s you will not fly low enough to get within RPG range. The Vulcan cannon is more than capable of taking out targets at over 300m which is far greater than an RPG altitude could EVER hope to acheive.

cnn and msnbc pentagon correspondents reported that their military sources claimed that the most likely cause of the downing of the plane was a "lucky shot" from an RPG.

When strafing in a fighter you aren't going to get within operational range of an RPG for more than a second.When conducting a strafing run you climb far above it's range, only on the most downward part of the pursuit curve is it within range

hence a "lucky shot" could hit it within that one second or on the downward part of the pursuit curve. if you want to beat a dead horse be my guest.

 

[Big-E]

hence a "lucky shot" could hit it within that one second or on the downward part of the pursuit curve. if you want to beat a dead horse be my guest.

That was speaking of CAS aircraft like A-10s or Super Tucanos... I then correlated my statement with the fastmover comment. Was an A-10 shot down? :unknown

That F-16 was not shot down by an RPG.

 

[radiosilence]

That was speaking of CAS aircraft like A-10s or Super Tucanos... I then correlated my statement with the fastmover comment. Was an A-10 shot down? :unknown

That F-16 was not shot down by an RPG.

the keyword in their reporting was a lucky shot brought the plane down. you can't disprove that. i don't know what happen and neither do you. the best we can do is speculate.

 

[LancerMc]

The F-16 was orginally from Cannon AFB.

As far as I know no A-10 has been lost during Iraq II. If I remember correctly two were shot down during the first Gulf War.

A F-16 on a gun strafing run was probably traveling in excess of 300 knots, and at low level, the insurgent would probably have to have the greatest eye sight and reaction time ever. Could have it been a lucky shot, yes, but if it was it was a really really really luck shot. It was mostly likely an MANPAD, like a SA-7, SA-18, or maybe even a Stinger.

 

[Big-E]

the keyword in their reporting was a lucky shot brought the plane down. you can't disprove that. i don't know what happen and neither do you. the best we can do is speculate.

I didn't see anyone reporting that... the link you provided didn't contain that statement. The reason I am making a stink of this is I don't think respected military analysts would make such an assanine comment. Please show me where "they" said such a thing.