One (American) killed in RAAF plane attack

news.com.au ^ | 28th June 2004 | AAP

[KangarooJacqui]

AN American passenger fatally wounded aboard an Australian RAAF C-130 Hercules in Baghdad was hit by the only bullet to penetrate the aircraft, the Australian Defence Force said today.

Casualty ... the C-130 was hit by ground fire about 11pm (AEST), 5pm Baghdad time.

Defence spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan said the aircraft was struck by ground fire soon after it took off from Baghdad airport yesterday.

Brigadier Hannan said the aircraft usually carried a crew of four or five Australians comprising two pilots, an engineer and two loadmasters.

Three US passengers were being flown out of Baghdad as part of normal aircraft operations when the attack happened.

An unnamed American civilian contractor was injured in the attack and the Hercules returned to the airport where it was met by medical personnel.

The plane was subsequently deemed airworthy and later flew from Baghdad to its base at an unnamed country in the Persian Gulf.

"The information we have at the moment is that the person was in the cargo area.

"There were only three passengers on board the aircraft at the time so the probability of this individual being hit was extremely remote," Brigadier Hannan said.

"Only one fragment or projectile came through the hull and hit the individual.

"This was just an opportunity move for these three individuals and unfortunately one with tragic consequences."

Brigadier Hannan said the aircraft had transported troops from the north of Iraq and was heading south. He said it was the first time an Australian aircraft had been hit.

"There have been many instances of warnings of ground fire and sightings of ground fire but we haven't had an aircraft hit in the past," he said.

"We review our procedures all the time and we take the best possible precautions that we can. Our training is excellent.

"But this is a dangerous place and these are dangerous operations and there is always a probability or a possibility of this type of incident."

Brigadier Hannan said there would be an appropriate investigation into the incident and decisions made about the best means to reduce the risk.

He said there were US patrols around the airport, but it was difficult to guard against attacks.

"This could have been a heavy machine gun on the back of a truck or something of that nature that can be moved in or out of an area very quickly," he said.

"So it is quite difficult to secure the large areas involved in the flights paths into an airport." 'Deranged butchers'

It was the second attack in recent days on Australian troops.

Last week, a mortar attack was launched on an Australian base near Mosul, where the Australians were training the Iraqi military.

No Australian troops were injured, but Prime Minister John Howard yesterday said the incident was a reminder that Australian soldiers were involved in dangerous work.

"It just brings home to us that this is not a picnic, it's very hard and it's very dangerous and they're very brave," Mr Howard said.

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson also reinforced the need to keep the troops in Iraq.

"I think you've got to say you can't give in, you can't give in to these sorts of butchers, morally and mentally deranged butchers," he said on Channel 9's Sunday program.

[KangarooJacqui]

Talk about unlucky! My sympathy to this person's family.

SUPPORT THE TROOPS IN IRAQ!

[KangarooJacqui]

ping, fellas

[thoughtomator]

Wow, talk about super bad luck.

[Bogey78O]

When we hand over power to the Iraqi gov't the best thing they could do is institute Martial Law across the country. Then using the reconstituted Iraqi Army, go in and break skulls like we wish we could but can't because the media would condemn us for shooting first and asking questions later.

[KangarooJacqui]

Agreed.

I think this is the same plane mentioned in this previous post, first mistakenly identified as an American plane:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1161117/posts

[Tailback]

Wow, talk about a golden BB. I'm deeply sorry for Australia's loss. God bless him and his family.

[KangarooJacqui]

When we hand over power to the Iraqi gov't the best thing they could do is institute Martial Law across the country. Then using the reconstituted Iraqi Army, go in and break skulls like we wish we could but can't because the media would condemn us for shooting first and asking questions later.

How would that be much better than what came before the occupation, or indeed now? I still say civilians should not have guns. There'd be a lot less of this sort of shiznit going on if, like Australian and New Zealand forces are doing in the Solomon Islands, guns are just taken off people who have no need to have them. And I'd say that includes people who open fire at C-130's.

[KangarooJacqui]

America's loss actually. It was an American civilian contractor who was killed. The Australian C-130 (and its crew) are fine, one bullet hole is not going to affect the airworthiness of a plane that size. Of course it's a tragic thing to happen on your watch...

[fso301]

I think you've got to say you can't give in, you can't give in to these sorts of butchers, morally and mentally deranged butchers," he said on Channel 9's Sunday program.

That is one of the better descriptions I've heard.

[TheBattman]

There'd be a lot less of this sort of shiznit going on if, like Australian and New Zealand forces are doing in the Solomon Islands, guns are just taken off people who have no need to have them

Careful - you risk sounding like the leftist liberals from right here in the USA -

[KangarooJacqui]

I think you've got to say you can't give in, you can't give in to these sorts of butchers, morally and mentally deranged butchers," he said on Channel 9's Sunday program.

That is one of the better descriptions I've heard.

Yup. Our John Anderson doesn't mince words...

[KangarooJacqui]

Quote me in context, if you must quote me. What I said was:

...guns are just taken off people who have no need to have them. And I'd say that includes people who open fire on C-130's.

I'm sorry but IMHO, you open fire on an unarmed aircraft, you lose your "right" to have a gun. Full stop.

[Piefloater]

Our John Anderson doesn't mince words...

Nor does our KangarooJacqui.

Thanks for the ping. What are the odds of just getting hit, let alone killed, by one bullet shot at random at a large aircraft? Unlucky indeed!

[norton]

"Our John Anderson doesn't mince words..."

If you have a few more like him, we could use 'em...

[However, the odds are way, way, out....I'm thinking there is more in this story than is being reported.]

Great picture of a 130 popping flares!

[TheBattman]

The point of my post was that you came dangerously close to sounding just like the domestic argument against citizens owning guns. We just must keep guns out of the hands of criminals (by taking them away from everyone....).

I was not accusing you personally of having that attitude, and I think I understood the point you were trying to make...