[Chainmail]

Sort of a mixed blessing: I still remember the multiple times Warthogs attacked friendly targets in Iraq, most notably the Marine amphibious vehicles (LVTP-7s) killing 17 Marines near Nasiriyah and the notorious attack against the British armored vehicles around the same time, killing 6. No excuse whatsoever for a ground attack pilot not knowing what our stuff looks like - particularly since our vehicles had large American flags on them.

It is an excellent ground support aircraft but as noted earlier, the Air Force hates ground support missions. I remember only too well how dangerous it was to ask for USAF close air in Vietnam. We were lucky if they hit within a kilometer of where we asked and didn't hit us in the process.

For competent and effect close air support, there is no substitute for Marine aviation.

[Vermont Lt]

I would think our vehicles would have some sort of transponder on them now—something that would shout out” Dont shoot me.

But, I am sure there are a million reasons why they wouldn’t.

[Hulka]

” No excuse whatsoever for a ground attack pilot not knowing what our stuff looks like - particularly since our vehicles had large American flags on them”

Gonna go a little snarky here. . .not mean, just snark:

You have never flow CAS, have you. You have never delivered ordnance have you. Tgt are moving, the same color, and you are miles away when the FAC brings you in, trying to talk your eyes onto the tgt. The closer you get the more refined the descriptions but make no mistake, until you practically fly over a tank/APC/whatever, it is darned near impossible to tell what sort of tgt it was. . .even with as "large" flag on it. But I agree, that's why there is no excuse for a soldier engaged in friendly fire if he can't tell a US from a bad guy, and the US guy is even wearing a flag.

"USAF close air in Vietnam. We were lucky if they hit within a kilometer of where we asked and didn't hit us in the process"

Yeah. . .50-yrs have passed and no changes in ordnance, tgt ID, weaponeering, CAS protocols. . . .Ordnance and tgt-ID is a bear. . but I bet you loved the A-1.

A/A medal of honor winners in Vietnam: 0

A/G medal of honor winners in Vietnam: 5

“Large” flags/markers are great for helos but not for jets.