To you civilians, we in the military (I’m retired now) know that the U.S. Air Force generally performs very poorly in joint operations. It’s not that the Air Force isn’t good flying airplanes all by themselves in the desert, it’s that they nevery communicate well with the other branches.
It’s not classified, but in the mid-1990’s while enforcing the “No Fly” zone in Iraq and Air Force F-16 shot down two Army helicopters carrying 22 of our men. No one cares? The AF guys just say “Shit Happens” and flies on? That’s how it seemed to go down.
My question is? Can’t the idiot pilots in the Air Force operate their IFF buttons? Are they than unconcerned about the other services?
I also remember watching a replay of footage shot from an AF cockpit during Gulf War One where an AF hotshot blasted an Army transport vehicle and then, after the fact, said “Uh oh, I sure hope that wasn’t one of our own.”
All, repeat I say ALL, of the flying duties handled by the U.S. Navy, which flies at least as many hours as the Air Force. The Air Force personnel are routinely getting soldiers killed by friendly fire because they just aren’t interested in the other services and they don’t want to be.
That’s why I said the Air Force should be limited to testing new aircraft in the desert where they won’t hurt American soldiers.
Got it now?
Actually that footage you say you remember from The Gulf War One was of an Army Apache pilot, NOT Air Force. Nice try though. They drifted off course and were cleared hot.
Air Force personnel are routinely getting soldiers killed by friendly fire? Um ok...when you come back to planet Earth be sure and let us know...
Oh boy, where to begin with this buffet of BS.
First, identify your branch of service and your area of expertise. Which you have consistently refused to do.
You don’t know squat about what you’re talking about.
How many Army guys have been whacked by (Army) friendly fire? How many Marines killed by naval shore bombardment?
I suppose with your logic, that a Marine pilot crashing his aircraft into or onto a carrier deck and killing sailors doesn’t care about sailors?
SZ
I love the Navy, BUT, there are two aircraft I would rather see from the battlefield than anything the Navy has.
OH-58’s followed by A-10’s.
BTW, the Navy has it’s fair share of screw ups, too.
I know you seem to think the Navy can assume the AF’s missions, but, the reason why we have separate forces is because those missions are not mergeable to the degree needed in wartime. Unless, of course, the services were combined, which is what Les Aspin wanted to do.
No offense intended, but you haven’t seen a full “war”, only insurgency (which doesn’t lessen it’s danger or importance). Many of us have seen war, that is, one in which battles actually occur in the air, on land, and at sea.