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Schmidt reprimanded Letter scathing; appeal planned By LISA KERNEK STAFF WRITER An Air Force general issued a scathing reprimand to Maj. Harry Schmidt Tuesday, saying he had "acted shamefully" on the night of a friendly-fire bombing that killed four and wounded eight Canadian soldiers. Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson found Schmidt guilty of dereliction of duty for the accident, which occurred in April 2002 in Afghanistan. Schmidt, 38, of Sherman, will lose one month's base pay, about $5,600, and won't fly again when he returns to the Illinois Air National Guard. "You acted shamefully," Carlson wrote in his letter to Schmidt,...

The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com U.S. fighter pilot reprimanded for Canadian deathsBy Rowan ScarboroughTHE WASHINGTON TIMESPublished July 7, 2004 The Air Force has harshly reprimanded Air National Guard Maj. Harry Schmidt for a deadly mistaken bombing in Afghanistan in 2002, saying he "flagrantly disregarded" a direct order and "acted shamefully" in not waiting to positively identify the target.     The reprimand from Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson was unusual in its blunt criticism of the Illinois F-16 pilot.     Maj. Schmidt contended he acted in self-defense when he erred in bombing a training range, killing four Canadian soldiers.     Gen. Carlson's punishment was less than the...

Mistaken bombing killed four Canadians (CNN) -- An Air Force pilot involved in a "friendly fire" bombing that killed four Canadian troops in Afghanistan was found guilty Tuesday of dereliction of duty, reprimanded and ordered to forfeit more than $5,000 in pay. Maj. Harry Schmidt, a decorated IllinoisAir National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot from the 170th Fighter Squadron, has until July 12 to decide whether to appeal.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A U.S. fighter pilot who mistakenly bombed Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2002, killing four, was found guilty Tuesday of dereliction of duty and was reprimanded and docked a month's pay, or nearly $5,700. Maj. Harry Schmidt, 38, "acted shamefully" during the episode, "exhibiting arrogance and a lack of flight discipline," Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson wrote in the reprimand. Schmidt, a former instructor at the Navy's "Top Gun" fighter pilot school, had blamed the bombing on the "fog of war," saying he mistook the Canadians' gunfire for an attack by Taliban forces. He said...

NEW ORLEANS -- The Air Force has decided not to court-martial a U.S. fighter pilot who mistakenly dropped a 500-pound, laser-guided bomb that killed four Canadians in Afghanistan in 2002. Maj. Harry Schmidt, 37, will face nonjudicial punishment, the Air Force said Thursday. Four dereliction-of-duty charges against him will be dismissed in court. He could face punishment including 30 days confinement or loss of one month's pay, about $5,600, Air Force spokeswoman Col. Alvina Mitchell said. Schmidt originally was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault and faced up to 64 years in prison. Military officials recommended against a court-martial on...

The Air Force has decided not to court-martial a U.S. fighter pilot who mistakenly dropped a 500-pound, laser-guided bomb that killed four Canadians in Afghanistan in 2002. Maj. Harry Schmidt, 37, will face nonjudicial punishment and four dereliction-of-duty charges against him will be dismissed in court, the Air Force said Thursday. He could face punishment including 30 days confinement or loss of one month's pay, about $5,600, Air Force spokeswoman Col. Alvina Mitchell said. Schmidt, a 1983 graduate of Vianney High School in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, Mo., originally was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault and faced...

U.S. air force dismisses charges against pilot accused in bombing of Canadians 2 hours, 2 minutes ago NEW ORLEANS (CP) - The U.S. air force announced Thursday that it will dismiss all criminal charges against an American fighter pilot who dropped a bomb that killed four Canadians in Afghanistan (news - web sites) in 2002. AFP/Getty Images/HO Photo Maj. Harry Schmidt has accepted an offer to face administrative punishment in exchange for dismissal of four counts of dereliction of duty, the air force said. Schmidt originally was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault. Military officials recommended the charges be dismissed...

NEW ORLEANS (CP) - All charges will be dismissed against a U.S. fighter pilot who accidentally bombed Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2002, killing four, the air force announced Thursday. Maj. Harry Schmidt has accepted an air force offer to face administrative punishment in exchange for dismissal of four counts of dereliction of duty, according to a statement from the air force. Schmidt had previously declined the same offer. Sgt. Marc Leger, 29, Pte. Nathan Smith, 27, Pte. Richard Green, 22, and Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, 25, died in April 2002 when Schmidt dropped a bomb on a team of Canadian...

US air force dismisses charges against pilot accused in bombing of Canadians Canadian Press Thursday, June 24, 2004 NEW ORLEANS (AP) - All charges will be dismissed against a U.S. fighter pilot who accidentally bombed Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2002, killing four, the air force announced Thursday. Maj. Harry Schmidt has accepted an air force offer to face administrative punishment in exchange for dismissal of four counts of dereliction of duty, according to a statement from the air force. Schmidt had previously declined the same offer.