Forum: F-16 News

J.J. wrote:

Anybody who can/will provide an official investigation report, released for public?

The following is being reported by the Associated Press:

AP wrote:

On Friday, the Islamic State of Iraq announced it would soon release a video on the death of a U.S. Air Force pilot whose F-16 jet crashed Nov. 27 north of Baghdad, according to IntelCenter, which monitors insurgent Web sites.

The pilot, Maj. Troy L. Gilbert, was listed officially as "whereabouts unknown" but then reported by the U.S. military as dead following DNA tests from remains at the scene. IntelCenter said it was unclear what the video would show.

J.J., regarding the account you cite, are we to understand Maj. Gilbert flew into the ground? I just finished reading a book on F-16s in OIF, and one of the pilots' accounts relates how he was grounded for several days for violating certain hard deck rules that were established prior to OIF. Do these hard deck rules still apply, or are they not set in stone and may be broken if circumstances require? Several pilots related that they disregarded such rules when confronted with troops on the ground who were under attack and needed immediate assistance, even though they knew they may be disciplined as a result. Question, and let's keep our emotions in check, people, as this is simply a question regarding SOP: had Maj. Gilbert survived this mission, would he have been disciplined for violating established rules regarding hard deck and such?

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Sorry, idesof! No further comments from me at that time. We all knew: There are still some "open questions". And I still await an official investigation report. But over the last months, so I think, we will never get any details of such a report.

J.J. wrote:

Sorry, idesof! No further comments from me at that time. We all knew: There are still some "open questions". And I still await an official investigation report. But over the last months, so I think, we will never get any details of such a report.

No problem. I certainly can't imagine that I would have done any differently. If there is anything that I took away from reading the book (F-16 Fighting Falcon Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom) it is how many snap judgment calls had to be made by pilots faced with unique circumstances, how much was ruled by chance and utterly unplanned situations. For all the recent technological advances, it is amazing how little has changed since, say, WW II. One particular mission stands out in my mind, when these two Viper pilots were called on to assist a group of British special forces at night, and they had no idea where the hell they were in relation to the enemy. They just had to drop unguided LGBs into a pitch black night, based on nothing but verbal accounts of where the enemy roughly may have been. And the reaction of the pilots was just heart-wrenching, as they literally returned back to their base crying because they thought they didn't do enough to save some members of the team that had been under siege. And yet, their actions probably saved countless lives, while putting their own in terrible jeopardy. It also reminds me of those poor A-10 pilots, who acccidentally strafed that British APC and their reaction when they realized what had happened. Sometimes we forget the importance of the human element, and that these are real people with real feelings up there, fallible and fragile as any of us. Ordinary men and women faced with extraordinary circumstances. Certainly, their stories deserve to be better known and appreciated... Salute

Released today on USAF´s public main website:

Quote:

Islamic State of Iraq video attempts to exploit Air Force major's death

3/10/2007 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNEWS) -- Recent news reports stated that the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist organization is releasing a video on Maj. Troy Gilbert's death.

Major Gilbert was killed Nov. 27, 2006, when his F-16C crashed while he was supporting Coalition ground combat operations approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad.

He was positively identified and classified as killed in action through DNA analysis by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. The identification was made from human remains recovered from the crash site. His body was removed from the crash site by anti-Coalition personnel before U.S. forces could arrive to secure the area.

"We are aware of the attempts by anti-Coalition forces to exploit Major Gilbert's death. It is appalling and cowardly that they did not treat his remains with the respect deserved of an honorable warrior," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander, United States Central Command Air Forces.

Major Gilbert was assigned to the 309th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and was deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, at the time of his death.

Today, the Air Force accident investigation board issued the accident report.

Quote:

The official cause of the accident was Major Gilbert's "channelized attention manifested by his desire to maintain a constant visual positive identification of targeted enemy vehicles and subsequent target fixation on these vehicles while they were traveling at a high rate of speed," the report said. These two factors, when combined, caused Major Gilbert "to begin, and then press his attack below a recoverable altitude."

See: <a href="news_article2255.html">F-16 accident report released</a>

Link to the executive summary: http://www.acc.af.mil/shared/media/docu ... 02-011.pdf

To MAJ. GILBERT Salute

While I'm sorry to hear about the reasons for this mishap, I hope it can serve as a lesson to all others.

My prayers go out to <a href="inmemoriam_tribute142.html">Maj. Gilbert</a> and his loved ones.

Last edited by Lieven on Apr 03, 2007 - 09:32 PM; edited 1 time in total

Major Gilbert, 34, has been posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor.

Air Force officials have concluded that Gilbert was so focused on saving the lives of troops and the crew of a downed Army helicopter that he flew too low to the ground and was unable to pull his F-16 up, which then crashed.

The officials say his actions helped save the lives of the helicopter crew and other coalition ground forces.

See: http://www.f-16.net/inmemoriam_tribute142.html

For those who don't know, the Distinguished Flying Cross may be awarded to military members who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces, distinguish themselves by heroism or outstanding achievement while participating in aerial flight. To be awarded for heroism the act must involve voluntary action in the face of danger and be well above the actions performed by others engaged in similar flight operations. If awarded for extraordinary achievement, it must have resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding as to clearly set the individual apart from his or her comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances.

With Great Pride and Honor...I Salute

this great man and patriot - Good Bless Him - RIP

With Respect to his family..........

IMO, he deserves a more significant medal.

I'm glad that he was able to make a difference for the people on the ground, when you get down to it that is the main premise of having an air force. It is sad to lose anyone in our armed forces; to lose them because they made a mistake is terrible. I hope it brings his family some comfort to know that his efforts enabled several others to return to their families.

"No man hath greater love than he lay down his life for his men."

Salute

If it was an easy job, we could all do it.

RIP sir.

Once again, a great man has fallen, and been awarded a most deserving distinction.
Bless you MAJ. GILBERT and to his family, Thank you for letting your loved one serve, and pay the ultimate price for democracy.
Thank you so much. I will pray for all that continue to serve and die for their beliefs. Salute

VPRGUY wrote:

I'm glad that he was able to make a difference for the people on the ground, when you get down to it that is the main premise of having an air force. It is sad to lose anyone in our armed forces; to lose them because they made a mistake is terrible. I hope it brings his family some comfort to know that his efforts enabled several others to return to their families.

"No man hath greater love than he lay down his life for his men."

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori...

parrothead wrote:

While I'm sorry to hear about the reasons for this mishap, I hope it can serve as a lesson to all others.

My prayers go out to <a href="inmemoriam_tribute142.html">Maj. Gilbert</a> and his loved ones.

My condolences also to Maj. Gilbert's family. Although I must say that I am somewhat at a loss as to why he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. I wonder what others who earned DFCs in the past think about that. Also, whether an otherwise inadvisable maneuver was wrongfully rewarded, in the process setting a bad example for others.

I am not disputing the bravery of his actions, nor the Major's patriotism nor whether his actions saved the lives of others. I am, however, concerned about the message this sends.

Forum: F-16 News

F-16 down in Iraq