Commie Girl
4th August 2004, 16:32
CBC (http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/08/03/schmidt040803.html)
U.S. 'friendly fire' pilot loses final appeal
Last Updated Wed, 04 Aug 2004 09:55:36 EDT
NEW ORLEANS - A U.S. fighter pilot reprimanded for accidentally dropping a bomb on Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan two years ago, killing four of them, has lost his final air force appeal.
INDEPTH: Friendly Fire
Major Harry Schmidt (AP File Photo)
Last month, Major Harry Schmidt was found guilty of derelicition of duty for his actions. His punishment included a written reprimand and having to forfeit $5,600 US in pay.
Gen. Hal Hornburg did not write an opinion in Tuesday's ruling. He just check-marked "appeal denied."
Schmidt, 39, has agreed that he will never fly U.S. air force jets again, although he remains in the National Guard.
Schmidt was one of two National Guard pilots who dropped bombs on Canadian forces during a nighttime, live-fire military exercise near Kandahar on April 18, 2002.
The four soldiers – Pte. Richard Green, Pte. Nathan Smith, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer and Sgt. Marc Leger – were the first Canadians killed in combat since the Korean War. Eight others were wounded.
Schmidt maintains he was not briefed on the Canadian exercise before the flight. He says he was told in the briefing that the Taliban was active in the area.
"It does bring closure, some form of closure, because now we can go on with our lives," Lloyd Smith, father of Nathan Smith, told the Associated Press from his home in Tatamagouche, N.S.
"Enough has been said and enough has been done and the rulings, in our opinion, are suitable and adequate."
U.S. 'friendly fire' pilot loses final appeal
Last Updated Wed, 04 Aug 2004 09:55:36 EDT
NEW ORLEANS - A U.S. fighter pilot reprimanded for accidentally dropping a bomb on Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan two years ago, killing four of them, has lost his final air force appeal.
INDEPTH: Friendly Fire
Major Harry Schmidt (AP File Photo)
Last month, Major Harry Schmidt was found guilty of derelicition of duty for his actions. His punishment included a written reprimand and having to forfeit $5,600 US in pay.
Gen. Hal Hornburg did not write an opinion in Tuesday's ruling. He just check-marked "appeal denied."
Schmidt, 39, has agreed that he will never fly U.S. air force jets again, although he remains in the National Guard.
Schmidt was one of two National Guard pilots who dropped bombs on Canadian forces during a nighttime, live-fire military exercise near Kandahar on April 18, 2002.
The four soldiers – Pte. Richard Green, Pte. Nathan Smith, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer and Sgt. Marc Leger – were the first Canadians killed in combat since the Korean War. Eight others were wounded.
Schmidt maintains he was not briefed on the Canadian exercise before the flight. He says he was told in the briefing that the Taliban was active in the area.
"It does bring closure, some form of closure, because now we can go on with our lives," Lloyd Smith, father of Nathan Smith, told the Associated Press from his home in Tatamagouche, N.S.
"Enough has been said and enough has been done and the rulings, in our opinion, are suitable and adequate."