WHAT'S IN A WORD...
FRIENDLY FIRE
BLUE ON BLUE
FRATRICIDE
AMERICAN 'COWBOY' PILOT SLAMMED BY BRITS
Mar 31 2003
From Patrick Barkham, The Daily Mirror (UK), with Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus in the Gulf
THREE British soldiers wounded in a "friendly fire" accident lashed out yesterday at the "cowboy" American pilot who blasted their armoured convoy.
One serviceman was killed and another is in intensive care after coalition markings on the Household Cavalry Scimitars were apparently missed from about 500 metres and only 50 metres above ground.
Lance Corporal of Horse Steven Gerrard, 33, said: "Combat is what I've been trained for. I can command my vehicle. I can keep it from being attacked.
"What I have not been trained to do is look over my shoulder to see whether an American is shooting at me."
The A-10 anti-tank aircraft made two separate forays on the five-vehicle convoy - and survivors waved at him to try to attract his attention before the second.
"He had absolutely no regard for human life," added LCoH Gerrard. "I believe he was a cowboy.
"There were four or five that I noticed earlier and this one had broken off and was on his own when he attacked us. He'd just gone out on a jolly. I'm curious about what's going to happen to the pilot. He's killed one of my friends and he's killed him on the second run."
LCoH Gerrard, Lieutenant Alex MacEwen, 25, and Trooper Chris Finney, 18, were nursing shrapnel wounds aboard Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Argus in the Gulf.
LCoH Matty Hull died, the comrade badly hurt was aboard Argus, and a sixth soldier escaped unhurt.
10:44:12 PM 
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