RE the "friendly fire" incident that killed Matty Hull - transcipt released by The Sun

[Piffle]

Full transcipt from sky news who obtained from The Sun
Gutting to read it, truly gutting, this whole incident has really got to me.

Here is the full transcript of the cockpit video from a US pilot, call sign POPOV36, during the friendly fire attack on the Household Cavalry patrol, which killed British soldier Matty Hull in 2003.

The other pilot, call sign POPOV35, is in a second A-10 tankbuster and they are searching for targets in Iraq.

The tape lasts just over 15 minutes and begins just before four British vehicles are spotted.

The local time is 4.36pm, or 1.36pm (GMT).

The other main call signs are MANILA HOTEL, MANILA34 and LIGHTNING34 - they are three US Marine Corps Forward Air Controllers on the ground attached to British units.

Later on, other call signs come in to relay emergency ceasefire messages.

They are SKY CHIEF, an American AWAC jet controlling the overall air battle and COSTA58, a British pilot nearby.

The time code in hours, minutes and seconds is from the digital clock on the pilot's display.

The Sun has obtained the video.

Transcript starts:

1336.30 MANILA HOTEL:

POPOV from MANILA HOTEL. Can you confirm you engaged that tube and those vehicles?

1336.36 POPOV35:

Affirm Sir. Looks like I've got multiple vehicles in reverts at about 800 metres to the north of your arty rounds. Can you switch fire, and shift fire, and get some arty rounds on those?

1336.47 MANILA HOTEL:

Roger, I understand that those are the impacts you observed earlier on my timing?

1336.51 POPOV35:

Affirmative.

1336.52 MANILA HOTEL:

Roger, standby. Let me make sure they're not on another mission.

1336.57 POPOV36:

Hey, I got a four ship. Looks like we got orange panels on them though. Do we have any friendlies up in this area?

1337.03 MANILA HOTEL:

I understand that was north 800 metres.

1337.12 MANILA HOTEL:

POPOV, understand that was north 800 metres?

1337.16 POPOV35:

Confirm, north 800 metres. Confirm there are no friendlies this far north on the ground.

1337.21 MANILA HOTEL:

That is an affirm. You are well clear of friendlies.

1337.25 POPOV35:

Copy. I see multiple riveted vehicles. Some look like flatbed trucks and others are green vehicles. Can't quite make out the type. Look like may be ZIL157s (Russian made trucks used by Iraqi army).

1337.36 MANILA HOTEL:

Roger. That matches our Intel up there. And understand you also have the other fixed wing up this push? For terminal control, if you can.

1337.44 POPOV35:

I'd love to. I didn't talk to him yet.

1337.46 MANILA HOTEL:

Roger, I believe CASPER is up this push too. Two Super Tomcats.

1337.54 POPOV35:

Hey dude.

1337.56 POPOV36:

I got a four ship of vehicles that are evenly spaced along a road going north.

1338.04 POPOV36:

Look down at your right, 2 o'clock, at 10 o'clock low, there is a, left 10 o'clock low, look down there north along that canal, right there. Coming up just south of the village.

1338.21 POPOV35:

Evenly spaced? Where we strafed?

1338.23 POPOV36:

No. No. Further east, further west, right now. And there's four or five of them right now heading up there.

1338.29 POPOV35:

No, I don't have you visual.

1338.30 POPOV36:

I'm back at your 6 - no factor.

1338.31 POPOV35:

OK, now where's this canal?

1338.35 POPOV35:

Don't hit those F18s that are out there.

1338.38 POPOV36:

OK. Right underneath you. Right now, there's a canal that runs north/south. There's a small village, and there are vehicles that are spaced evenly there.

1338.49 POPOV36:

They look like they have orange panels on though.

1338.51 POPOV35:

He told me, he told me there's nobody north of here.

1338.52 POPOV36:

I know. There, right on the river.

1338.53 POPOV35:

I see vehicles though, might be our original dudes.

1339.09 POPOV36:

They've got something orange on top of them.

1339.10 POPOV35:

POPOV for MANILA 3, is MANILA 34 in this area?

1339.14 MANILA HOTEL:

Say again?

1339.15 POPOV35:

MANILA HOTEL, is MANILA 34 in this area?

1339.19 MANILA HOTEL:

Negative. Understand they are well clear of that now.

1339.23 POPOV35:

OK, copy. Like I said, multiple riveted vehicles. They look like flatbed trucks. Are those your targets?

1339.30 MANILA HOTEL:

That's affirm.

1339.31 POPOV35:

OK.

1339.34 POPOV36:

Let me ask you one question.

1339.35 POPOV35:

What's that?

1339.45 POPO36:

(to MANILA HOTEL) Hey, tell me what type of rocket launchers you got up here?

1339.50 POPOV36:

I think they're rocket launchers.

1339.52 MANILA HOTEL:

. . . (garbled) You were stepped on, say again.

1339.54 POPOV35:

MANILA HOTEL, fire your arty (artillery) up that 800 metres north, and see how we do.

1340.01 MANILA HOTEL:

Roger, standby for shot. They are getting adjustments to the guns now.

1340.34 POPOV35:

Copy.

1340.09 POPOV36:

Roll up your right wing and look right underneath you.

1340.12 POPOV35:

(angry) I know what you're talking about.

1340.13 POPOV36:

OK, well they got orange rockets on them.

1340.17 POPOV35:

Orange rockets?

1340.17 POPOV36:

Yeah, I think so.

1340.18 POPOV35:

Let me look.

1340.26 POPOV35:

We need to think about getting home.

1340.29 POPOV36:

3.6 is what it says (a fuel measurement).

1340.31 POPOV35:

Yeah, I know. I'm talking time wise.

1340.35 POPOV36:

I think killing these damn rocket launchers, it would be great.

(The tape then becomes garbled)

1340.52 MANILA HOTEL:

Yeah, POPOV36, MANILA HOTEL. I've got other aircraft up this push. Not sure they're coming to me. Someone else might be working this freak.

1341.00 POPOV35:

Yeah, MANILA34 is working them, break, break.

1340.12 POPOV36:

Yeah, I see that, you see I'm going to roll down.

1340.15 MANILA 34:

Break, be advised MANILA34 is not working the F18s unless they are trying to check in with me, over.

1341.21 POPOV35:

Copy.

1341.24 POPOV36:

OK, do you see the orange things on top of them?

1341.32 MANILA HOTEL:

POPOV 36 from MANILA HOTEL. Are you able to switch to Crimson?

1341.37 POPOV36:

POPOV 36 is rolling in.

1341.40 MANILA HOTEL:

Tell you what.

1341.41 POPOV35:

I'm coming off west. You roll in. It looks like they are exactly what we're talking about.

1341.49 POPOV36:

We got visual.

1341.50 POPOV36:

OK. I want to get that first one before he gets into town then.

1341.53 POPOV35:

Get him - get him.

1341.55 POPOV36:

All right, we got rocket launchers, it looks like. Number 2 is rolling in from the south to the north, and 2's in.

1342.04 POPOV35:

Get it.

POPOV36, "rolls in" for an attack and turns his A-10 into a vertical dive to strafe the British column, destroying two Scimitar armoured vehicles and killing L/Cpl of Horse Matty Hull.

1342.09 - GUNFIRE -

1342.18 POPOV35:

I'm off your west.

1342.22 POPOV35:

Good hits.

1342.29 POPOV36:

Got a visual.

1342.30 POPOV35:

I got a visual. You're at your high 10.

1342.31 POPOV36:

Gotcha.

1342.30 POPOV36:

That's what you think they are, right?

1342.39 POPOV35:

It looks like it to me, and I got my goggles on them now.

1342.59 POPOV35:

OK, I'm looking at getting down low at this.

1343.13 MANILA HOTEL:

POPOV 36 from MANILA HOTEL, guns . . .

1343.17 MANILA HOTEL:

To engage those targets in the revetts (slopes).

1343.24 POPOV36:

It looks like he is hauling ass. Ha ha. Is that what you think they are?

1343.34 POPOV36:

The footage from The Sun 1-2

1343.35 POPOV35:

It doesn't look friendly.

1343.38 POPOV36:

OK, I'm in again from the south.

1343.40 POPOV35:

Ok.

1343.47 - GUNFIRE -

1343.54 LIGHTNING 34:

POPOV 34, LIGHTNING 34.

1344.09 POPOV35:

POPOV 35, LIGHTNING 34 GO.

1344.12 LIGHTNING 34:

Roger, POPOV. Be advised that in the 3122 and 3222 group box you have friendly armour in the area. Yellow, small armoured tanks. Just be advised.

1344.16 POPOV35:

Ahh s*.

1344.19 P0POV35:

Got a - got a smoke.

1344.21 LIGHTNING 34:

Hey, POPOV34, abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue on blue situation.

1344.25 POPOV35:

F*. God bless it.

1344.29 POPOV35:

POPOV 34.

1344.35 POPOV35:

F, f, f*.

1344.36 MANILA 34:

POPOV34, this is MANILA 34. Did you copy my last, over?

1344.39 POPOV35:

I did.

1344.47 POPOV35:

Confirm those are friendlies on that side of the canal.

1344.51 POPOV35:

S*.

1344.58 MANILA 34:

Standby POPOV.

1345.04 POPOV36:

God dammit.

1344.14 MANILA HOTEL:

Hey POPOV 36, from MANILA HOTEL.

1344.25 MANILA 34:

OK POPOV. Just west of the 3-4 easting. On the berm up there, the 3422 area is where we have our friendlies, over.

1344.39 POPOV35:

All right, POPOV 35 has smoke. Let me know how those friendlies are right now, please.

1344.45 MANILA 34:

Roger, standby.

1344.49 POPOV35:

Gotta go home dude.

1344.50 POPOV36:

Yeah, I know. We're f*ed.

1345.54 POPOV35:

S*.

1346.01 POPOV36:

As you cross the circle, you are 3 o'clock low.

1346.03 POPOV35:

Roger.

1346.12 POPOV35:

POPOV 35 is Bingo. Let us know what's happening.

13446.15 MANILA HOTEL:

Roger. We are getting that information for you right now. Standby.

1346.20 POPOV36:

F*.

1346.47 MANILA 34:

POPOV, this is MANILA 34 over.

1346.51 POPOV35:

Go.

1346.55 MANILA 34:

POPOV 4, MANILA 34 over.

1347.01 POPOV35:

Go.

1347.02 MANILA 34:

We are getting an initial brief that there was one killed and one wounded, over.

1347.09 POPOV35:

Copy. RTB (return to base).

1347.18 POPOV35:

I'm going to be sick.

1347.24 POPOV36:

Ah f*.

1347.48 POPOV35:

Did you hear?

1347.51 POPOV36:

Yeah, this sucks.

1347.52 POPOV35:

We're in jail dude.

1347.59 POPOV36:

Aaaahhhh.

1348.12 SKY CHIEF:

MANILA this is SKY CHIEF over.

1348.18 MANILA34:

This is MANILA 34, send SKY CHIEF.

1348.22 COSTA58:

SKY CHIEF, SKY CHIEF. COSTA 58.

1348.25 MANILA HOTEL:

SKY CHIEF, this is MANILA HOTEL.

1348.30 COSTA58:

SKY CHIEF, SKY CHIEF. COSTA 58.

1348.41 SKY CHIEF:

Relaying for TWINACT, the A-10s are running against friendlies.

1348.47 COSTA58:

POPOV 35, this is COSTA58. Relaying message for TWINACT. Abort, abort.

1348.54 SKY CHIEF:

MANILA how copy A-10s are running against friendlies. Abort. Over.

1349.07 COSTA58:

From TWINACT, abort, abort.

1349. 11 POPOV35:

POPOV 35 aborting.

1349.14 COSTA58:

We will relay that back to TWINACT.

1349.18 POPOV36:

F. God fing s*.

1350.21 POPOV36:

Dammit. F*ing damn it.

1351.17 P0POV36:

God dammit. F* me dead (weeping).

1351.25 POPOV35:

You with me?

1351.27 POPOV36:

Yeah.

1351.30 POPOV35:

They did say there were no friendlies.

1351.33 POPOV36:

Yeah, I know that thing with the orange panels is going to screw us. They look like orange rockets on top.

1351.48 POPOV35:

Your tape still on?

1351.49 POPOV36:

Yeah.

1351.54 POPOV35:

Jesus.....can't say much more than that can you?

The explanation on the news was that the pilots were not where Manila Hotel thought they were, so they were both talking about different areas. Which is just absolutely terrifying for all concerned.

2 words

'orange' 'panels'

this story is a scandal and shows MOD as lackies to the US Army and must be horrific for his family

but he also lucky in the sense that there IS an inquiry into his death and some sense of conclusion for them...

tens of thousands of iraqis are dead (officially 650,000) dying murdered orphaned ...did anyone see front page of independant today..this whole war was a mistake start middle and end....

Jools I read that thread too first!
this is the actual transcript, it was bad enough to hear it from the guys that were shot on but to hear the complete fuck up ops commands from the A 10 team
Jesus H

Just really feel for his family now

Seems that one of the pilots was not sure at all. Asked for confirmation over and over. Ops commands fucked up totally.

Im glad you cant actually see anything on the video.

and had the pilots disobeyed ops commanders...
that's got pretty serious repercussions for the pilots too.
the army has a hierachy and it should be accountable

Agree piffle.

I would love to know who gave it to the Sun - I hope whoever it is doesn't get into deep trouble for it.

And I do feel for the pilot responsible - I know the orange panels were mentioned more than once, but there was also a ref to orange rocket launchers, and when they are swooping around at ridiculous speeds it must be hard to be sure, they have to make snap decisions, don't they?

The whole thing sucks but the cover-up on the US side sucks most.

And, ref what suzycc said, it would be something if the prospect of having killed an Iraqi soldier bothered them a bit

But so does the MOD's declaration that this video didn't exist - and their subsequent attempts to avoid its disclosure when it became public knowledge that it did exist.

I think this is outrageous. Out of respect for the dead, I will not read the OP. I will not watch that video cirling round the internet either. Men and women killed in battle are generally now shown on the news out of respect for the dead. And this news coverage really pushes the limits for me. I find it appauling.

May Mattie Hull and his memory rest in peace...

Uwila, you don't actually see anything on the tape - nothing that makes any sense to ordinary civilians, anyway. It's more what is said that is significant.

This is from the BBC news website:

The US believes it can make the cockpit video of the "friendly fire" death of a British soldier available to an inquest, Downing Street has said.

Seems to be too little, too late really.

Apparantly the person who released this tape to the Sun will be held accountable and suffer serious consequences.

If anyone is responsible for the death of this young man (as opposed to it being just a tragic accident) it would be nice if the US military considerd that that person should suffer as serious consequences as someone who releases the tape.

What I find quite noteworthy about this, is the astonishing independence of Mr Rupert Murdoch. The US military have obviously offended him in some way...

there's really no point in having identifying protocols if they're going to be ignored.

uwila this has been pushed for by the family from the off. Had the evidence been made available to the coroner in a closed court initially, then this may not have needed to come out, it si the cover up and lies that are the most offensive action of the media furore.
But I too would draw the line at a video.

As for Mr Murdoch he is hosting fundraisers for Hillary Clinton so one could assume his loyalty lies firmly within the other camp...

do they know the actual source of story? then caligula?

wont they have to take editors to court and all that if they protect their source?
oh, but suppose it is the Sun!!

the source could be us military themselves as damage limitation special relationship type move..its only a few pilots to them..just a thought....

hijack: is suzycreamcheese and sunnywong the same person?

No, the really are completely different Jools

joolstoo..really, did you think so?
i meant to apologise to her..suzywong..i didnt see your name before i posted sorry...

no we are not the same...can you hear me people?

do you say that to all the fairys / cats and kittys / and lots of similar names i cant think of right now?

Oh yes hadn't thought of that... maybe it is the US military who released it deliberately.

I love a good conspiracy, don't you?

caligula, yes i do...truth often stranger than fiction though
i do think it was released by US military though, its good way of getting it out without them loosing face too much...mind you its hardly pay back for us following them blindly and unquestionably into war, er i mean, tony's legacy...