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Double D · 06-19-2003, 02:06 PM

Thu June 19, 2003 04:43 PM ET

By Charles Aldinger
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force on Thursday dropped criminal charges against two pilots who mistakenly killed four Canadian troops in a bombing raid in Afghanistan last year.

F-16 pilots Maj. Harry Schmidt and Maj. William Umbach had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, dereliction of duty and assault in last year's "friendly fire" incident and each could have faced up to 64 years in prison if convicted in a military court-martial.

Instead, U.S. 8th Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson said in a statement that Umbach would get a letter of reprimand and a recommendation that his request for retirement be granted. Schmidt's case would be reviewed by his commanders in a "nonjudicial" proceeding.

Maximum punishment for Schmidt would be 30 days arrest in quarters, loss of half his pay for two months and a restriction on his movements for 60 days, the Air Force said.

Carlson also recommended that Schmidt face a special evaluation board to determine if he should continue to fly.

Schmidt could reject the non-judicial proceeding and demand a court-martial if he chooses, the Air Force said.

The April 17, 2002, accident near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan killed four and wounded eight members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. It caused outrage in Canada and President Bush publicly apologized.

NO CRITICISM FROM CANADA

Gen. Ray Henault, head of the Canadian Forces, issued a brief statement acknowledging Carlson's decision, but not criticizing it.

"While risk is an inherent part of military operations, we will continue to work with our allies to mitigate the possibility of such a tragedy recurring," he said.

Flying in separate F-16s, the two pilots mistook a night anti-tank exercise by the Canadians near Kandahar for enemy fire in their direction. The Canadians said, however, that the fire was not directed into the sky,

Despite instructions to hold off from attacking, Schmidt said he was "rolling in, in self defense" and dropped a 500-pound (230-kg) bomb on what the pilots later learned were members of the Canadian unit.

Schmidt, 37, said he thought Umbach, the 44-year-old flight leader, was being fired on in an "ambush" by Afghan Taliban forces.

During January's Article 32 military hearing to determine the future of the case, the pilots apologized to the victims and their families and said they deeply regretted the incident, an emotional issue in Canada and an embarrassment to the U.S. military. They blamed the fog of war.

The officer who presided over that hearing, Air Force Col. Patrick Rosenow, recommended to Carlson that the pilots not face a court-martial but instead be punished without a trial.
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Hrm, not sure how I feel about this one. I'm Canadian, raised in the States- the pilots come from the state in which I've resided for 18 years. One pilot blames *the fog of war,* for the accidental killing of the Canucks.

06-19-2003, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Double D Junkie Location: Chicagoland	U.S. Air Force Drops Charges in Friendly Fire Bombing Thu June 19, 2003 04:43 PM ET By Charles Aldinger WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force on Thursday dropped criminal charges against two pilots who mistakenly killed four Canadian troops in a bombing raid in Afghanistan last year. F-16 pilots Maj. Harry Schmidt and Maj. William Umbach had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, dereliction of duty and assault in last year's "friendly fire" incident and each could have faced up to 64 years in prison if convicted in a military court-martial. Instead, U.S. 8th Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson said in a statement that Umbach would get a letter of reprimand and a recommendation that his request for retirement be granted. Schmidt's case would be reviewed by his commanders in a "nonjudicial" proceeding. Maximum punishment for Schmidt would be 30 days arrest in quarters, loss of half his pay for two months and a restriction on his movements for 60 days, the Air Force said. Carlson also recommended that Schmidt face a special evaluation board to determine if he should continue to fly. Schmidt could reject the non-judicial proceeding and demand a court-martial if he chooses, the Air Force said. The April 17, 2002, accident near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan killed four and wounded eight members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. It caused outrage in Canada and President Bush publicly apologized. NO CRITICISM FROM CANADA Gen. Ray Henault, head of the Canadian Forces, issued a brief statement acknowledging Carlson's decision, but not criticizing it. "While risk is an inherent part of military operations, we will continue to work with our allies to mitigate the possibility of such a tragedy recurring," he said. Flying in separate F-16s, the two pilots mistook a night anti-tank exercise by the Canadians near Kandahar for enemy fire in their direction. The Canadians said, however, that the fire was not directed into the sky, Despite instructions to hold off from attacking, Schmidt said he was "rolling in, in self defense" and dropped a 500-pound (230-kg) bomb on what the pilots later learned were members of the Canadian unit. Schmidt, 37, said he thought Umbach, the 44-year-old flight leader, was being fired on in an "ambush" by Afghan Taliban forces. During January's Article 32 military hearing to determine the future of the case, the pilots apologized to the victims and their families and said they deeply regretted the incident, an emotional issue in Canada and an embarrassment to the U.S. military. They blamed the fog of war. The officer who presided over that hearing, Air Force Col. Patrick Rosenow, recommended to Carlson that the pilots not face a court-martial but instead be punished without a trial. -------------------------------- Hrm, not sure how I feel about this one. I'm Canadian, raised in the States- the pilots come from the state in which I've resided for 18 years. One pilot blames the fog of war, for the accidental killing of the Canucks. Last edited by Double D; 06-19-2003 at 11:04 PM..