Did we do that ?
Saturday, December 11, 2004
(CNN) -- A Navy pilot killed during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was shot down by U.S. Army soldiers who mistakenly believed an enemy missile was heading their way, according to a military investigation.
The Army battery violated proper firing procedures when it launch two missiles as two U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighter jets returning from a mission in central Iraq on April 2, 2003 approached their position, according to the report.
Lt. Nathan White, was killed when both missiles hit his jet. The other pilot returned safely to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, according to the report.
The missile system also failed to properly identify the two aircraft, according to an executive summary of the report released Friday evening.
No disciplinary action will be taken against the soldiers involved in the incident, Army officials said. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in Iraq and the Middle East.
Navy officials said that the pilots were not at fault, and radio systems identifying them as friendly forces were operating as they approached the missile batteries.