Extracts of leaked US cockpit video
Crew in video are told they are clear of “friendly” forces before attacking convoy.
The pilot has the call sign “Popov36”, his wingman is “Popov35”. Other call signs in the transcript are: “Manila Hotel”, “Manila 34” and “Lightning34”, which the paper said are three US marine air controllers based on the ground with the British units.
– Begin extracts –
Manila Hotel [13:40:52 GMT]: “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.”
Popov35 [13:41:00]: “Yeah, Manila34 is working them, roger.”
Popov35: “The F18s are working Manila34, break, break.”
Popov36 [13:40:12]: “Yeah, I see that, you see I’m going to roll down.”
Manila34 [13:40:15]: “Break, be advised Manila34 is not working the F18s unless they are trying to check in with me, over.”
Popov35 [13:41:21]: “Copy.”
Popov36 [13:41:24]: “OK, do you see the orange things on top of them?”
Manila Hotel [13:41:32]: “Popov36 from Manila Hotel. Are you able to switch to Crimson?”
Popov36 [13:41:37]: “Popov36 is rolling in.”
Manila Hotel [13:41:40]: “Tell you what.”
Popov35 [13:41:41]: “I’m coming off west. You roll in. It looks like they are exactly what we’re talking about.”
Popov36 [13:41:49]: “We got visual.”
Popov36 [13:41:50]: “OK. I want to get that first one in before he gets to that town then.”
Popov35 [13:41:53]: “Get him – get him.”
Popov36 [13:41:55]: “All right, we got rocket launchers, it looks like. Number 2 is rolling in from the south to the north, and 2’s in.”
Popov35 [13:42:04]: “Get it.”
[13:42:09] – GUNFIRE –
– Later it becomes clear that they have hit a “friendly” target in what is referred as a “blue on blue situation” –
Lightning34 [13:44:12]: “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.”
Popov35 [13:44:16]: “Ahh [expletive].”
Popov35 [13:44:19]: “Got a – got a smoke.”
Lightning34 [13:44:21]: “Hey, Popov34, abort your mission. You got a, looks we might have a blue on blue situation.”
Popov35 [13:44:25]: “[Expletive]. God bless it.”
Popov35 [13:44:29]: “Popov34.”
Popov35 [13:44:35]: “[Expletive], [expletive], [expletive].”
Manila34 [13:44:36]: “Popov34, this is Manila34. Did you copy my last, over?”
Popov35 [13:44:39]: “I did.”
Popov35 [13:44:47]: “Confirm those are friendlies on that side of the canal.”
Popov35 [13:44:51]: “[Expletive].”
Manila34 [13:44:58]: “Standby Popov.”
Popov36 [13:45:04]: “God dammit.”
– Later –
Manila34 [13:47:02]: “Roger, we are getting an initial brief that there was one killed and one wounded, over.”
Popov35 [13:47:09]: “Copy. RTB [return to base].”
Popov35 [13:47:18]: “I’m going to be sick.”
Popov36 [13:47:24]: “Ah [expletive].”
Popov35 [13:47:48]: “Did you hear?”
Popov36 [13:47:51]: “Yeah, this sucks.”
Popov35 [13:47:52]: “We’re in jail, dude.”
Popov36 [13:47:59]: “Aah.”
– End extracts –