Thursday, March 24, 2011

U.S. rescue team shoot six Libyan civilians rushing to greet downed American fighter crew

UK Daily Mail
  • Both pilot and weapons officer slightly injured but safe in U.S. hands
  • Six villagers shot by Marines sent to pick up pilot
  • Father of little boy who may loose leg after shooting 'bears no malice' towards coalition
  • Libyan civilians who met plane's weapons officer said 'Don't be scared, we are your friends' and gave him fruit juice
  • U.S. fires 20 more Tomahawks into Libya, bringing total to 159
  • Misarata under fire and rebels attacked by loyalist offensive in Adjabiyah
  • Defence Sec Robert Gates warns targeting Gaddafi would be 'unwise'
Six Libyan villagers are recovering in hospital after being shot by American soldiers coming in to rescue the U.S. pilots whose plane crash-landed in a field.

The helicopter strafed the ground as it landed in a field outside Benghazi beside the downed U.S. Air Force F-15E Eagle which ran into trouble during bombing raid last night.

And a handful of locals who had come to greet the pilot were hit - among them a young boy who may have to have a leg amputated because of injuries caused by a bullet wound.

A second aviator - the F15's weapons officer - was found in a field full of sheep and was greeted like a hero by locals and anti-Gaddafi rebels...[Full Article]