At the inquest in England into the death of 25 YO soldier killed in a friendly fire incident in 2003 near Basara it was revealed that the Ministry of Defense lied for four years to the family as to the availability of cockpit video. The video of US A 10 Warthogs mistakenly attacking a British column of light tanks was subsequently obtained by the Sun Newspapers and released on the internet. It makes for amazing viewing (or rather hearing ) and it is hard to figure who is culpable in this sorry incident. The pilot clearly feels terribly about the events. The political ramifications in the UK are unknown as they are less tolerant of government lying.
An inquest into the death of L/Cpl Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, was adjourned last week after the coroner said the tape was central to the case.
The MoD said it was classified "secret" by the US, so could not be released.
The Sun says the video shows US aircraft attacking a British convoy in Basra, southern Iraq, in March 2003.
The paper has published a transcript of what it says was said by US military personnel on the video and says it will release copies of the video footage to other media organisations later.
Last week, when the existence of the tape came to light, L/Cpl Hull's widow, Susan, described it as an "absolute disgrace" that she had been assured by the military no such tape existed.
L/Cpl Hull, from the Household Cavalry Regiment, died from multiple injuries inside his blazing Scimitar tank, despite efforts by colleagues to save him.
He was travelling in a column of light armoured vehicles near the southern Iraqi city of Basra when it was reportedly attacked by a US A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft.
BBC
The US DOD of course was most interested in who released the video not what it might have shown or what we can do to avoid this kind of tragedy.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said the US government never released documents that were part of an investigation.
The US government would view whoever leaked the video as "criminally responsible", the spokeswoman added.
BBC
The traditionally sensationalist Sun newspaper had an exclusive that is getting a great deal of play in the UK given the sensitive nature of any unfortunate friendly fire event and the sad case of the military lying to the family of a dead soldier.
The Sun link to article and cockpit video