Air Emergency (2003–…): Season 3, Episode 5 - Mistaken Identity - full transcript
Iran Air flight 655, a civilian Airbus A310, mistakenly identified as a hostile fighter plane, is shot down by a US Navy Warship in the Middle East in 1988.
(SIREN)
All hands, man your battle stations.
July, 1988.
A US Navy cruiser is battling Iranian
gunboats in the Persian Gulf.
Suddenly it's radar picks up
a mystery aircraft.
Is this plane friend or foe?
They have seven minutes decide.
As the aircraft draws ever closer
the pressure mounts.
Captain, due you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
The captain is faced with
a terrible choice,
shoot it down, or risk the lives
of his own crew.
(SIREN)
(AEROPLANE ENGINES)
It's a routine short haul flight,
but an Iranian passenger jet
is heading in to mortal danger.
Opening fire with guns.
It's approaching a warzone in which
a US Navy ship is engaged in combat.
The crew are on
a state of high alert,
anything that draws near
is seen as a threat.
Air contact still inbound
increasing speed...
You are approaching United States
naval warship...
Now your in real serious business.
You're standing into danger.
Wait a minute I could be dead.
Range 13 miles.
The aircraft is not responding
to warnings.
Iran Air 655, seems oblivious
to the danger.
In 1988, Iran and Iraq have reached
a stalemate in a savage
eight year conflict.
It's a war of attrition, and both
sides oil exports are a target.
The United States has become chief
watchdog of the Persian Gulf.
Over 30 US warships protect
neutral tankers.
Dawn, July 3rd, after a month
on routine patrol,
the USS Vincennes, is heading towards
port in Bahrain.
Her crew are due a few days rest
and recuperation.
But while his men are looking
forward to the July 4th break,
Captain Will Rogers is already up.
He's received disturbing reports from
US intelligence,
warning him to expect trouble from
Iranian forces
over this holiday weekend.
(BEEPING)
Yeah?
In the Vincennes combat information
centre, the watch officer
has received an urgent message
from another ship in the US fleet,
that Iranian gunboats are harassing
a Pakistani merchant vessel.
Skipper you better come down,
sounds like the Montgomery's got
her nose in a beehive.
I'll be right there.
The frigate USS Elmer Montgomery
is north of the Vincennes
near the narrow Strait of Hormuz.
It's here that Iranian gunboats
have been most active
in attacking oil tankers as they
exit the Persian Gulf.
Designed to protect an aircraft
carrier group, the Vincennes
is a billion dollar Aegis cruiser.
It's armed with Mk. 26
missile launchers,
Harpoon anti ship missiles,
two five inch guns,
and a Phalanx close in weapon system
which fires over 3,000 rounds
per minute.
But what makes the ship so special,
is it's high tech radar.
The phased array, Spy One, can
simultaneously search and track
over 100 targets,
over 300 kilometres away.
To crew members like Mike Zunino,
and Mark Neilson,
the Vincennes is simply
Star Wars at sea.
Oh, I was very proud,
just technically it just felt,
a strong, secure ship to be on.
it felt invincible in a way.
We had some of the most up-to-date
weaponry,
in the radar and everything else.
there wasn't a whole lot
we couldn't do.
Inside the combat information centre,
Captain Rogers,
oversees a state of the art
computerised
command and control system.
His large screen displays give him an
instant picture
of the tactical situation.
Lieutenant Commander Vic Gilory
is the tactical action officer,
responsible for surface warfare.
Vic, what have we got on visual?
We got a cluster of boghammers here
near the Montgomery.
another cluster maybe closing
the merchant vessel.
Over a dozed Iranian Boghammer
gunboats appear to be preparing
to attack a merchant ship.
Boghammer's are the generic name
for fast speedboats
manned by the Iranian
Revolutionary guards,
a fundamentalist paramilitary force.
We knew that they had rockets,
we knew that they had machine guns,
we knew if they got within a certain
range they could,
you know, literally fire off their
rockets and cause grave danger.
In 1988, Iranian forces, had been
attacking up to 13 foreign
tankers per month.
Their aim is to prevent Saddam
Hussein from exporting Iraqi oil.
Captain Rogers sends his helicopter,
call sign Ocean Lord,
to investigate just what
the boats are up to.
Roger that Vincennes out.
Vector in Ocean Lord.
Ocean Lord is a Sikorsky Seahawk,
a twin engine helicopter,
designed for reconnaissance, anti
submarine and anti-ship warfare.
Roger Trinity Sword, we read you.
Vectoring towards
the Montgomery now.
Ocean Lord's pilot soon
finds the gunboats.
They're not acting suspiciously.
But he flies too close to
the Iranian craft.
The response is immediate, a burst
of anti-aircraft fire.
Jesus! Trinity Sword, this is
Ocean Lord 2-5, we are taking fire.
Executing evasion, clearing.
2-5, this is Trinity Sword actual.
Is anyone hurt? Confirm hostile fire
Over.
Trinity Sword, no injuries.
We confirm eight to ten rounds
of airburst from the northern most
group of Iranian small craft. Over.
Ocean Lord, this is
Trinity Sword actual,
turn immediately to Vincennes cover.
Close Ocean Lord's position at
best speed bearing 3-3-0...
Under the US rules of engagement
Captain Rogers is allowed to respond
with force in self-defence.
By chance a navy media crew is on
the bridge filming,
as the ship surges north
at over 30 knots.
Captain Rogers is now heading
for a lethal confrontation
with the Iranian gunboats.
It will be the Vincennes first time
in action,
the outcome will be catastrophic.
Meanwhile some 87 kilometres away
at Iran's Bandar Abbas Airport,
Iran Air flight 655 is waiting
to push back,
for a routine 28 minute hop across
the Strait of Hormuz to Dubai.
37 year old Mohsen Rezaian,
is the captain.
His brother Hossain knows that he's
dedicated to the job.
..665 standing by for ATC clearance.
He was enjoying what he was doing,
he really liked it.
He was logging so many hours,
over 10'000 hours of flight.
Request update on status...
Captain Rezaien's flight is delayed,
it's 27 minutes behind schedule,
due to a passenger
with immigration problems.
The hold up will soon confuse
the crew of Vincennes
despite all their sophisticated
technology.
On the bridge a navy media crew
continues to film
as the Vincennes closes within
striking distance
of the Iranian boghammer gun boats.
..three degrees to 0-1-5.
Got a visual on the boghammer.
Even though his helicopter
has already been shot at,
Captain Rogers only has the authority
to open fire if he believes his ship
is under direct threat.
In the Gulf haze, it's hard to see
just what the gunboats are doing.
One appears to be going out
starboard and one's in the middle.
The one off the starboard bow
has a machine gun.
But Captain Rogers doesn't have to
wait for the gunboats to open fire.
If they behave aggressively,
that's reason enough for
him to take the first shot.
Coming inbound fast. One at
350 inbound.
This is Vincennes request permission
to engage boghammer group.
The surface commander for the Gulf
is on-board his ship in Bahrain.
Captain Richard McKenna has no
hesitation in granting permission.
Vincennes this is Gulf Sierra,
take boghammer group with guns.
The rules of engagement at
that juncture were quite clear,
and so there was no question as to
what was required at that juncture.
Say again, take boghammer group
with guns, over.
Gulf Sierra, this is Vincennes
opening fire with guns,
assume hostile track, 4-4-5-6.
Vincennes out.
Fire for effect.
We're making track, with guns.
It's 9:43 am, a routine encounter
in the Persian Gulf,
has become deadly serious.
This is the first that the crew of
the Vincennes has ever seen action.
Combat was, you know, that was
the furthest thing probably,
for many of us, even though we
were a combat ship.
It was one of those things like,
it'll never happen to us.
But, yeah it did.
The gunboats are now shooting back,
but their fire is falling well short.
The Vincennes and the Montgomery,
take them on together.
Verify me rounds to the tray.
The Vincennes and the Montgomery,
are now locked
in a full scale sea battle.
Anything that approaches
the US ships
will be assessed as
a possible threat.
Battery released ten rounds.
(EXPLOSION)
Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig,
is the officer responsible
for alerting the captain about
potential airborne threats.
He's been tracking an aircraft
that has suddenly changed course,
and is now heading towards
the Vincennes.
4-4-7-2, Iranian P3 range 62 miles.
The plane has been identified
as an Iranian P3 Orion,
a long range maritime
surveillance aircraft.
In a well rehearsed procedure
the Vincennes warn the P3
on a military frequency that
he's being tracked.
..this is United States naval warshi
request you state your intentions.
(EXPLOSION)
US warship, this is Iranian
papa three,
are intention is search mission,
we'll keep clear of your unit.
The pilot promises to
keep his distance.
but Captain Rogers knows that the P3
is still watching him on radar.
He's concerned that it could call in
an Iranian airstrike.
This battle is becoming more
dangerous by the minute.
Yeah, I want rounds in the tray.
Give me a firing solution for that
northern most group of boghammers.
Scott keep me updated on the P3.
Meanwhile, with all his passengers
on-board, Captain Rezaien,
is ready to depart.
Confirm taxi bay five is open.
On the 3rd July there are ten
civilian flights
scheduled from Bandar Abbas,
but the Iranian air force also uses
this airport.
US intelligence has warned that
the recent transfer
of F-14 fighters here presents an
increased threat.
655 cleared for take off.
Captain Rezaien, has no way of
knowing that Iran Air 655
is heading towards
a raging sea battle.
Within seconds of lift off
the Vincennes detects flight 655.
Sophisticated as the radar is,
it cannot determine
the size or type of aircraft
Identification supervisor, Anderson
begins a routine to establish
whether the aircraft
is a friend or foe.
His first step is to use a system
called IFF.
All large aircraft have IFF, they al
have Identification Friend or Foe.
Every aircraft has it's own code,
and you're able to look up that code
and so OK, it does give you
more information.
Anderson sets out to identify
the IFF signal,
of this incoming track.
At the press of a button,
an electronic pulse radiates
into the atmosphere.
And aircraft transponders
automatically bounce back
an electronic reply, squawking
the signature mode and codes
that reveal if the aircraft
is a friend or foe.
Modes one, two and four indicate
military aircraft.
Iran Air 655,
has squawked mode three.
Everybody has mode three, so that
alone doesn't identify
a non-hostile aircraft.
It could be civilian,
it could be military.
As a military aircraft could conceal
it's identity
by squawking mode three.
Anderson's next step is to consult
a commercial air schedule.
He looks to see if there's
a passenger flight
to depart from Bander Abbas
at this time.
But he finds nothing.
Unidentified Iranian aircraft
on course 2-0-3,
speed 3-0-3 knots at altitude
4000 feet this is...
So the Vincennes now tries to contact
the plane directly,
on a military distress frequency.
..40 miles from you.
You are approaching a United States
naval warship
in international waters,
request you state your intentions,
over.
But there is no response.
For all it's state of
the art technology,
the Vincennes doesn't have a radio
tuned to civil
air traffic control frequencies.
Unidentified aircraft on course
2-0-6,
So the only option left is for
the ship to call the mystery aircraft
on the civilian international
air distress frequency.
..you're approaching a United States
naval warship
request you remain clear.
But there's still no answer
from flight 655.
With the incoming plane closing in
on the Vincennes
at eight kilometres every minute,
Anderson is now alarmed
to discover it's IFF signal
appears to have changed.
The plane is squawking both mode
three, and mode two, 1100.
When Anderson consults
his code list,
he makes a disturbing discovery.
The 1100 suggests that this plane
could be an Iranian F14 fighter.
All stations IDS possible mode two
on track 4-1-3-1,
1-1-0-0, which brakes as an F14.
Possible mode two, braking as a F14.
I repeat incoming mode two.
Anderson's words spread like wildfire
throughout the CIC,
the aircraft is now labelled as an
F14 fighter, on the tactical displays
in front of Captain Rogers.
48 kilometres away the airbus,
with it's 290 passengers
climbs out over the Persian Gulf.
They have no idea that they have
been misidentified
and are flying in to danger.
In the 1970's, the US sold 80 F14's
to their then ally,
the Shah of Iran.
They are the most up-to-date fighter
in the Iranian air force,
the Vincennes crew think they're
under attack
My heart beat was way up,
my blood pressure was way up,
it was like wow, the adrenalin
was just flowing.
Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig,
is Captain William Rogers
anti-air warfare co-ordinator.
With the incoming plane only
45 kilometres away,
he seeks permission from headquarters
to shoot it down
if it comes too close.
..my intention is to engage at
20 nautical miles
if he does not turn away,
do you concur, over.
You should warn aircraft first,
the take it under fire...
You start crossing 20 miles, and
it's an absolute threat to the ship,
you're out there in the middle of
the ocean
it's serious business.
The pressure on Captain Rogers
is mounting.
But at this critical moment when
he should be focusing
on this new threat, his attention is
drawn back to
the battle with the gun boats.
Captain, we have a situation
with mount 51.
In the midst of combat Vincennes
forward five inch gun has jammed.
Full rudder turn.
Bridge, CIC, hard to port,
steady ships course, 2-8-0 degrees
maintain speed.
25 knots.
(SIREN)
Rogers is forced to turn his ship
at high speed
swinging the cruisers rear gun around
to face the incoming fire.
(SIREN)
The ship leans so, if anything
was not tied down
of course went everywhere.
It went sliding off,
up against the wall,
it turned sharp enough that if you
were standing you had to hold on
something to keep from falling over.
Bring up gun to bear now.
As Captain Roger struggles to keep
the gunboats engaged,
Captain Rezaien is busy with
the routines of climbing
to cruising altitude.
..F-Y-R 58, Dubai 0-750.
Confirm your squawking 6-7-6-0.
Affirmative.
Confirmation that his aircraft is
transmitting the correct civilian
IFF code, so that it can easily be
identified on radar.
In the Vincennes
Combat Information Centre,
Lieutenant William Mountford,
sees that the approaching plane
is now squawking a mode three
IFF response.
He thinks it may not be a military
aircraft after all.
Sir, possible com air.
Captain Rogers acknowledges
the warning,
but he's still concerned by
the planes failure to respond.
The aircraft was warned a number
of times
continued to close time is a demon
here, if I have
a long time to sort things out,
we're gonna take more time
to look at this, and more time to
look at that.
Unidentified aircraft...
As flight 655, crosses the critical
37 kilometre threshold
the Vincennes warns it once again
to alter course,
or risk the consequences.
..you are standing into danger,
and may be subject to
United States defensive measures.
Request you remain clear off me.
Captain Rogers now has the authority
to shoot the plane down.
Captain do you wish to engage
at 20 miles?
Captain, do you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
Captain, do you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
Negative.
Captain Rogers has delayed firing,
hoping that plane will finally
respond to the Vincennes warnings
But what happens next destroys
that feint hope.
Petty Officer Leach is the Vincennes
Tactical Information Co-ordinator.
He's responsible for ensuring that
What he reports now seems
to remove any doubts,
this is a hostile aircraft.
Altitude declining.
They can see the plane diving towards
them a classic attack profile.
Now you're in real serious business,
because anything can happen
at that point.
Whether that aircraft might launch
something at you,
it could be the aircraft itself.
15 miles, that's pretty close,
and pretty serious.
Iranian aircraft on course 2-1-1...
Track 4-1-3-1, approaching
13 nautical miles
..United States naval warship
operating in international waters.
Wait a minute, I could be dead.
The tension is just continually
rising, during this whole time.
Everybody was on edge,
everyone was like,
"Oh, my God, what's going to
happen next?"
..subject to United States defence
measures.
Inbound air contact closing and
descending at a 1000 feet per mile.
Range 13 miles.
oh, my God, it's getting closer,
what's the captain gonna do?
What's gonna happen?
You know, what are they going to do?
Iran Air 655, now signs off with
Bandar Abbas air traffic control.
..have a nice flight.
Thank you, good day.
God damn it, he's getting close
Mark, incoming boghammer,
bearing 0-4-2.
Air contact still inbound,
increasing speed and descending
range 11 miles.
Captain Rogers worst fear is that
the Vincennes might face the same
fate as another ship, the USS Stark.
A year earlier and Iraqi fighter
launched two exocet missiles at it,
37 sailors were killed, and the ship
nearly lost.
An inquiry blamed the incident on
failures in command,
the Stark had not defended itself,
its captain was reprimanded,
and allowed to resign from the navy.
Captain? Air contact still inbound,
increasing speed and descending
range 11 miles.
Captain Rogers isn't about to make
the same mistake.
It's the moment of truth,
Captain Rogers turns
his fire authorisation key.
Take order, track 4-1-3-1.
Do I have a take order
on the contact?
Yes, take.
Birds away, rails clear.
Iranian aircraft on course 2-0-9,
speed 3-5-3 knots...
As the final warning goes out on
the military air distress frequency,
Rogers keeps his finger on
the "Hold Fire" button,
so he can destroy the missiles if
the aircraft finally responds.
Estimate ten seconds to intercept.
(MISSILES ROARING)
(EXPLOSION)
Oh, dead.
Up on the bridge, the crew has
confirmed the kill.
We've got it, that was a dead on.
The plane they believed that was
attacking them has been destroyed.
Captain Rogers thinks he has saved
his ship from destruction.
Nothing could be further
from the truth.
Far from saving his crew, Rogers has
just made a decision
that will shock the world.
God damn it, he's getting close
At the height of a naval battle
with Iranian gunboats,
in the Persian Gulf,
the USS Vincennes had detected
an incoming aircraft.
Take order, track 4-1-3-1...
In the ships Combat Information
Centre that plane has been
misidentified as
an Iranian F14 fighter
After the plane has failed to respond
to warnings,
Captain William Rogers has
shot it down.
(EXPLOSION)
But Rogers has made a fatal mistake,
he's destroyed an Iranian passenger
jet flying in an international
air corridor.
290 passengers and crew are dead.
Iranian television broadcasts
distressing footage of their bodies
floating in the Gulf.
For Captain Rogers the burden
is heavy
Whatever mistakes have been made
he bears the ultimate responsibility.
There's an immediate international
outcry, the world wants to know,
how a cruiser with a state of the art
combat system,
could have mistaken a passenger
airliner for an attacking
Iranian fighter.
Captain do you swear the evidence
your giving in this
matter now in investigation...
The US government appoints
Rear Admiral William Fogarty
to conduct an inquiry, to find out
what went wrong.
My first reaction was,
it was a tragedy.
The thing that stuck
the most with me was
you've got a lot of responsibilities
ahead of you Fogarty,
and probably some sleepless nights.
..and nothing but the truth
so help you God. I do.
The inquiry is conducted in accord
with the uniform code
of military justice.
The stakes are high.
is a former Marine officer who's
examined the story.
You're looking at a guy who is on
top of the world,
he's captain of a billion dollar
Aegis cruiser,
and now he's sitting at a table
facing possible court martial,
and even prison time.
Admiral Fogarty's team scrutinises
the actions the Vincennes crew
in forensic detail.
When flight 655, first appeared
on radar,
the USS Vincennes is in the midst
of a battle with Iranian gunboats.
All aircraft within a radius of a
100 kilometres are monitored
to ensure that they do not
pose a threat.
So identification supervisor,
Anderson, starts by checking
his commercial air schedule
to determine if this
is a passenger flight,
but he's confused, the schedule
lists departures in local time,
but Anderson is unsure whether
that means the time in Bander Abbas
or Bahrain time, which is used
on the ship.
You have almost 30 minute delay
caused by the late
departure of IRR655, due to a
passenger with a visa problem,
then you have the 30 minute
different time zone.
So he looks at it, and he's seen
there's nobody within an hour
scheduled to be over us.
The IFF system is supposed to
distinguish friend from foe.
Admiral Fogarty knows it's critical
to establish how the Vincennes
could have confused a commercial
airliner squawking mode three,
with a fighter emitting mode two.
And in your mind,
that was not com-air?
In my mind sir it was not com-air.
And why?
Because I had seen that mode two
squawk sir.
The mode two was the big indicator
for you? Yes, sir.
from intelligence Fogarty discovers
that as flight 655
prepares for take off, an Iranian
F14 is also on the tarmac
at Bander Abbas.
It now appears that although Anderson
rolls his ball tab to hook flight 655
as it takes off, he leaves it hooked
almost 90 seconds.
So although the hook symbol moves
towards the Vincennes,
the system is still reading IFF
signals from the airport
at Bander Abbas.
it's a human error caused by poor
design on this high tech warship.
He left the ball tab on Bander Abbas
so what we believed happened
and I'm pretty sure this is exactly
what happened, he picked up the mode
two, from the Iranian fighter,
that was getting ready for take off
behind the airbus.
The identification of an F14 appears
to confirm intelligence
warning Captain Rogers to anticipate
trouble over the July 4th weekend.
He now believes the aircraft is part
of a co-ordinated strike
on the Vincennes from
both sea and air.
Sir, possible com air.
So he places less weight on
the warning that the incoming
plane is possibly
a commercial airliner.
Do you recall Lieutenant Munford
saying "Com air, com air"?
I absolutely remember that,
and I think I raised my hand,
or something to that effect, to
indicate that I had heard him.
You held up your decision to fire?
Yes, sir. Why?
I wanted every bit of information
I could get.
IFF was an indicator, but I didn't
care whether 1100 was an F14,
or that falcon that flies out there.
At this point I thought,
they always talk to us.
Iranian aircraft on course 2-1-1...
The Vincennes transmits a total of
ten radio warnings
Why does flight 655 never respond?
What we do know for sure is
the aircraft
did not respond to the warnings.
He had to have something, he being
the commanding officer,
as proof that this was
commercial air,
he never got that.
Unidentified Iranian aircraft
on course...
But the Vincennes transmits seven
warnings on a military frequency
that flight 655 cannot receive.
The airbus did not even have a radio
that was set,
or could accept the military air
distress frequency,
I mean it's just not something they
had, they had no need for it,
they were commercial airplane.
The Vincennes broadcasts
only three warnings
on the civil distress frequency,
but they don't clearly identify
exactly who the ship is
trying to contact.
Unidentified aircraft on course
2-1-0, speed, 3-5-0...
The Vincennes radio talkers are
citing the aircrafts ground speed.
..bearing 2-0-1, 20 miles from you,
your standing into danger, and may
be subject
to United State defensive measures.
But Captains Rezaien instruments
show airspeed,
a relative measurement.
Flight 655's indicated airspeed
could have been 50 knots
slower than the 350 knot groundspeed
cited by the Vincennes.
So if the pilot hears that, who are
they talking to,
they haven't identified us.
They must be talking to the P3,
or maybe some other Iranian aircraft
Throughout it's flight Iran Air 655
transmits its squawk code,
the unique label that tells radar
what flight it is.
If the Vincennes had called out
that squawk code
Captain Rezaien could have known
immediately they were talking to him.
But the US navy does not require
its radio operators to use this code,
when talking to civilian aircraft.
As flight 655 nears his ship...
Captain, do you wish to engage at
20 miles.
..the pressure on Captain Rogers
becomes intense.
Captain, do you wish to engage at
20 miles.
When you look at the time window
he had, he waited
until the very last minute,
and it becomes a point of, am I goin
to shoot,
or am I not going to shoot, and wait
in which case
he would not be following his
responsibilities, to protect his shi
and his crew.
The decisive factor in Captain
Rogers decision to fire,
are the reports he receives that
the plane is descending towards him
apparently about to attack.
Altitude declining.
It's the crucial moment,
the inquiry team presses tactical
information co-ordinator Leach
on his call.
OK, were you reporting descending
elevations over the net?
Over the internal net, yes sir.
So, in other words when you saw
that track,
that aircraft start descending, you
were reporting that
the T-A-O-C-O-G-W?
Yes, sir
Like an aircraft's black box,
the Vincennes's computers
have recorded all the data on
the Combat Information Centre's
screens, those records show that
Iran Air 655, had never descended.
It was in fact ascending
the whole time,
that was a revelation that we had
not anticipated.
Altitude declining.
Is it possible?
Is it possible? That somebody,
although the data showed perhaps,
that it was going up,
would say it's going down,
descending.
Fogarty sends a medical team,
including a psychiatrist,
to the Vincennes.
They report that a condition called
"Scenario Fulfilment", could've
played a part in the tragedy.
Range 13 miles.
And as it turns out, where you
believe something so badly
is going to happen, that whether
data shows that it's not the case,
you believe it's happening.
Had those in command, on that day,
checked their monitors,
they would have seen that flight 655,
was not diving
in a classic attack profile, but was
continuing its steady climb,
yet no one thought to do so.
Well Scott, we have this disparity
between what the data indicates
happened and what people said they
saw at their various altitudes.
Any idea why?
Sir, the disparity baffles me.
I've thought about this for
many days now,
and I came to the realisation that
this data to me doesn't mean
anything, because I reacted to peopl
who I operated with
who were reliable.
So Lieutenant Commander Lustig
trusts his men's judgement,
and Captain Rogers trusts
Lieutenant Commander Lusting's.
My confidence
in Lieutenant Commander Lustig
confirmed to me that the aircraft
was in fact a threat.
At nine miles I felt I could no
longer delay defensive action,
I granted firing permission.
Well, I looked at the timeline he
had to make a decision,
and the information he was given
on which to make that decision,
it was my feeling, to this day
I still feel the same way,
that he made the right decision,
with the main thing in his mind,
I don't want my ship to get hit.
(SIREN)
Take order, track 4-1-3-1.
The Vincennes's sophisticated
combat information system,
gives it crew accurate information,
but there fear has created a threat
where none exists.
After a month, Admiral Fogarty's
investigation is over,
he finds the downing of Iran Air
655 was not the result of any
negligent or culpable conduct by any
US Naval personnel.
Captain Rogers acted in a prudent
manner, given the information
available to him, and the short
timeframe which he had to make
his critical decision.
Fogarty says Iran must share
the responsibility for hazarding
one of their civilian airliners
in close proximity to hostilities.
But investigative journalist,
Roger Charles, is not convinced.
He reads a copy of the Fogarty
inquiry, and wonders why
it contains no map showing
the Vincennes position.
I knew the fact, that there was no
such chart in the Fogarty report,
again was a signal, and a curious
signal to me, why is it not there?
Skipper you better come down.
Sounds like the Montgomery's got
her nose in a beehive.
I'll be right there.
When Captain Rogers first hears that
Iranian gunboats are harassing
merchant shipping, the Vincennes
is well south of the Montgomery
and destined for port in Bahrain.
Gulf Sierra, this is Vincennes
request permission
to support USS Montgomery
against surface contacts, over.
Rogers asks Captain Richard McKenna,
his surface commander,
for permission to turn north to
support the Montgomery.
But McKenna only authorises him to
send his helicopter to investigate.
Roger that, Vincennes out.
Vector in Ocean Lord.
But Captain Mckenna is later
startled to discover that
the Vincennes has turned around
and has closed on
the Montgomery's position.
He orders him to leave the helicopter
in place and term back immediately.
My own personal opinion is, it reall
did feel that they
were looking for action, when they
went to see the Elmer Montgomery.
My own feeling is that the situation
was not out of control,
it was really my call, and yet,
even though they were assigned
another station,
they took it upon themselves
to be there.
And to that extent I feel,
I mean, you know,
that's where the general feeling,
and not just my own,
that maybe they were looking
for trouble.
(GUNFIRE)
Jesus!
(GUNFIRE)
Jesus!
Trinity Lord, this is Ocean Lord 25
were taking...
But once the Iranian gunboats
fired upon the Vincennes helicopter,
the situation changed.
Close Ocean Lord's position at
best speed.
The rules of engagement now allow
Captain Rogers to respond with force.
He's now authorised to head off in
hot pursuit of the gunboats,
but where does that lead him.
In 1990, Roger Charles obtains of a
restricted report,
on the destruction of Iran Air 655,
by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation.
It gives the Vincennes co-ordinates,
when Charles plots them on a chart
he makes a startling discovery.
At the time of the shoot down
the Vincennes is over four
kilometres inside Iranian
territorial waters,
by chasing the gunboats back into
Iranian territory Rogers
inadvertently
places his ship directly in
the flight path of Iran Air 655.
Crossing the Iranian declared
warzone line.
If Rogers had not taken the Vincenne
up to attack the gunboat,
there would have been no shoot
down of IR655, and that's clear
There would have been no on-going
surface action,
Rogers would have had his radar
screens set
for the air side of things.
The focus would have only been on
the air picture, there would have
been plenty of time to
make a proper determination that thi
was a commercial airliner.
Despite the tragedy, the crew of
the Vincennes receive a heroes
welcome on their return to port
in San Diego
(CHEERING / CLAPPING)
Captain, do you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig
is awarded a navy commendation
medal for his ability to maintain
his poise and confidence under fire.
Take order, track 4-1-3-1.
Captain Rogers receives the Legion
of Merit for his performance
as commanding officer
of the Vincennes.
Both men have since retired
from the navy.
Every year the families of those who
dies on Iran Air 655,
commemorate their loss in
the Persian Gulf.
For Hossain Rezaien, the brother of
flight 655's captain,
time has not healed the wounds.
I still feel the same way,
although I try to keep myself busy,
to think about that,
I mean it's an unforgettable...
..human tragedy.
Even after 17 years has, the horrors
of the...
of what went on in that...
that day,
still-still lingers on,
in everybody's life.
In a world where technology grows
ever more sophisticated,
fear the most basic
of human instincts
can create the greatest tragedies.
Subtitled by BSkyB
All hands, man your battle stations.
July, 1988.
A US Navy cruiser is battling Iranian
gunboats in the Persian Gulf.
Suddenly it's radar picks up
a mystery aircraft.
Is this plane friend or foe?
They have seven minutes decide.
As the aircraft draws ever closer
the pressure mounts.
Captain, due you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
The captain is faced with
a terrible choice,
shoot it down, or risk the lives
of his own crew.
(SIREN)
(AEROPLANE ENGINES)
It's a routine short haul flight,
but an Iranian passenger jet
is heading in to mortal danger.
Opening fire with guns.
It's approaching a warzone in which
a US Navy ship is engaged in combat.
The crew are on
a state of high alert,
anything that draws near
is seen as a threat.
Air contact still inbound
increasing speed...
You are approaching United States
naval warship...
Now your in real serious business.
You're standing into danger.
Wait a minute I could be dead.
Range 13 miles.
The aircraft is not responding
to warnings.
Iran Air 655, seems oblivious
to the danger.
In 1988, Iran and Iraq have reached
a stalemate in a savage
eight year conflict.
It's a war of attrition, and both
sides oil exports are a target.
The United States has become chief
watchdog of the Persian Gulf.
Over 30 US warships protect
neutral tankers.
Dawn, July 3rd, after a month
on routine patrol,
the USS Vincennes, is heading towards
port in Bahrain.
Her crew are due a few days rest
and recuperation.
But while his men are looking
forward to the July 4th break,
Captain Will Rogers is already up.
He's received disturbing reports from
US intelligence,
warning him to expect trouble from
Iranian forces
over this holiday weekend.
(BEEPING)
Yeah?
In the Vincennes combat information
centre, the watch officer
has received an urgent message
from another ship in the US fleet,
that Iranian gunboats are harassing
a Pakistani merchant vessel.
Skipper you better come down,
sounds like the Montgomery's got
her nose in a beehive.
I'll be right there.
The frigate USS Elmer Montgomery
is north of the Vincennes
near the narrow Strait of Hormuz.
It's here that Iranian gunboats
have been most active
in attacking oil tankers as they
exit the Persian Gulf.
Designed to protect an aircraft
carrier group, the Vincennes
is a billion dollar Aegis cruiser.
It's armed with Mk. 26
missile launchers,
Harpoon anti ship missiles,
two five inch guns,
and a Phalanx close in weapon system
which fires over 3,000 rounds
per minute.
But what makes the ship so special,
is it's high tech radar.
The phased array, Spy One, can
simultaneously search and track
over 100 targets,
over 300 kilometres away.
To crew members like Mike Zunino,
and Mark Neilson,
the Vincennes is simply
Star Wars at sea.
Oh, I was very proud,
just technically it just felt,
a strong, secure ship to be on.
it felt invincible in a way.
We had some of the most up-to-date
weaponry,
in the radar and everything else.
there wasn't a whole lot
we couldn't do.
Inside the combat information centre,
Captain Rogers,
oversees a state of the art
computerised
command and control system.
His large screen displays give him an
instant picture
of the tactical situation.
Lieutenant Commander Vic Gilory
is the tactical action officer,
responsible for surface warfare.
Vic, what have we got on visual?
We got a cluster of boghammers here
near the Montgomery.
another cluster maybe closing
the merchant vessel.
Over a dozed Iranian Boghammer
gunboats appear to be preparing
to attack a merchant ship.
Boghammer's are the generic name
for fast speedboats
manned by the Iranian
Revolutionary guards,
a fundamentalist paramilitary force.
We knew that they had rockets,
we knew that they had machine guns,
we knew if they got within a certain
range they could,
you know, literally fire off their
rockets and cause grave danger.
In 1988, Iranian forces, had been
attacking up to 13 foreign
tankers per month.
Their aim is to prevent Saddam
Hussein from exporting Iraqi oil.
Captain Rogers sends his helicopter,
call sign Ocean Lord,
to investigate just what
the boats are up to.
Roger that Vincennes out.
Vector in Ocean Lord.
Ocean Lord is a Sikorsky Seahawk,
a twin engine helicopter,
designed for reconnaissance, anti
submarine and anti-ship warfare.
Roger Trinity Sword, we read you.
Vectoring towards
the Montgomery now.
Ocean Lord's pilot soon
finds the gunboats.
They're not acting suspiciously.
But he flies too close to
the Iranian craft.
The response is immediate, a burst
of anti-aircraft fire.
Jesus! Trinity Sword, this is
Ocean Lord 2-5, we are taking fire.
Executing evasion, clearing.
2-5, this is Trinity Sword actual.
Is anyone hurt? Confirm hostile fire
Over.
Trinity Sword, no injuries.
We confirm eight to ten rounds
of airburst from the northern most
group of Iranian small craft. Over.
Ocean Lord, this is
Trinity Sword actual,
turn immediately to Vincennes cover.
Close Ocean Lord's position at
best speed bearing 3-3-0...
Under the US rules of engagement
Captain Rogers is allowed to respond
with force in self-defence.
By chance a navy media crew is on
the bridge filming,
as the ship surges north
at over 30 knots.
Captain Rogers is now heading
for a lethal confrontation
with the Iranian gunboats.
It will be the Vincennes first time
in action,
the outcome will be catastrophic.
Meanwhile some 87 kilometres away
at Iran's Bandar Abbas Airport,
Iran Air flight 655 is waiting
to push back,
for a routine 28 minute hop across
the Strait of Hormuz to Dubai.
37 year old Mohsen Rezaian,
is the captain.
His brother Hossain knows that he's
dedicated to the job.
..665 standing by for ATC clearance.
He was enjoying what he was doing,
he really liked it.
He was logging so many hours,
over 10'000 hours of flight.
Request update on status...
Captain Rezaien's flight is delayed,
it's 27 minutes behind schedule,
due to a passenger
with immigration problems.
The hold up will soon confuse
the crew of Vincennes
despite all their sophisticated
technology.
On the bridge a navy media crew
continues to film
as the Vincennes closes within
striking distance
of the Iranian boghammer gun boats.
..three degrees to 0-1-5.
Got a visual on the boghammer.
Even though his helicopter
has already been shot at,
Captain Rogers only has the authority
to open fire if he believes his ship
is under direct threat.
In the Gulf haze, it's hard to see
just what the gunboats are doing.
One appears to be going out
starboard and one's in the middle.
The one off the starboard bow
has a machine gun.
But Captain Rogers doesn't have to
wait for the gunboats to open fire.
If they behave aggressively,
that's reason enough for
him to take the first shot.
Coming inbound fast. One at
350 inbound.
This is Vincennes request permission
to engage boghammer group.
The surface commander for the Gulf
is on-board his ship in Bahrain.
Captain Richard McKenna has no
hesitation in granting permission.
Vincennes this is Gulf Sierra,
take boghammer group with guns.
The rules of engagement at
that juncture were quite clear,
and so there was no question as to
what was required at that juncture.
Say again, take boghammer group
with guns, over.
Gulf Sierra, this is Vincennes
opening fire with guns,
assume hostile track, 4-4-5-6.
Vincennes out.
Fire for effect.
We're making track, with guns.
It's 9:43 am, a routine encounter
in the Persian Gulf,
has become deadly serious.
This is the first that the crew of
the Vincennes has ever seen action.
Combat was, you know, that was
the furthest thing probably,
for many of us, even though we
were a combat ship.
It was one of those things like,
it'll never happen to us.
But, yeah it did.
The gunboats are now shooting back,
but their fire is falling well short.
The Vincennes and the Montgomery,
take them on together.
Verify me rounds to the tray.
The Vincennes and the Montgomery,
are now locked
in a full scale sea battle.
Anything that approaches
the US ships
will be assessed as
a possible threat.
Battery released ten rounds.
(EXPLOSION)
Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig,
is the officer responsible
for alerting the captain about
potential airborne threats.
He's been tracking an aircraft
that has suddenly changed course,
and is now heading towards
the Vincennes.
4-4-7-2, Iranian P3 range 62 miles.
The plane has been identified
as an Iranian P3 Orion,
a long range maritime
surveillance aircraft.
In a well rehearsed procedure
the Vincennes warn the P3
on a military frequency that
he's being tracked.
..this is United States naval warshi
request you state your intentions.
(EXPLOSION)
US warship, this is Iranian
papa three,
are intention is search mission,
we'll keep clear of your unit.
The pilot promises to
keep his distance.
but Captain Rogers knows that the P3
is still watching him on radar.
He's concerned that it could call in
an Iranian airstrike.
This battle is becoming more
dangerous by the minute.
Yeah, I want rounds in the tray.
Give me a firing solution for that
northern most group of boghammers.
Scott keep me updated on the P3.
Meanwhile, with all his passengers
on-board, Captain Rezaien,
is ready to depart.
Confirm taxi bay five is open.
On the 3rd July there are ten
civilian flights
scheduled from Bandar Abbas,
but the Iranian air force also uses
this airport.
US intelligence has warned that
the recent transfer
of F-14 fighters here presents an
increased threat.
655 cleared for take off.
Captain Rezaien, has no way of
knowing that Iran Air 655
is heading towards
a raging sea battle.
Within seconds of lift off
the Vincennes detects flight 655.
Sophisticated as the radar is,
it cannot determine
the size or type of aircraft
Identification supervisor, Anderson
begins a routine to establish
whether the aircraft
is a friend or foe.
His first step is to use a system
called IFF.
All large aircraft have IFF, they al
have Identification Friend or Foe.
Every aircraft has it's own code,
and you're able to look up that code
and so OK, it does give you
more information.
Anderson sets out to identify
the IFF signal,
of this incoming track.
At the press of a button,
an electronic pulse radiates
into the atmosphere.
And aircraft transponders
automatically bounce back
an electronic reply, squawking
the signature mode and codes
that reveal if the aircraft
is a friend or foe.
Modes one, two and four indicate
military aircraft.
Iran Air 655,
has squawked mode three.
Everybody has mode three, so that
alone doesn't identify
a non-hostile aircraft.
It could be civilian,
it could be military.
As a military aircraft could conceal
it's identity
by squawking mode three.
Anderson's next step is to consult
a commercial air schedule.
He looks to see if there's
a passenger flight
to depart from Bander Abbas
at this time.
But he finds nothing.
Unidentified Iranian aircraft
on course 2-0-3,
speed 3-0-3 knots at altitude
4000 feet this is...
So the Vincennes now tries to contact
the plane directly,
on a military distress frequency.
..40 miles from you.
You are approaching a United States
naval warship
in international waters,
request you state your intentions,
over.
But there is no response.
For all it's state of
the art technology,
the Vincennes doesn't have a radio
tuned to civil
air traffic control frequencies.
Unidentified aircraft on course
2-0-6,
So the only option left is for
the ship to call the mystery aircraft
on the civilian international
air distress frequency.
..you're approaching a United States
naval warship
request you remain clear.
But there's still no answer
from flight 655.
With the incoming plane closing in
on the Vincennes
at eight kilometres every minute,
Anderson is now alarmed
to discover it's IFF signal
appears to have changed.
The plane is squawking both mode
three, and mode two, 1100.
When Anderson consults
his code list,
he makes a disturbing discovery.
The 1100 suggests that this plane
could be an Iranian F14 fighter.
All stations IDS possible mode two
on track 4-1-3-1,
1-1-0-0, which brakes as an F14.
Possible mode two, braking as a F14.
I repeat incoming mode two.
Anderson's words spread like wildfire
throughout the CIC,
the aircraft is now labelled as an
F14 fighter, on the tactical displays
in front of Captain Rogers.
48 kilometres away the airbus,
with it's 290 passengers
climbs out over the Persian Gulf.
They have no idea that they have
been misidentified
and are flying in to danger.
In the 1970's, the US sold 80 F14's
to their then ally,
the Shah of Iran.
They are the most up-to-date fighter
in the Iranian air force,
the Vincennes crew think they're
under attack
My heart beat was way up,
my blood pressure was way up,
it was like wow, the adrenalin
was just flowing.
Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig,
is Captain William Rogers
anti-air warfare co-ordinator.
With the incoming plane only
45 kilometres away,
he seeks permission from headquarters
to shoot it down
if it comes too close.
..my intention is to engage at
20 nautical miles
if he does not turn away,
do you concur, over.
You should warn aircraft first,
the take it under fire...
You start crossing 20 miles, and
it's an absolute threat to the ship,
you're out there in the middle of
the ocean
it's serious business.
The pressure on Captain Rogers
is mounting.
But at this critical moment when
he should be focusing
on this new threat, his attention is
drawn back to
the battle with the gun boats.
Captain, we have a situation
with mount 51.
In the midst of combat Vincennes
forward five inch gun has jammed.
Full rudder turn.
Bridge, CIC, hard to port,
steady ships course, 2-8-0 degrees
maintain speed.
25 knots.
(SIREN)
Rogers is forced to turn his ship
at high speed
swinging the cruisers rear gun around
to face the incoming fire.
(SIREN)
The ship leans so, if anything
was not tied down
of course went everywhere.
It went sliding off,
up against the wall,
it turned sharp enough that if you
were standing you had to hold on
something to keep from falling over.
Bring up gun to bear now.
As Captain Roger struggles to keep
the gunboats engaged,
Captain Rezaien is busy with
the routines of climbing
to cruising altitude.
..F-Y-R 58, Dubai 0-750.
Confirm your squawking 6-7-6-0.
Affirmative.
Confirmation that his aircraft is
transmitting the correct civilian
IFF code, so that it can easily be
identified on radar.
In the Vincennes
Combat Information Centre,
Lieutenant William Mountford,
sees that the approaching plane
is now squawking a mode three
IFF response.
He thinks it may not be a military
aircraft after all.
Sir, possible com air.
Captain Rogers acknowledges
the warning,
but he's still concerned by
the planes failure to respond.
The aircraft was warned a number
of times
continued to close time is a demon
here, if I have
a long time to sort things out,
we're gonna take more time
to look at this, and more time to
look at that.
Unidentified aircraft...
As flight 655, crosses the critical
37 kilometre threshold
the Vincennes warns it once again
to alter course,
or risk the consequences.
..you are standing into danger,
and may be subject to
United States defensive measures.
Request you remain clear off me.
Captain Rogers now has the authority
to shoot the plane down.
Captain do you wish to engage
at 20 miles?
Captain, do you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
Captain, do you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
Negative.
Captain Rogers has delayed firing,
hoping that plane will finally
respond to the Vincennes warnings
But what happens next destroys
that feint hope.
Petty Officer Leach is the Vincennes
Tactical Information Co-ordinator.
He's responsible for ensuring that
What he reports now seems
to remove any doubts,
this is a hostile aircraft.
Altitude declining.
They can see the plane diving towards
them a classic attack profile.
Now you're in real serious business,
because anything can happen
at that point.
Whether that aircraft might launch
something at you,
it could be the aircraft itself.
15 miles, that's pretty close,
and pretty serious.
Iranian aircraft on course 2-1-1...
Track 4-1-3-1, approaching
13 nautical miles
..United States naval warship
operating in international waters.
Wait a minute, I could be dead.
The tension is just continually
rising, during this whole time.
Everybody was on edge,
everyone was like,
"Oh, my God, what's going to
happen next?"
..subject to United States defence
measures.
Inbound air contact closing and
descending at a 1000 feet per mile.
Range 13 miles.
oh, my God, it's getting closer,
what's the captain gonna do?
What's gonna happen?
You know, what are they going to do?
Iran Air 655, now signs off with
Bandar Abbas air traffic control.
..have a nice flight.
Thank you, good day.
God damn it, he's getting close
Mark, incoming boghammer,
bearing 0-4-2.
Air contact still inbound,
increasing speed and descending
range 11 miles.
Captain Rogers worst fear is that
the Vincennes might face the same
fate as another ship, the USS Stark.
A year earlier and Iraqi fighter
launched two exocet missiles at it,
37 sailors were killed, and the ship
nearly lost.
An inquiry blamed the incident on
failures in command,
the Stark had not defended itself,
its captain was reprimanded,
and allowed to resign from the navy.
Captain? Air contact still inbound,
increasing speed and descending
range 11 miles.
Captain Rogers isn't about to make
the same mistake.
It's the moment of truth,
Captain Rogers turns
his fire authorisation key.
Take order, track 4-1-3-1.
Do I have a take order
on the contact?
Yes, take.
Birds away, rails clear.
Iranian aircraft on course 2-0-9,
speed 3-5-3 knots...
As the final warning goes out on
the military air distress frequency,
Rogers keeps his finger on
the "Hold Fire" button,
so he can destroy the missiles if
the aircraft finally responds.
Estimate ten seconds to intercept.
(MISSILES ROARING)
(EXPLOSION)
Oh, dead.
Up on the bridge, the crew has
confirmed the kill.
We've got it, that was a dead on.
The plane they believed that was
attacking them has been destroyed.
Captain Rogers thinks he has saved
his ship from destruction.
Nothing could be further
from the truth.
Far from saving his crew, Rogers has
just made a decision
that will shock the world.
God damn it, he's getting close
At the height of a naval battle
with Iranian gunboats,
in the Persian Gulf,
the USS Vincennes had detected
an incoming aircraft.
Take order, track 4-1-3-1...
In the ships Combat Information
Centre that plane has been
misidentified as
an Iranian F14 fighter
After the plane has failed to respond
to warnings,
Captain William Rogers has
shot it down.
(EXPLOSION)
But Rogers has made a fatal mistake,
he's destroyed an Iranian passenger
jet flying in an international
air corridor.
290 passengers and crew are dead.
Iranian television broadcasts
distressing footage of their bodies
floating in the Gulf.
For Captain Rogers the burden
is heavy
Whatever mistakes have been made
he bears the ultimate responsibility.
There's an immediate international
outcry, the world wants to know,
how a cruiser with a state of the art
combat system,
could have mistaken a passenger
airliner for an attacking
Iranian fighter.
Captain do you swear the evidence
your giving in this
matter now in investigation...
The US government appoints
Rear Admiral William Fogarty
to conduct an inquiry, to find out
what went wrong.
My first reaction was,
it was a tragedy.
The thing that stuck
the most with me was
you've got a lot of responsibilities
ahead of you Fogarty,
and probably some sleepless nights.
..and nothing but the truth
so help you God. I do.
The inquiry is conducted in accord
with the uniform code
of military justice.
The stakes are high.
is a former Marine officer who's
examined the story.
You're looking at a guy who is on
top of the world,
he's captain of a billion dollar
Aegis cruiser,
and now he's sitting at a table
facing possible court martial,
and even prison time.
Admiral Fogarty's team scrutinises
the actions the Vincennes crew
in forensic detail.
When flight 655, first appeared
on radar,
the USS Vincennes is in the midst
of a battle with Iranian gunboats.
All aircraft within a radius of a
100 kilometres are monitored
to ensure that they do not
pose a threat.
So identification supervisor,
Anderson, starts by checking
his commercial air schedule
to determine if this
is a passenger flight,
but he's confused, the schedule
lists departures in local time,
but Anderson is unsure whether
that means the time in Bander Abbas
or Bahrain time, which is used
on the ship.
You have almost 30 minute delay
caused by the late
departure of IRR655, due to a
passenger with a visa problem,
then you have the 30 minute
different time zone.
So he looks at it, and he's seen
there's nobody within an hour
scheduled to be over us.
The IFF system is supposed to
distinguish friend from foe.
Admiral Fogarty knows it's critical
to establish how the Vincennes
could have confused a commercial
airliner squawking mode three,
with a fighter emitting mode two.
And in your mind,
that was not com-air?
In my mind sir it was not com-air.
And why?
Because I had seen that mode two
squawk sir.
The mode two was the big indicator
for you? Yes, sir.
from intelligence Fogarty discovers
that as flight 655
prepares for take off, an Iranian
F14 is also on the tarmac
at Bander Abbas.
It now appears that although Anderson
rolls his ball tab to hook flight 655
as it takes off, he leaves it hooked
almost 90 seconds.
So although the hook symbol moves
towards the Vincennes,
the system is still reading IFF
signals from the airport
at Bander Abbas.
it's a human error caused by poor
design on this high tech warship.
He left the ball tab on Bander Abbas
so what we believed happened
and I'm pretty sure this is exactly
what happened, he picked up the mode
two, from the Iranian fighter,
that was getting ready for take off
behind the airbus.
The identification of an F14 appears
to confirm intelligence
warning Captain Rogers to anticipate
trouble over the July 4th weekend.
He now believes the aircraft is part
of a co-ordinated strike
on the Vincennes from
both sea and air.
Sir, possible com air.
So he places less weight on
the warning that the incoming
plane is possibly
a commercial airliner.
Do you recall Lieutenant Munford
saying "Com air, com air"?
I absolutely remember that,
and I think I raised my hand,
or something to that effect, to
indicate that I had heard him.
You held up your decision to fire?
Yes, sir. Why?
I wanted every bit of information
I could get.
IFF was an indicator, but I didn't
care whether 1100 was an F14,
or that falcon that flies out there.
At this point I thought,
they always talk to us.
Iranian aircraft on course 2-1-1...
The Vincennes transmits a total of
ten radio warnings
Why does flight 655 never respond?
What we do know for sure is
the aircraft
did not respond to the warnings.
He had to have something, he being
the commanding officer,
as proof that this was
commercial air,
he never got that.
Unidentified Iranian aircraft
on course...
But the Vincennes transmits seven
warnings on a military frequency
that flight 655 cannot receive.
The airbus did not even have a radio
that was set,
or could accept the military air
distress frequency,
I mean it's just not something they
had, they had no need for it,
they were commercial airplane.
The Vincennes broadcasts
only three warnings
on the civil distress frequency,
but they don't clearly identify
exactly who the ship is
trying to contact.
Unidentified aircraft on course
2-1-0, speed, 3-5-0...
The Vincennes radio talkers are
citing the aircrafts ground speed.
..bearing 2-0-1, 20 miles from you,
your standing into danger, and may
be subject
to United State defensive measures.
But Captains Rezaien instruments
show airspeed,
a relative measurement.
Flight 655's indicated airspeed
could have been 50 knots
slower than the 350 knot groundspeed
cited by the Vincennes.
So if the pilot hears that, who are
they talking to,
they haven't identified us.
They must be talking to the P3,
or maybe some other Iranian aircraft
Throughout it's flight Iran Air 655
transmits its squawk code,
the unique label that tells radar
what flight it is.
If the Vincennes had called out
that squawk code
Captain Rezaien could have known
immediately they were talking to him.
But the US navy does not require
its radio operators to use this code,
when talking to civilian aircraft.
As flight 655 nears his ship...
Captain, do you wish to engage at
20 miles.
..the pressure on Captain Rogers
becomes intense.
Captain, do you wish to engage at
20 miles.
When you look at the time window
he had, he waited
until the very last minute,
and it becomes a point of, am I goin
to shoot,
or am I not going to shoot, and wait
in which case
he would not be following his
responsibilities, to protect his shi
and his crew.
The decisive factor in Captain
Rogers decision to fire,
are the reports he receives that
the plane is descending towards him
apparently about to attack.
Altitude declining.
It's the crucial moment,
the inquiry team presses tactical
information co-ordinator Leach
on his call.
OK, were you reporting descending
elevations over the net?
Over the internal net, yes sir.
So, in other words when you saw
that track,
that aircraft start descending, you
were reporting that
the T-A-O-C-O-G-W?
Yes, sir
Like an aircraft's black box,
the Vincennes's computers
have recorded all the data on
the Combat Information Centre's
screens, those records show that
Iran Air 655, had never descended.
It was in fact ascending
the whole time,
that was a revelation that we had
not anticipated.
Altitude declining.
Is it possible?
Is it possible? That somebody,
although the data showed perhaps,
that it was going up,
would say it's going down,
descending.
Fogarty sends a medical team,
including a psychiatrist,
to the Vincennes.
They report that a condition called
"Scenario Fulfilment", could've
played a part in the tragedy.
Range 13 miles.
And as it turns out, where you
believe something so badly
is going to happen, that whether
data shows that it's not the case,
you believe it's happening.
Had those in command, on that day,
checked their monitors,
they would have seen that flight 655,
was not diving
in a classic attack profile, but was
continuing its steady climb,
yet no one thought to do so.
Well Scott, we have this disparity
between what the data indicates
happened and what people said they
saw at their various altitudes.
Any idea why?
Sir, the disparity baffles me.
I've thought about this for
many days now,
and I came to the realisation that
this data to me doesn't mean
anything, because I reacted to peopl
who I operated with
who were reliable.
So Lieutenant Commander Lustig
trusts his men's judgement,
and Captain Rogers trusts
Lieutenant Commander Lusting's.
My confidence
in Lieutenant Commander Lustig
confirmed to me that the aircraft
was in fact a threat.
At nine miles I felt I could no
longer delay defensive action,
I granted firing permission.
Well, I looked at the timeline he
had to make a decision,
and the information he was given
on which to make that decision,
it was my feeling, to this day
I still feel the same way,
that he made the right decision,
with the main thing in his mind,
I don't want my ship to get hit.
(SIREN)
Take order, track 4-1-3-1.
The Vincennes's sophisticated
combat information system,
gives it crew accurate information,
but there fear has created a threat
where none exists.
After a month, Admiral Fogarty's
investigation is over,
he finds the downing of Iran Air
655 was not the result of any
negligent or culpable conduct by any
US Naval personnel.
Captain Rogers acted in a prudent
manner, given the information
available to him, and the short
timeframe which he had to make
his critical decision.
Fogarty says Iran must share
the responsibility for hazarding
one of their civilian airliners
in close proximity to hostilities.
But investigative journalist,
Roger Charles, is not convinced.
He reads a copy of the Fogarty
inquiry, and wonders why
it contains no map showing
the Vincennes position.
I knew the fact, that there was no
such chart in the Fogarty report,
again was a signal, and a curious
signal to me, why is it not there?
Skipper you better come down.
Sounds like the Montgomery's got
her nose in a beehive.
I'll be right there.
When Captain Rogers first hears that
Iranian gunboats are harassing
merchant shipping, the Vincennes
is well south of the Montgomery
and destined for port in Bahrain.
Gulf Sierra, this is Vincennes
request permission
to support USS Montgomery
against surface contacts, over.
Rogers asks Captain Richard McKenna,
his surface commander,
for permission to turn north to
support the Montgomery.
But McKenna only authorises him to
send his helicopter to investigate.
Roger that, Vincennes out.
Vector in Ocean Lord.
But Captain Mckenna is later
startled to discover that
the Vincennes has turned around
and has closed on
the Montgomery's position.
He orders him to leave the helicopter
in place and term back immediately.
My own personal opinion is, it reall
did feel that they
were looking for action, when they
went to see the Elmer Montgomery.
My own feeling is that the situation
was not out of control,
it was really my call, and yet,
even though they were assigned
another station,
they took it upon themselves
to be there.
And to that extent I feel,
I mean, you know,
that's where the general feeling,
and not just my own,
that maybe they were looking
for trouble.
(GUNFIRE)
Jesus!
(GUNFIRE)
Jesus!
Trinity Lord, this is Ocean Lord 25
were taking...
But once the Iranian gunboats
fired upon the Vincennes helicopter,
the situation changed.
Close Ocean Lord's position at
best speed.
The rules of engagement now allow
Captain Rogers to respond with force.
He's now authorised to head off in
hot pursuit of the gunboats,
but where does that lead him.
In 1990, Roger Charles obtains of a
restricted report,
on the destruction of Iran Air 655,
by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation.
It gives the Vincennes co-ordinates,
when Charles plots them on a chart
he makes a startling discovery.
At the time of the shoot down
the Vincennes is over four
kilometres inside Iranian
territorial waters,
by chasing the gunboats back into
Iranian territory Rogers
inadvertently
places his ship directly in
the flight path of Iran Air 655.
Crossing the Iranian declared
warzone line.
If Rogers had not taken the Vincenne
up to attack the gunboat,
there would have been no shoot
down of IR655, and that's clear
There would have been no on-going
surface action,
Rogers would have had his radar
screens set
for the air side of things.
The focus would have only been on
the air picture, there would have
been plenty of time to
make a proper determination that thi
was a commercial airliner.
Despite the tragedy, the crew of
the Vincennes receive a heroes
welcome on their return to port
in San Diego
(CHEERING / CLAPPING)
Captain, do you wish to engage
the target at 20 miles?
Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig
is awarded a navy commendation
medal for his ability to maintain
his poise and confidence under fire.
Take order, track 4-1-3-1.
Captain Rogers receives the Legion
of Merit for his performance
as commanding officer
of the Vincennes.
Both men have since retired
from the navy.
Every year the families of those who
dies on Iran Air 655,
commemorate their loss in
the Persian Gulf.
For Hossain Rezaien, the brother of
flight 655's captain,
time has not healed the wounds.
I still feel the same way,
although I try to keep myself busy,
to think about that,
I mean it's an unforgettable...
..human tragedy.
Even after 17 years has, the horrors
of the...
of what went on in that...
that day,
still-still lingers on,
in everybody's life.
In a world where technology grows
ever more sophisticated,
fear the most basic
of human instincts
can create the greatest tragedies.
Subtitled by BSkyB