THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409090614
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Maj. Douglas L. Martin, stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, faces three counts of dereliction of duty for his role in the downing of two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters over Iraq.
Martin, who has been in the Air Force 13 years, was the ``airborne command element'' on board an AWACS plane assigned to track and control U.S. aircraft in the Iraqi no-fly zone on the day of the incident.
Martin is charged with:
Failing to ensure that the F-15 jet fighter pilots knew that there were Black Hawks in the area.
Failing to ensure that the Black Hawks had air traffic control.
Failing to ensure that the F-15's had completed a ``sanitizing sweep'' to ensure no other aircraft were operating in the area before the Black Hawks entered.
Each count against Martin carries up to three months in jail, dismissal from the service and the loss of up to three months pay.
KEYWORDS: U.S. AIRFORCE DERELICTION OF DUTY ACCIDENT HELICOPTER by CNB