Shooting men in parachutes.

[Meat Grinder]

I saw today on the news that the Turkmen militia claim to have shot two Russian SU-24 pilots while they were parachuting out of their disabled aircraft. This is bad. Putin will take a very dim view of this, as he should.

Here is "Bud" Peterson's WW2 story on shooting airmen who are abandoning their aircraft in parachutes. Gives me cold chills. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

 

[Facman]

I know only too well, the emotions that pilot was experiencing. Felt very similar emotions at the death of my buddy Doc, as he was trying to save a Marine's life.

http://www.thefewgoodmen.com/thefgmforum/threads/hm3-david-d-overstreet-us-navy-march-23-1969.19640/

 

[Meat Grinder]

SALUTE, Facman.

 

[Nathangun]

I might have done the same, well blasted him out of the sky asap, war is after all legalized murder.

 

[Bootie]

LMAO... and here we see the caring nature of NathanGun.

 

[Nathangun]

The old veteran admitted he took his time, wasn't there other air crews/bombers to protect? I say he should have quickly got it over with and protect the rest of fleet.

 

[Facman]

war is after all legalized murder

While this is certainly true, I can attest to a lifetime of second guessing oneself, once your conscience reasserts itself.

 

[Nathangun]

While this is certainly true, I can attest to a lifetime of second guessing oneself, once your conscience reasserts itself.

Dude, I've never been in that situation. I wouldn't know what I'd do until after I did it, one doesn't know what one is capable of until the situation arises I guess.

 

[Facman]

one doesn't know what one is capable of until the situation arises I guess.

You are once again spot on with your analysis, had you told me I was capable of War Crimes and atrocities before the events, I would have shook my head and said..."never".

 

[Ithikial]

My understanding was that the shooting of bailing out pilots was always considered a big no and was incredibly rare at the start of the war and into the Battle for Britain etc. But as the war dragged on the rules slowly withered away. Ignoring the pilots, what about the poor paratroopers? Market Garden especially there's some horror stories due to poorly planned drop sites.

 

[Rico]

My understanding was that the shooting of bailing out pilots was always considered a big no and was incredibly rare at the start of the war and into the Battle for Britain etc. But as the war dragged on the rules slowly withered away. Ignoring the pilots, what about the poor paratroopers? Market Garden especially there's some horror stories due to poorly planned drop sites.

There is a difference between a bailed pilot and paratroopers ... the former is no longer active combatant ... the latter is fully armed and coming in to fight (similar to troops in landing craft or trucks) ... completely legit target. Allied troops had no qualms shooting down German paras in Crete and later ops if they could.

 

[Nathangun]

If you look at this episode of 'The War World at War' and at the 23rd minute, a pilot Ray Holmes tells a good story of chivalry.

 

[Cargol]

Shooting a bailed out pilot is concidered to be a war crime according to Geneva convention.
Shooting paratroopers or/and airborne troops is not.