Apache Pilot Slammed For Singing While Gunning People Down

Well OT,

Saw an article where everyone was throwing an absolute sh** storm over this pilot saying "Nice" and singing while he was gunning down insurgents.

The actual onboard video is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew12K4YHMZ8

And here is an article of the media condemned it:

Cockpit footage shows the crew take aim at a group of people before launching a missile.

Before the rocket strikes its target a person identified as the pilot can be heard singing a burst of the iconic chorus from the 1972 Don McLean hit, more recently made famous by Madonna.

The shocking video is said to have been taken from the on-board camera of an Apache helicopter from the 101st Airborne Division.

The caption on the video - from website Liveleak.com - claims the people on the ground were "innocent farmers planting poppyseed".

The weapon used on them was claimed to be a one kilogram Hellfire missile.

After the missile slams into the ground, causing a massive explosion another voice, thought to be the co-pilot can be heard saying "nice".

A machine gun is then fired at two other figures in the video.

Disgusted users left comments on Liveleak - with Ozzieabroad writing: "It?s disturbing and bordering on sanctioned psychopathy to enjoy killing so much."

User Godbluff said: "How pathetic and disgusting to take joy in the murder of people."

AllenZulu said: "The celebrating comes from a sick mind, no matter what side you are on."

The footage is the latest clip to emerge on LiveLeak which could embarrass the US Army.

In January footage was posted which appeared to show four American soldiers urinating on bodies.

What do you guys think about it? Is it wrong to say remarks like "nice" on missions or should you be 100% factual when you talk with the crew.

That's how war is, it helps with the morbid reality of it. I think its inhumane; but then again, is war humane?

This reminds me of that movie:

"They train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write f**k on their airplanes because it is obscene."

It's ridiculous that they question the morality of singing while killing people and not the act of killing itself.

The army are supposed to be professional killers, not just pain old psychotic killers.

i think the ultimate goal for any military is to train soldiers that enjoy doing their job.they just have to learn to be discreet about it.

This reminds me of that movie:

"They train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write f**k on their airplanes because it is obscene."

It's ridiculous that they question the morality of singing while killing people and not the act of killing itself.

Masculus

^ this

This reminds me of that movie:

"They train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write f**k on their airplanes because it is obscene."

It's ridiculous that they question the morality of singing while killing people and not the act of killing itself.

Masculus

I see no problem with him finding a way to deal with the dark reality of war as long as it does not lead to unnecessary collateral damage.

That said an extra psyche trip would probable be beneficial....

What was he singing? Cause if it was something stupid they should court martial him for it.

What was he singing? Cause if it was something stupid they should court martial him for it.

CHOASXIII

American pie

[QUOTE="CHOASXIII"]

What was he singing? Cause if it was something stupid they should court martial him for it.

toast_burner

American pie

Oh alright, he's fine then.

What was he singing? Cause if it was something stupid they should court martial him for it.

CHOASXIII

[QUOTE="CHOASXIII"]

What was he singing? Cause if it was something stupid they should court martial him for it.

jeremiah06

If it was that I would want to slap him with a wet noodle.

The army are supposed to be professional killers, not just plain old psychotic killers.

toast_burner

If I ever get a headshot or something, I'd probably say "nice" too.

[QUOTE="nocoolnamejim"][QUOTE="toast_burner"]

The army are supposed to be professional killers, not just plain old psychotic killers.

JasonDarksavior

Not terribly bothered by this. If the mission was sanctioned(as it was since there actually was a mission) then I don't really care what tune the pilot sings to himself in the performance of his duty.

I always through jet pilots would say "Good Kill" when shooting down someone and to me thats perfectly acceptable. It's the same here too

JasonDarksavior

If it really is a "good kill", there's no problem saying so.

I've watched a lot of the "dogfights" series. In the interviews, one thing I noticed was that sometimes it seemed like the killing aspect of what they were doing was just part of not losing a game. I think maybe that the excitement, the joking, the thrill, could be ways of dealing with what they are doing...with others it could be a power trip. I'm pretty sure this type of thing happens more often than we hear about.

On a side note: Videos of gunships in action always make my day.

So it is okay for him to gun the people down, just not to sing while he does it? He's doing it anyway. Why does it matter if he sings or not while he does it? And singing doesn't necessarily mean he is taking pleasure in it, does it?IdioticIcarus

He probably just had the song stuck in his head.

Excuse me for the double post...
I meant to write

"I'm sure this type of thing happens more often than we hear about"

Coren_Larken

It's a coping mechanism. He knows what he's doing is terrible, but that's what he was trained and ordered to do. There is a reason 18 veterans of the latest wars in Iraq/Afghanistan commit suicide each day. That crap stays with you. They just do whatever they can to get by.

Double standards for Western militaries upset me.

Singing while doing one's job is inexcusable!

Seriously though, it probably helps him cope with his actions or those of his commanding officers. I don't see an issue here.

me personally I don't think its acceptable to sing songs while your mowing down people with a gun, even if they are the bad guys.

I don't see the problem with this.