2nd F-18 pilot's body found, other ID'd. One was the ExO of a squadron

[lebkuchen]

who had attended "Top Gun" fighter weapons school. The Bushies are backing off their story about the two jets colliding w/each other. Now the Pentagon is saying the jets “apparently crashed” but, as always, give no details.

The Pentagon is in a bind. If they say the pilots crashed into each other, it suggests that our best and brightest aren't up to snuff. If they say the jets were shot down, it adds to the slowly building public impression that the US has lost all control in Iraq. It remains to be seen if the Pentagon manufactures its lie better than it did in the Tillman/Lynch incidents. Weather is always a good excuse, but has that card been over-played?

I think the jets were shot down.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7740304/

[FloridaPat]

1. Two jets flying around in good weather probably didn't run into

each other.It happens sometimes - usually at air shows. It is very hard to run 2 aircraft into each other. I vote for shooting them down.

[lebkuchen]

2. W/heat seeking missiles then?

I'd like to see a list of the weapons the Iraqis are using.

[liam_laddie]

3. very curious...

30,000 feet's a bit high for Stinger-type SAM's but maybe something better's available to the "rebels." Also kinda strange that neither pilot ejected safely, if either one tried to. But maybe they were never able to regain control until a much lower
altitude could be reached to eject. Sad, we may never learn, or be told, the truth...Any of the mid-east news sites have more?

[atreides1]

4. Not so curious if they were flying a low level mission

What if they were doing low level runs, and not high level, and what if neither had time to eject.

The SA-7 has a maximum range of 5,500 meters and can reach an altitude of 4,500 meters