Page:Iran Air Flight 655 investigation.djvu/40

 (11) (U) The first time that CJTFME promulgated commercial airline flight information to the ships in the Persian Gulf area was on 28 June 1988. This message showed IR 655 scheduled to depart Bandar Abbas at 0950L (0620Z) on Tuesday and Sunday of each week. (IO Exhibit 124, p. 409).

U (12)  The first documentation of conflict between civilian COMAIR and a CJTFME unit was on 8 June 1988 when the USS HALYBURTON issued nearly continuous challenges to an aircraft landing at Dubai International. British Airway FLT 147 acknowledged the challenge, made the turn as directed by the USS HALYBURTON and immediately came into a "near miss" situation with another civilian aircraft. A formal protest was filed by ATC Dubai and an American Embassy letter of apology resulted. (IO Exhibit 119, p. 274).

U (13)  The only commercial/military IFF information available to any JTFME unit were pass-down items from other Middle East Force ships. (IO Exhibits 120, 121, 122, p. 182,  p. 197).

U (14)  U.S. ships deployed to Persian Gulf area are limited to a single VHF radio which is tuned to International Air Distress (IAD) frequency 121.5 mhz. It can take upwards of 1 hour to change pre-set radio VHF frequencies. ( p. 399).

(15) (U) During USS VINCENNES inchop brief, conducted on 22 May,  (CJTFME/Air Ops) and  (CJTFME/Asst Air Ops) briefed the Helo Det on helo ops but did not specifically discuss commercial air routes or schedules. (IO Exhibit 8 p. 176, p. 392).

(16) (U) On Sunday, 3 July 1988, there were 10 civilian flights scheduled from Bandar Abbas. They were:

There is no information to the contrary that the remaining flights did not launch. (IO Exhibit 162, 232).

(17) (U) As a result of the attack of the USS STARK, the JCS issued an up-dated Notice to Airman (NOTAM) for the