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January 01, 2008
The female of the species
Air Force Times describes female airmen as deadly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Take AC-130H Spectre gunship evaluator-navigator Capt. Allison Black, for example. It was mid-November 2001...
The Spectre neared and its cannons erupted. Unaccustomed to the Gatling gun’s mechanized snarl, the fighters confused the airstrike with a ground assault. Militants scattered into the fields, seeking cover in ditches and vehicles, although Black could see their heat-signature silhouettes from her console by the cockpit.
Dostum, hidden with the Army detachment several miles away, said the Taliban also believed a high-powered laser pointer used by Spectre operators to identify ground targets — a “sparkle,” in Air Force spec ops speak — was a death ray that turned everything it touched to flames.
As the hailstorm of munitions continued, Dostum grabbed his walkie-talkie, switched to the Taliban’s unsecured frequency and relayed to them the sound of Black’s chatter coming through Army radio.
He used the female pilot’s voice to taunt them as they bled.
“He said, ‘America is so determined, they bring their women to kill the Taliban. You’re so pathetic,’” Black said. “‘It’s the angel of death raining fire upon you.’”
Now that's cookin' with gas.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 1, 2008 09:37 AM
Comments
Wasn't there a video kicking around in late '01/early '02 from Af'stan showing the targeting sensors and an explosion with commentary by the (female) pilot, which ended with the triumphant cry, "You just got killed by a girl!"?
I seem to remember that from my college days, and thinking it was cute.
... Wait... found a reference to it.
If you want to get a feel for how far ahead the U.S. military is from any of its allies, let alone its enemies, read the fascinating article in the November issue of The Atlantic Monthly by Mark Bowden about the U.S. air war over Afghanistan. There is one scene that really sums it up. It involves a U.S. F-15 jet fighter that is ordered to take out a Taliban truck caravan. The F-15's co-pilot bombardier is a woman. Mr. Bowden, who had access to the communications between pilots, describes how the bombardier locates the truck caravan, and with her laser guidance system directs a 500-pound bomb into the lead truck. As the caravan is vaporized, the F-15 pilot shouts down at the Taliban -- as if they could hear him from 20,000 feet -- ''You have just been killed by a girl.''
Could've sworn it was the female who said it, though.
Posted by: Ben (The Tiger in Exile) ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ghostofaflea.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 1, 2008 03:38 PM
Hang on on. Are you trying to tell me that women can do their jobs as well as men? Bloody hell! Next thing you know they'll be allowed to vote :)
Posted by: cha0tic at January 1, 2008 06:57 PM
If the boys don't wake up the girls will soon own the world
Posted by: bernie tenney at January 5, 2008 08:15 AM
