He alleged that Iran carried out the act in response to the destruction of Iran Air Flight 655 on July 3, 1988.
During the final stages of the Iran–Iraq War his reports from Iran on the shooting down of a civilian airliner by the US warship Vincennes were seen around the world.
When the USS Vincennes fired upon Iran Air passenger Flight 655 in 1988, killing some 290 individuals, the President of the United States decided that the United States would offer compensation, on an ex gratia basis, to the families of the victims.
Iran | United States Air Force | Royal Air Force | United States Army Air Forces | Royal Canadian Air Force | Indian Air Force | United States Air Force Academy | Special Air Service | Fleet Air Arm | National Air and Space Museum | Royal Australian Air Force | Strategic Air Command | Delta Air Lines | Air Canada | Israeli Air Force | International Air Transport Association | Air Training Command | United States Army Air Corps | French Air Force | Air National Guard | Marshall Space Flight Center | Edwards Air Force Base | Air Education and Training Command | Air France | Goddard Space Flight Center | Royal Naval Air Service | First Air Force | South African Air Force | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | Air Ministry |
He worked for Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci and dealt with the aftermath of the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 by the U.S.S. Vincennes and the explosion of a gun mount on the U.S.S. Iowa.
On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes - also a part of Operation Earnest Will - shot down an Iranian commercial Airbus A300B2-202 (Iran Air Flight 655) after mistaking it for an Iranian F-14.