1 00:00:11,565 --> 00:00:14,320 Strike centre, this is Navy Alpha Charlie 223. 2 00:00:14,488 --> 00:00:16,032 Over the Monte Cassino ruins. 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:17,577 Congratulations, 223. 4 00:00:17,745 --> 00:00:19,655 You have run the gauntlet without radar detection. 5 00:00:19,832 --> 00:00:22,408 Climb to 2000 feet before leaving the exercise zone 6 00:00:22,588 --> 00:00:24,582 and contact Milano Air Control Centre. 7 00:00:24,758 --> 00:00:27,632 Two-two-three switching to channel 17. 8 00:00:27,807 --> 00:00:30,561 Leaving 300 for Angels-2. 9 00:00:30,729 --> 00:00:33,732 Charlie 223, we do not have you on radar. 10 00:00:33,901 --> 00:00:37,690 Squawk 2500 and report position and altitude. Over. 11 00:00:39,246 --> 00:00:40,576 He's not on radar. 12 00:00:53,817 --> 00:00:56,655 Following in his father's footsteps as a Naval aviator, 13 00:00:56,823 --> 00:00:58,983 Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. 14 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,370 Suffered a crash while landing his Tomcat 15 00:01:01,541 --> 00:01:03,998 on a storm-tossed carrier at sea. 16 00:01:04,171 --> 00:01:05,880 Diagnosed with night blindness, 17 00:01:06,049 --> 00:01:09,089 Harm transferred to the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps, 18 00:01:09,264 --> 00:01:13,432 which investigates, defends and prosecutes the law of the sea. 19 00:01:13,607 --> 00:01:16,563 There, with fellow JAG lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie, 20 00:01:16,737 --> 00:01:18,862 he now fights in and out of the courtroom 21 00:01:19,034 --> 00:01:24,413 with the same daring and tenacity that made him a top gun in the air. 22 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,815 Rescue workers are removing the third body. 23 00:02:18,987 --> 00:02:22,775 The Navy F-14D was stationed on the carrier Coral Sea. 24 00:02:22,953 --> 00:02:26,658 It was participating in a NATO National Week exercise 25 00:02:26,836 --> 00:02:28,213 operating out of Milan. 26 00:02:28,381 --> 00:02:30,506 The criminal prosecution of the Naval aviator... 27 00:02:32,055 --> 00:02:34,049 The Italian air controllers had cleared the flight 28 00:02:34,226 --> 00:02:37,729 for a minimum altitude of 2000 feet AGL. 29 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:40,820 The pilot had just completed a simulated low-level attack 30 00:02:40,989 --> 00:02:42,366 when he hit the helicopter. 31 00:02:42,535 --> 00:02:45,741 A full investigation has been promised. 32 00:02:45,916 --> 00:02:48,540 This is Howard Anderson, in Genoa. 33 00:02:48,713 --> 00:02:51,468 Sir, if the minimum ceiling was 2000 feet, 34 00:02:51,636 --> 00:02:54,723 how does he collide with a helicopter at 380? 35 00:02:54,892 --> 00:02:56,768 Well, that's what's in dispute. 36 00:02:56,938 --> 00:02:59,895 The convening authorities are sending the charges 37 00:03:00,069 --> 00:03:01,481 to an Article 32 hearing. 38 00:03:01,655 --> 00:03:03,734 Lieutenant Gordon has been charged with manslaughter. 39 00:03:03,911 --> 00:03:05,704 I'm assigning you to defend the lieutenant. 40 00:03:05,873 --> 00:03:08,082 Major, you'll prosecute. 41 00:03:08,253 --> 00:03:09,583 Six months ago, 42 00:03:10,841 --> 00:03:13,085 a Marine jet cuts the cable on a ski lift, 43 00:03:13,262 --> 00:03:16,600 causes the death of 20 people, and now this. 44 00:03:16,770 --> 00:03:19,345 The whole world is gonna be watching what we do here. 45 00:03:19,525 --> 00:03:21,152 Who's our contact in Italy, admiral? 46 00:03:21,321 --> 00:03:23,730 Admiral Williams has assigned his chief of staff, 47 00:03:23,909 --> 00:03:26,948 a Captain Jack Murphy. 48 00:03:27,123 --> 00:03:28,999 Murph is one tough nut. 49 00:03:29,337 --> 00:03:30,369 Sir? 50 00:03:30,547 --> 00:03:32,007 When he was the CAG on the Coral Sea, 51 00:03:32,175 --> 00:03:34,336 his men were always first in the fleet. 52 00:03:34,722 --> 00:03:36,515 He never met a pilot he didn't like 53 00:03:36,684 --> 00:03:38,845 or a lawyer he didn't want to throw overboard. 54 00:03:39,690 --> 00:03:40,723 Good luck. 55 00:03:41,152 --> 00:03:42,731 Thank you, sir. 56 00:03:43,239 --> 00:03:46,196 I talked to my daughter this afternoon. 57 00:03:48,834 --> 00:03:52,170 - How is she enjoying New York, sir? - Actually, she's in Milan. 58 00:03:52,340 --> 00:03:56,294 She's there to cover the spring fashion show. 59 00:03:59,981 --> 00:04:01,062 We'll be in Italy, sir. 60 00:04:01,234 --> 00:04:04,190 We should stop in and see if she's all right. 61 00:04:04,365 --> 00:04:07,037 Well, that's very gracious of you, commander. Thank you. 62 00:04:07,204 --> 00:04:09,198 It would be our pleasure, sir. 63 00:04:13,508 --> 00:04:14,708 Is there something else? 64 00:04:15,220 --> 00:04:16,799 No, sir. 65 00:04:31,377 --> 00:04:32,921 Commander. 66 00:04:34,258 --> 00:04:35,884 Congresswoman Latham. 67 00:04:36,262 --> 00:04:37,425 We need to talk. 68 00:04:37,598 --> 00:04:39,926 Well, ma'am, I'd love to, but right now I'm running late. 69 00:04:40,103 --> 00:04:42,263 Why do you think I'm here? 70 00:04:42,733 --> 00:04:44,277 Hop in. 71 00:04:47,284 --> 00:04:49,777 This communiqué was delivered to the president three hours ago. 72 00:04:51,251 --> 00:04:53,874 Prime Minister Gallo is putting pressure on the American government 73 00:04:54,048 --> 00:04:56,172 to turn Lieutenant Gordon over to civilian authorities. 74 00:04:56,344 --> 00:04:58,505 The Italians wanna prosecute him themselves. 75 00:04:58,682 --> 00:05:01,258 Our status-of-forces agreement with the Italian government 76 00:05:01,437 --> 00:05:03,978 assures the U.S. The right to try the case, ma'am. 77 00:05:04,152 --> 00:05:05,944 At our option, the agreement also allows us 78 00:05:06,114 --> 00:05:08,785 to permit primary jurisdiction to the Italian government. 79 00:05:08,952 --> 00:05:11,707 - Well, that will never happen. - Never say never, commander. 80 00:05:11,875 --> 00:05:13,869 This comes right from the White House, Harm. 81 00:05:14,046 --> 00:05:18,000 Not everyone there had the benefit of serving in the Armed Forces. 82 00:05:18,179 --> 00:05:20,174 I spoke to Admiral Chegwidden 83 00:05:20,350 --> 00:05:24,019 and he's agreed to my request to be fully informed of your progress. 84 00:05:24,901 --> 00:05:27,359 Well, I'll look forward to the challenge, ma'am. 85 00:05:28,157 --> 00:05:29,702 Harm, I want the best possible outcome 86 00:05:29,870 --> 00:05:32,279 for everyone involved with the case. 87 00:05:32,458 --> 00:05:34,867 I want your client to get the best possible defence. 88 00:05:35,046 --> 00:05:37,006 I want the Italian government to be satisfied 89 00:05:37,176 --> 00:05:39,301 that these charges are being investigated without bias. 90 00:05:39,472 --> 00:05:42,393 I don't want the president calling me at 3:00 in the morning. 91 00:05:53,917 --> 00:05:55,580 Captain Murphy? Lieutenant Commander Rabb. 92 00:05:55,755 --> 00:05:57,548 This way, commander. 93 00:05:57,717 --> 00:06:01,053 I want you to know in advance, I'll do everything I can to protect my man. 94 00:06:01,223 --> 00:06:02,256 Yes, sir. 95 00:06:02,435 --> 00:06:03,811 We expected nothing less, sir. 96 00:06:03,979 --> 00:06:07,434 The Navy has never punished an aviator for doing his job, major. 97 00:06:07,611 --> 00:06:10,569 We've never let a man take a fall for defending someone else's homeland. 98 00:06:10,743 --> 00:06:12,618 And I am not about to start now. 99 00:06:12,788 --> 00:06:15,793 The rotor blade struck the leading edge. 100 00:06:15,962 --> 00:06:18,419 Oh, so Lieutenant Gordon did a hell of a job 101 00:06:18,592 --> 00:06:19,838 in getting as far as Genoa, sir. 102 00:06:20,011 --> 00:06:22,053 His lateral controls are all screwed up. 103 00:06:22,224 --> 00:06:25,477 He was leaking hydraulic fluid and jet fuel, sir. 104 00:06:25,647 --> 00:06:27,643 Why didn't he eject, captain? 105 00:06:27,819 --> 00:06:29,480 Lt. Gordon chose to stay with the aircraft. 106 00:06:29,656 --> 00:06:31,365 He didn't wanna kill anyone on the ground. 107 00:06:31,534 --> 00:06:33,113 Anyone else on the ground, sir. 108 00:06:33,287 --> 00:06:35,996 Sir, the radar altimeter is fully functional. 109 00:06:36,169 --> 00:06:37,997 What's the implication of that? 110 00:06:38,172 --> 00:06:39,502 It's one in your column, major. 111 00:06:39,675 --> 00:06:42,086 Lt. Gordon won't be able to claim he was at the wrong altitude 112 00:06:42,264 --> 00:06:43,546 because of a faulty altimeter. 113 00:06:43,725 --> 00:06:45,684 What about the data-recording transponder? 114 00:06:45,854 --> 00:06:48,183 It's fully functional, but he was beyond transponder range 115 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:49,641 at the time of the incident. 116 00:06:49,821 --> 00:06:51,566 What exactly is a transponder? 117 00:06:52,033 --> 00:06:54,706 The transponder sends all flight information 118 00:06:54,873 --> 00:06:56,998 from the aircraft back to strike centre. 119 00:06:57,169 --> 00:06:59,544 So there's no record of the last five or six seconds of flight 120 00:06:59,716 --> 00:07:01,758 before the midair collision with the helicopter? 121 00:07:01,929 --> 00:07:05,217 That's correct, sir. Any information that wasn't transferred 122 00:07:05,393 --> 00:07:07,603 to the Monte Cassino strike centre is gone. 123 00:07:07,774 --> 00:07:10,397 So we only have Lieutenant Gordon's word for what happened. 124 00:07:10,571 --> 00:07:12,566 And what about the RIO? 125 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:14,572 You'll have to ask her. 126 00:07:16,374 --> 00:07:18,951 I planned the close-air-support exercise down to the last detail. 127 00:07:19,130 --> 00:07:20,162 It was a good plan. 128 00:07:20,341 --> 00:07:22,251 Was Lt. Gordon informed that the minimum altitude 129 00:07:22,428 --> 00:07:24,089 set by the Italian government was 2000 feet? 130 00:07:24,265 --> 00:07:25,298 He was. 131 00:07:25,476 --> 00:07:27,102 Then why was he in violation of that rule? 132 00:07:27,271 --> 00:07:29,265 I think that explanation is better coming from him. 133 00:07:29,442 --> 00:07:30,937 Sir, since I can't talk to the accused, 134 00:07:31,112 --> 00:07:33,154 I need you to provide all the evidence you have. 135 00:07:33,325 --> 00:07:34,785 The air traffic controllers in Milano 136 00:07:34,953 --> 00:07:36,698 approved the flight plan Lt. Gordon filed. 137 00:07:36,873 --> 00:07:39,034 The plan indicated that he'd read the NOTAMs. 138 00:07:39,212 --> 00:07:41,040 Excuse me, but what the heck's a NOTAM? 139 00:07:41,216 --> 00:07:45,550 Notice to Airmen. Indicates any special conditions along the flight route. 140 00:07:45,725 --> 00:07:48,978 The Italian air controllers claim that a NOTAM... 141 00:07:49,732 --> 00:07:52,440 ...was posted concerning civilian helicopter activity 142 00:07:52,614 --> 00:07:53,777 in the Dora Tea Valley. 143 00:07:53,949 --> 00:07:57,156 It enjoined pilots from venturing below 500 feet. 144 00:07:57,332 --> 00:08:00,501 That airspace was restricted to civilian helicopters. 145 00:08:00,671 --> 00:08:02,831 Lieutenant Gordon claims there was no such NOTAM posted 146 00:08:03,009 --> 00:08:05,170 at the time that he filed his flight plan. 147 00:08:05,347 --> 00:08:06,973 - Was a notice sent? - Yes. 148 00:08:07,142 --> 00:08:09,850 We're just not sure if it was posted in a timely fashion. 149 00:08:10,024 --> 00:08:13,111 So there's a chance the Italians never gave the information to our aviators? 150 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,321 You'd have to question Col. Achille Marcello about that. 151 00:08:15,492 --> 00:08:18,995 He's the Italian military officer running a parallel investigation. 152 00:08:19,417 --> 00:08:20,747 Lt. Gordon was under your command 153 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:22,415 when you were the CAG on the Coral Sea. 154 00:08:22,591 --> 00:08:23,920 Did he take risks? 155 00:08:24,636 --> 00:08:26,262 He didn't take undue chances, major. 156 00:08:26,431 --> 00:08:28,591 There's risks every time you go up. 157 00:08:28,769 --> 00:08:31,643 Lieutenant Gordon's record states that he was reprimanded 158 00:08:31,817 --> 00:08:34,227 for being overaggressive in aerial combat. 159 00:08:36,452 --> 00:08:39,325 That's technically correct. 160 00:08:39,499 --> 00:08:41,160 Well, did you ground him, sir? 161 00:08:42,171 --> 00:08:44,629 Pending the outcome of the field board at squadron level. 162 00:08:44,801 --> 00:08:46,926 We gave him an okay and returned him to flight status. 163 00:08:47,097 --> 00:08:49,223 Even though he was in violation of the rules, sir? 164 00:08:49,394 --> 00:08:50,474 Oh, you bet, major. 165 00:08:50,646 --> 00:08:52,974 This man had the guts to stay with it. 166 00:08:53,151 --> 00:08:56,108 He saved a $28-million aircraft at the risk of his own life. 167 00:08:56,283 --> 00:08:57,909 He still broke the rules, sir. 168 00:08:58,078 --> 00:08:59,490 I wouldn't have a man in any squadron 169 00:08:59,664 --> 00:09:01,160 who always played it safe and cautious. 170 00:09:01,335 --> 00:09:05,003 Because when the chips are down, I can't count on him. 171 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:10,225 Altitude hold mode, okay. 172 00:09:10,895 --> 00:09:14,814 Heading mode, normal. 173 00:09:15,613 --> 00:09:18,570 All control quadrants, check. 174 00:09:19,537 --> 00:09:21,366 All systems are good, sir. 175 00:09:21,542 --> 00:09:24,629 Commander Rabb? Colonel Marcella. 176 00:09:24,798 --> 00:09:26,543 It's nice to meet you, colonel. 177 00:09:26,718 --> 00:09:28,630 A few ground rules. 178 00:09:28,806 --> 00:09:31,644 I want to be apprised of any and all information you gather 179 00:09:31,812 --> 00:09:33,688 in the course of your investigation. 180 00:09:33,858 --> 00:09:36,351 Have you interviewed Lieutenant Gordon and his RIO yet? 181 00:09:36,905 --> 00:09:39,399 Well, that's scheduled for later this morning, colonel. 182 00:09:39,577 --> 00:09:41,656 I want to be there. 183 00:09:41,832 --> 00:09:43,162 Colonel, I'm defending Lt. Gordon. 184 00:09:43,335 --> 00:09:46,007 Any conversation I have with him is confidential. 185 00:09:46,467 --> 00:09:48,710 Is this your idea of cooperation? 186 00:09:49,472 --> 00:09:51,550 Sir, I recognise your interest in this case. 187 00:09:51,726 --> 00:09:54,565 However, I am obliged to zealously represent my client 188 00:09:54,733 --> 00:09:56,608 to achieve the best outcome possible. 189 00:09:56,778 --> 00:09:59,237 That does not include enlightening the Italian government 190 00:09:59,409 --> 00:10:01,949 to my strategy or any information I might come upon. 191 00:10:02,415 --> 00:10:04,124 Excuse me, sir. 192 00:10:04,878 --> 00:10:07,716 - Thanks, petty officer. - No problem, sir. 193 00:10:07,884 --> 00:10:10,722 What was your air speed when you entered the valley? 194 00:10:10,890 --> 00:10:12,766 Five hundred and forty knots, sir. 195 00:10:12,936 --> 00:10:14,812 Altitude? 196 00:10:14,982 --> 00:10:16,941 Two thousand feet. 197 00:10:17,653 --> 00:10:20,064 Lieutenant, the helicopter was at 380 feet. 198 00:10:20,242 --> 00:10:22,818 Explain to me how your wing clipped its rotor blade. 199 00:10:22,998 --> 00:10:24,493 Well, as you saw in my statement, sir, 200 00:10:24,668 --> 00:10:28,669 I had just completed a low-level-radar-evasion exercise. 201 00:10:28,843 --> 00:10:31,171 The strike centre told me to break off, 202 00:10:31,348 --> 00:10:35,599 to clear to 2000 feet AGL and proceed home. 203 00:10:35,773 --> 00:10:38,267 And out of nowhere, I saw a light aircraft in my flight path. 204 00:10:38,446 --> 00:10:42,447 So I dumped the F-14 over into a steep dive 205 00:10:42,620 --> 00:10:45,874 and began a steady pullout. 206 00:10:46,587 --> 00:10:49,840 That's when I saw the helicopter come up out of the trees. 207 00:11:03,412 --> 00:11:05,656 Tell me, commander, 208 00:11:05,834 --> 00:11:10,085 how do I get past the fact that I've killed innocent people? 209 00:11:11,804 --> 00:11:14,214 You learn to live with it, mostly. 210 00:11:16,063 --> 00:11:17,724 Just when you think you have it tucked away 211 00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:19,941 in some little compartment in the back of your mind, 212 00:11:20,112 --> 00:11:22,487 something will come along to remind you of it. 213 00:11:23,411 --> 00:11:24,954 But you can't second-guess yourself. 214 00:11:25,122 --> 00:11:27,698 You have to believe that what you did was right. 215 00:11:28,378 --> 00:11:30,005 Do you believe that, commander? 216 00:11:30,967 --> 00:11:32,166 I don't know enough yet. 217 00:11:32,345 --> 00:11:34,803 You know there was nothing wrong mechanically with my aircraft. 218 00:11:34,975 --> 00:11:39,191 You know that no one witnessed a near-miss with a light aircraft. 219 00:11:39,651 --> 00:11:41,860 I only have your word for that, lieutenant. 220 00:11:42,741 --> 00:11:44,700 Maybe I did make a mistake. 221 00:11:45,371 --> 00:11:48,375 Maybe someone else would have done it differently 222 00:11:48,544 --> 00:11:50,373 under the same conditions. 223 00:11:51,091 --> 00:11:54,011 Well, that's something that we will never know. 224 00:12:01,237 --> 00:12:02,981 You were Lt. Gordon's radar intercept officer 225 00:12:03,157 --> 00:12:04,902 - on the day of the incident? - Yes, sir. 226 00:12:05,077 --> 00:12:07,155 Just before the incident, did you see a light aircraft 227 00:12:07,332 --> 00:12:08,994 flying in front of your Tomcat? 228 00:12:09,169 --> 00:12:11,413 No, sir. I did not. 229 00:12:11,590 --> 00:12:13,335 Thanks, Bud. 230 00:12:14,638 --> 00:12:17,131 Well, what were you doing at that precise moment, lieutenant? 231 00:12:17,310 --> 00:12:19,933 Looking down at the radar scope. 232 00:12:21,610 --> 00:12:24,318 Did you see a light aircraft flying on the radar scope? 233 00:12:24,491 --> 00:12:27,698 No, sir, I didn't. At least I don't think so. 234 00:12:27,873 --> 00:12:30,331 There was a lot of noise on the lower part of the scope. 235 00:12:30,503 --> 00:12:33,673 That's pretty common when you're flying over mountainous terrain. 236 00:12:35,221 --> 00:12:37,975 So that would mean there's a possibility there was a light aircraft 237 00:12:38,143 --> 00:12:39,937 but it didn't show up on the radar scope. 238 00:12:40,106 --> 00:12:43,228 It's possible, sir, but I don't think so. 239 00:12:43,404 --> 00:12:45,197 Well, what do you think happened, lieutenant? 240 00:12:47,830 --> 00:12:49,325 I don't know, sir. 241 00:12:53,090 --> 00:12:55,714 In her statement, your RIO claims she never saw a private aircraft 242 00:12:55,887 --> 00:12:58,345 nor was there one on the radar scope. 243 00:12:58,517 --> 00:13:01,094 Can you describe this private aircraft, lieutenant? 244 00:13:01,273 --> 00:13:04,526 No, sir. I didn't recognise it. 245 00:13:04,696 --> 00:13:06,406 - What colour was it? - Green. 246 00:13:07,577 --> 00:13:08,954 Yellow. 247 00:13:09,748 --> 00:13:12,421 - Pick one, lieutenant. - I don't know, sir. 248 00:13:12,588 --> 00:13:15,081 Well, was it a Piper? Was it a Cessna? What was it? 249 00:13:15,259 --> 00:13:16,921 I don't know, sir. 250 00:13:17,096 --> 00:13:20,100 All I can remember was that I was afraid I was going to hit it. 251 00:13:22,315 --> 00:13:25,272 Were you aware of helicopter activity in the area? 252 00:13:25,447 --> 00:13:27,073 No, sir. 253 00:13:27,701 --> 00:13:30,741 The Italian flight officer at Milano signed off on your plan. 254 00:13:30,916 --> 00:13:32,577 He approved it. 255 00:13:33,755 --> 00:13:36,711 In it you indicated you'd read Notice to the Airmen. 256 00:13:36,885 --> 00:13:38,133 I did not see any NOTAM 257 00:13:38,306 --> 00:13:42,770 that indicating civilian helicopter flight activity in that region, sir. 258 00:13:43,733 --> 00:13:46,309 If you had seen it, lieutenant, 259 00:13:47,282 --> 00:13:49,110 what would you have done differently? 260 00:13:52,459 --> 00:13:54,917 That's a hard call, sir. 261 00:13:55,089 --> 00:13:57,001 Maybe I could have hastened my pull-up. 262 00:13:57,177 --> 00:14:00,798 But that would have risked departing from controlled flight. 263 00:14:00,976 --> 00:14:04,514 It's hard to recover from a spin at 500 feet. 264 00:14:04,692 --> 00:14:07,185 Lieutenant, you have to give me something to work with. 265 00:14:08,783 --> 00:14:11,407 I'm doing the best I can, sir. 266 00:14:14,753 --> 00:14:17,247 Bud, I want you to check every airport and landing strip 267 00:14:17,426 --> 00:14:18,625 for a hundred-mile radius. 268 00:14:18,803 --> 00:14:21,676 I want a list of every light plane in the area on the day of the incident, 269 00:14:21,850 --> 00:14:23,929 the name of the pilot, and a copy of his flight plan. 270 00:14:24,106 --> 00:14:25,815 Also check to see if there were any accident 271 00:14:25,984 --> 00:14:28,062 or insurance reports filed that day. 272 00:14:28,238 --> 00:14:30,198 Precisely what are we looking for, sir? 273 00:14:30,368 --> 00:14:32,576 Well, any sign of damage that might have resulted 274 00:14:32,748 --> 00:14:36,001 from a midair incident with an F-14 and a light aircraft. 275 00:14:36,172 --> 00:14:38,130 Sir, this F-14 was going over 500 knots. 276 00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:40,710 The vortex alone would knock a light aircraft out of the air. 277 00:14:40,889 --> 00:14:42,765 Not if it just grazed it, lieutenant. 278 00:14:42,935 --> 00:14:45,725 And the pilot was skilful or lucky. 279 00:14:46,191 --> 00:14:47,853 Lieutenant Gordon told you his story? 280 00:14:48,029 --> 00:14:49,228 He did, sir. 281 00:14:49,406 --> 00:14:52,743 Captain, did you find any damage when you checked this bird out? 282 00:14:52,913 --> 00:14:55,074 I didn't check, commander. 283 00:14:55,544 --> 00:14:57,004 Why not? 284 00:14:57,172 --> 00:14:59,665 Because then I would have been obliged to share that information 285 00:14:59,843 --> 00:15:01,755 with the Italian authorities. 286 00:15:01,931 --> 00:15:04,685 You are under no such obligation. 287 00:15:04,854 --> 00:15:06,183 Well, then, sir, I won't tell you 288 00:15:06,356 --> 00:15:09,729 that there are traces of green paint on this wingtip. 289 00:15:09,906 --> 00:15:13,242 Thank you for not sharing that information with me, commander. 290 00:15:14,665 --> 00:15:17,871 Bud, get a scraping of this and send it in to have it analysed. 291 00:15:18,047 --> 00:15:19,791 Aye, aye, sir. 292 00:15:19,968 --> 00:15:21,547 Good morning. 293 00:15:22,556 --> 00:15:24,051 Hey, Mac. 294 00:15:24,226 --> 00:15:27,100 - Captain Murphy. - Excuse me, petty officer. 295 00:15:27,274 --> 00:15:29,067 I'm not the enemy. 296 00:15:29,236 --> 00:15:33,368 Can I have you take a paint scraping from the wing? 297 00:15:33,536 --> 00:15:36,493 Major, it is your job to prosecute a man 298 00:15:36,667 --> 00:15:38,496 I believe innocent of the charges against him. 299 00:15:38,671 --> 00:15:40,666 I have no intention of impeding your investigation, 300 00:15:40,843 --> 00:15:44,261 but right now, I don't feel a need for small talk. 301 00:15:44,433 --> 00:15:45,894 Neither do I, sir. But you should know 302 00:15:46,062 --> 00:15:48,436 that I'm going after your man with everything I've got, 303 00:15:48,608 --> 00:15:51,184 because there is a lot more at stake here than your one pilot. 304 00:15:51,363 --> 00:15:52,860 There are six civilians dead. 305 00:15:53,034 --> 00:15:55,741 And if the Italian government doesn't feel that justice is served, 306 00:15:55,914 --> 00:15:57,955 our presence in Italy is a memory. 307 00:15:58,795 --> 00:16:00,588 Thank you, major. 308 00:16:08,231 --> 00:16:10,189 Is that your way of sweet-talking the captain? 309 00:16:10,359 --> 00:16:13,032 Maybe you can back me up here, Harm. 310 00:16:13,199 --> 00:16:14,860 You seem to be doing just fine on your own. 311 00:16:15,036 --> 00:16:16,745 You don't need any help from me. 312 00:16:18,460 --> 00:16:20,750 This is the Tactical Air Combat Training System record tape 313 00:16:20,923 --> 00:16:22,169 of the flight profile. 314 00:16:22,342 --> 00:16:26,214 This is where the F-14 was handed over to the strike centre's control. 315 00:16:26,392 --> 00:16:29,598 This is where Lieutenant Gordon descended to 250 feet 316 00:16:29,773 --> 00:16:32,267 and started his radar-evasion exercise. 317 00:16:32,446 --> 00:16:33,727 Lieutenant Gordon flew low-level 318 00:16:33,907 --> 00:16:36,198 and used the mountains to mask conventional radar. 319 00:16:36,370 --> 00:16:39,707 Once he completed the course, the plane climbs back to 2000 feet. 320 00:16:39,877 --> 00:16:41,753 At that point, he departed TAC coverage 321 00:16:41,923 --> 00:16:44,844 approximately six seconds before impact with the helicopter, 322 00:16:45,013 --> 00:16:48,800 but while still hidden from air traffic control radar at Milan. 323 00:16:49,312 --> 00:16:53,017 It's impossible to know what happened during those six seconds. 324 00:16:53,196 --> 00:16:54,821 Here are the tapes you asked for, sir. 325 00:16:57,997 --> 00:17:01,166 This is a re-creation of the last few minutes of Lieutenant Gordon's flight 326 00:17:01,337 --> 00:17:03,166 according to the Italian authorities. 327 00:17:03,341 --> 00:17:07,176 Now, they claim he was hot-dogging at 300 feet and never came up. 328 00:17:07,349 --> 00:17:09,510 This is where he hits the helicopter. 329 00:17:09,687 --> 00:17:14,484 Now, this is a re-creation of the flight according to Lt. Gordon's story. 330 00:17:14,655 --> 00:17:17,695 He completes his run here, climbs back to 2000 feet, 331 00:17:17,870 --> 00:17:21,538 he sees the light aircraft here, initiates a 10-and-a-half G pullover 332 00:17:21,710 --> 00:17:25,547 and ends up at 300 feet, where he collides with the helicopter. 333 00:17:25,719 --> 00:17:27,879 That's one hell of a manoeuvre. 334 00:17:28,642 --> 00:17:31,895 It would seem to exceed the structural limits of the aircraft. 335 00:17:32,649 --> 00:17:34,145 That's gonna be a hard sell, commander, 336 00:17:34,319 --> 00:17:36,445 unless we can find some way to prove it. 337 00:17:45,216 --> 00:17:46,415 Colonel, what's going on? 338 00:17:46,594 --> 00:17:48,589 I have seized the radar recordings and tapings 339 00:17:48,765 --> 00:17:51,722 of Lieutenant Gordon's conversations with the Milan control tower. 340 00:17:51,896 --> 00:17:53,938 Colonel, you can't remove evidence from here. 341 00:17:54,110 --> 00:17:55,938 You're destroying the chain of custody. 342 00:17:56,113 --> 00:17:57,906 As leader of the Italian investigation, 343 00:17:58,075 --> 00:18:00,320 I have all the authority I need, commander. 344 00:18:00,497 --> 00:18:03,786 This is my territory, and this is my idea of cooperation. 345 00:18:03,962 --> 00:18:06,717 We need those materials in order to defend Lieutenant Gordon. 346 00:18:06,885 --> 00:18:09,509 I will turn them over to the local prosecutor, lieutenant. 347 00:18:09,682 --> 00:18:12,686 He'll decide what to do with them. I'm sure he'll provide you photocopies. 348 00:18:12,855 --> 00:18:14,648 I'd like to talk to the air traffic controller 349 00:18:14,818 --> 00:18:16,313 who was on duty the day of the accident, 350 00:18:16,487 --> 00:18:17,817 have him talk me through it. 351 00:18:17,990 --> 00:18:19,985 I'll arrange a time for you to speak with him. 352 00:18:20,162 --> 00:18:23,165 - His lawyer will contact you. - Colonel, that is not necessary. 353 00:18:23,334 --> 00:18:26,007 All I need is a factual statement. 354 00:18:27,844 --> 00:18:29,921 So you can twist the facts, commander? 355 00:18:30,098 --> 00:18:31,843 Shift the blame? 356 00:18:32,018 --> 00:18:34,975 All to defend a man who, because of his recklessness, 357 00:18:35,150 --> 00:18:36,526 killed six people. 358 00:18:49,219 --> 00:18:51,214 I'll be right there. 359 00:18:55,398 --> 00:18:57,559 We're looking for Francesca Paretti. 360 00:18:57,736 --> 00:19:00,195 She probably just speaks Italian, sir. 361 00:19:00,367 --> 00:19:03,156 Why don't you look over there and I'll look in here? 362 00:19:06,421 --> 00:19:07,453 Turn around. 363 00:19:07,631 --> 00:19:09,257 - I'm looking for... - Do as you're told. 364 00:19:10,679 --> 00:19:12,508 Why do they keep sending me Americans, eh? 365 00:19:12,683 --> 00:19:14,512 Now walk for me. 366 00:19:14,687 --> 00:19:15,933 Walk. 367 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,768 Sir, I was told to meet Francesca Paretti. 368 00:19:18,946 --> 00:19:20,441 Francesca Paretti, she is a journalist. 369 00:19:20,616 --> 00:19:23,786 She knows nothing about models. Now walk, eh? 370 00:19:23,956 --> 00:19:26,116 She told me to meet her here. 371 00:19:26,294 --> 00:19:27,789 That is not too bad, huh? 372 00:19:29,633 --> 00:19:34,799 Very good. You can put your costume in the dressing room, eh? 373 00:19:34,978 --> 00:19:37,768 You will wear the dinner jacket. 374 00:19:37,942 --> 00:19:41,480 It has wide lapels to add drama for the evening. 375 00:19:41,658 --> 00:19:43,534 Sir, I am an American Naval officer. 376 00:19:43,704 --> 00:19:45,330 Ciao. 377 00:19:48,087 --> 00:19:49,916 A naval officer who works with my father. 378 00:19:52,012 --> 00:19:55,680 If you get tired playing sailor, let me know, eh? 379 00:19:55,853 --> 00:19:59,142 I'm looking for older models. 380 00:19:59,318 --> 00:20:00,897 Ciao. 381 00:20:01,071 --> 00:20:02,402 Ciao. 382 00:20:02,575 --> 00:20:04,569 - Older models? - Roberto is a genius. 383 00:20:04,746 --> 00:20:07,321 He has such enthusiasm for the present, eh? 384 00:20:07,501 --> 00:20:09,211 When did I become old, Bud? 385 00:20:09,380 --> 00:20:13,251 So did my father order you to come see me, commander? 386 00:20:13,429 --> 00:20:15,341 Well, he asked if l... 387 00:20:15,518 --> 00:20:18,605 If we would look in on you. 388 00:20:24,661 --> 00:20:26,702 You are engaged, lieutenant. 389 00:20:26,873 --> 00:20:27,906 Aye, sir. 390 00:20:34,973 --> 00:20:38,179 It is the talk of Italy, Harm. People are very angry. 391 00:20:38,355 --> 00:20:41,644 They blame your pilot for being a cowboy. 392 00:20:41,820 --> 00:20:44,943 Are you familiar with the expression "rush to judgement"? 393 00:20:45,118 --> 00:20:48,954 Yes, yes. See, that would mean that we Italians, we judge too quickly. 394 00:20:49,126 --> 00:20:51,620 But your pilot is completely innocent, eh? 395 00:20:51,798 --> 00:20:54,506 Well, I think he deserves that presumption. 396 00:20:55,013 --> 00:20:57,471 I go skiing every year at Cortina. 397 00:20:57,643 --> 00:21:00,398 The military planes, they come in 50 feet over the ground sometimes 398 00:21:00,566 --> 00:21:01,598 just for the thrill. 399 00:21:01,777 --> 00:21:03,688 Those manoeuvres involve all NATO aircraft. 400 00:21:03,864 --> 00:21:06,155 Except this is what people think maybe happened this time. 401 00:21:06,327 --> 00:21:07,704 Except this time, people died. 402 00:21:07,872 --> 00:21:10,163 These men are preparing to go to war, Francesca. 403 00:21:10,335 --> 00:21:12,413 They have to train under difficult circumstances. 404 00:21:12,589 --> 00:21:16,259 Okay. But why do they have to fly so low that they scare the sheep? 405 00:21:16,431 --> 00:21:18,224 To avoid detection by enemy radar. 406 00:21:18,393 --> 00:21:20,020 But, you see, we are not your enemy. 407 00:21:20,189 --> 00:21:21,850 And the sheep, they have no radar. 408 00:21:22,025 --> 00:21:24,103 It's just a game, Francesca. 409 00:21:24,655 --> 00:21:27,695 I see. Okay. So this is the reason they fly so low. For fun? 410 00:21:27,871 --> 00:21:31,622 They fly low and fast in order to learn how to better control their aircraft. 411 00:21:31,794 --> 00:21:33,671 Francesca, how do you go to war 412 00:21:33,841 --> 00:21:36,381 with aviators who don't have the skills to fight? 413 00:21:37,097 --> 00:21:38,724 But this is the thing, Harm. 414 00:21:38,893 --> 00:21:41,730 Those people who lost their lives, they were civilians. 415 00:21:41,898 --> 00:21:43,727 They did not ask to risk their lives. 416 00:21:43,902 --> 00:21:46,194 If something bad were to happen in this part of the world, 417 00:21:46,366 --> 00:21:47,945 who do you think they'd call to help out? 418 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:51,039 Oh, that's right. You are the policemen of the world, right? 419 00:21:51,208 --> 00:21:55,080 So whatever you want, whatever you do, it's okay. 420 00:21:57,137 --> 00:22:01,471 We are not asking cowboy aviator. 421 00:22:01,646 --> 00:22:04,734 I have just convened an emergency meeting 422 00:22:04,903 --> 00:22:06,945 of the Parliament Defence Committee. 423 00:22:07,116 --> 00:22:09,953 And if necessary, we will terminate 424 00:22:10,121 --> 00:22:13,744 the presence of American bases on Italian soil. 425 00:22:21,394 --> 00:22:24,564 Well, ma'am, this has gotten ugly fast. 426 00:22:26,196 --> 00:22:28,903 I hear the Italian Alps are lovely this time of year. 427 00:22:30,329 --> 00:22:31,659 I would appreciate your help. 428 00:22:31,832 --> 00:22:35,785 Well, we have to do something or this is all gonna go to hell. 429 00:22:48,907 --> 00:22:50,190 How's the case going? 430 00:22:50,369 --> 00:22:53,990 Well, so far, I don't have much of anything. 431 00:22:54,418 --> 00:22:55,915 Whatever's happening in the courtroom, 432 00:22:56,089 --> 00:22:58,796 we're losing this case in the court of public opinion. 433 00:22:58,969 --> 00:23:00,548 Now, I've gotta do something 434 00:23:00,723 --> 00:23:02,884 to counter the charges that the Italians are making. 435 00:23:03,061 --> 00:23:06,148 Bobbi, I have one job, to defend my client. 436 00:23:06,317 --> 00:23:09,571 And I have another job, to keep our bases in Italy. 437 00:23:09,992 --> 00:23:12,152 Now, I have to tell you in strict confidence 438 00:23:12,329 --> 00:23:14,788 that on the highest level, there is serious consideration 439 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:17,917 to turning Lieutenant Gordon over to the Italian authorities. 440 00:23:18,759 --> 00:23:20,919 - They'll crucify him. - I don't want that. 441 00:23:21,432 --> 00:23:24,969 Tell me everything. Then tell me what I can use. 442 00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:29,477 Why don't you see if you can trust me? 443 00:23:33,789 --> 00:23:34,989 What did you find, Bud? 444 00:23:35,167 --> 00:23:36,449 - Congresswoman. - Hello, Bud. 445 00:23:36,628 --> 00:23:39,466 It's a pleasure. Sir... 446 00:23:42,390 --> 00:23:43,554 It's okay, Bud. 447 00:23:44,435 --> 00:23:47,226 I checked the civilian airfields within a hundred miles. 448 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,570 There were 17 light aircraft aloft at the time of the accident, 449 00:23:50,740 --> 00:23:53,947 but none of them were near the Dora Tea Valley. 450 00:23:54,122 --> 00:23:56,615 - Any damage reports? - No, sir. Not a thing. 451 00:23:56,793 --> 00:23:59,251 And I checked the paint sample that we took off the aircraft 452 00:23:59,423 --> 00:24:01,502 and it doesn't match the signature of any colour paint 453 00:24:01,679 --> 00:24:03,055 used in civilian aircraft. 454 00:24:03,223 --> 00:24:06,892 The lab says that it was probably applied by hand. 455 00:24:07,064 --> 00:24:10,567 The thickness of the enamel varies and it wasn't baked on. 456 00:24:12,074 --> 00:24:14,615 Well, then it couldn't have been a commercial aircraft. 457 00:24:14,788 --> 00:24:15,952 Probably home-built. 458 00:24:16,124 --> 00:24:19,627 So he might not have filed a flight plan. Good work, Bud. 459 00:24:19,798 --> 00:24:21,258 Thank you, sir. 460 00:24:21,426 --> 00:24:23,754 My guess is that you don't want me to go public with this. 461 00:24:23,931 --> 00:24:25,843 I don't think we should say anything until we know 462 00:24:26,019 --> 00:24:28,429 why the pilot of this home-built aircraft hasn't come forward. 463 00:24:28,607 --> 00:24:30,566 Then I wanna meet Lieutenant Gordon. 464 00:24:30,736 --> 00:24:33,824 I wanna see for myself what type of man he is. 465 00:24:38,126 --> 00:24:39,373 I'd like you to give this letter 466 00:24:39,546 --> 00:24:41,873 to the families of the people that I killed. 467 00:24:42,051 --> 00:24:43,166 Lieutenant, as your attorney, 468 00:24:43,345 --> 00:24:46,932 I strongly advise you against admitting guilt or any wrongdoing. 469 00:24:47,103 --> 00:24:48,479 With all due respect, sir, 470 00:24:49,649 --> 00:24:50,813 I want to apologise. 471 00:24:50,985 --> 00:24:52,980 That may not be in your best interest, lieutenant. 472 00:24:53,157 --> 00:24:55,946 - I believe it is, sir. - It was an accident, lieutenant. 473 00:24:56,120 --> 00:24:58,330 However that may be, sir, 474 00:24:58,501 --> 00:25:00,744 it was my wing that struck that rotor blade. 475 00:25:02,550 --> 00:25:04,426 It was my responsibility. 476 00:25:05,389 --> 00:25:09,770 Captain, this may help to get us off the hook with the Italian people. 477 00:25:09,940 --> 00:25:12,434 I don't give a damn what the Italians think, ma'am. 478 00:25:13,656 --> 00:25:16,030 You want to protect your man. I think I can help you do that. 479 00:25:16,202 --> 00:25:18,447 But I need to buy some time and goodwill. 480 00:25:29,479 --> 00:25:33,065 Lieutenant Gordon has asked me to read this letter. 481 00:25:33,237 --> 00:25:38,663 It's not addressed to lawyers or prosecutors or politicians. 482 00:25:38,831 --> 00:25:42,001 It's addressed to the families of the six people who lost their lives 483 00:25:42,171 --> 00:25:45,294 in that tragic helicopter accident. 484 00:25:47,473 --> 00:25:51,012 "I want to express my condolences to the mothers and fathers, 485 00:25:51,189 --> 00:25:53,517 the husbands and wives, the sisters and brothers 486 00:25:53,694 --> 00:25:56,367 of the six people whose lives were cut short. 487 00:25:56,534 --> 00:25:59,822 I can only imagine their feelings of grief and anger. 488 00:25:59,998 --> 00:26:01,458 I would gladly give my life 489 00:26:01,626 --> 00:26:03,788 for the accident to have never happened. 490 00:26:03,965 --> 00:26:09,309 Since it did, I want to express my sorrow and regret. 491 00:26:10,311 --> 00:26:13,599 Sincerely, Lieutenant Mark Gordon." 492 00:26:14,402 --> 00:26:17,691 Signor Antinori, you live two miles from the scene of the accident? 493 00:26:17,868 --> 00:26:18,900 Yes. 494 00:26:19,078 --> 00:26:22,997 Immediately prior to the helicopter accident, what did you notice? 495 00:26:23,921 --> 00:26:26,379 American military jet, 496 00:26:26,551 --> 00:26:29,509 very loud, very big, 497 00:26:29,683 --> 00:26:31,761 flew over. 498 00:26:31,937 --> 00:26:34,728 It is always the same. 499 00:26:35,236 --> 00:26:36,815 They scare all the cows. 500 00:26:37,741 --> 00:26:41,909 Signor Antinori, can you estimate the altitude of the aircraft? 501 00:26:42,083 --> 00:26:43,247 Difficult to say. 502 00:26:44,212 --> 00:26:46,123 How high above the ground would you say? 503 00:26:46,299 --> 00:26:48,674 Twice as high as your barn or three times? 504 00:26:49,598 --> 00:26:52,269 Two barns. It was two barns up. 505 00:26:52,937 --> 00:26:55,099 Thank you, sir. No further questions. 506 00:26:55,276 --> 00:26:58,529 - Your witness, Commander Rabb. - Thank you, sir. 507 00:26:59,325 --> 00:27:01,653 Mr. Antinori, please. 508 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,297 Sir, your story is that you saw an F-14 flying over your farm 509 00:27:07,467 --> 00:27:10,506 - at the level of two barns. - Yes. 510 00:27:12,644 --> 00:27:16,313 How long after you heard this did you see the aircraft, sir? 511 00:27:16,485 --> 00:27:20,072 Oh, no. You don't catch me. 512 00:27:20,243 --> 00:27:24,030 You always see before you hear. 513 00:27:24,876 --> 00:27:28,000 I saw. Two seconds. Came over. 514 00:27:28,175 --> 00:27:33,257 And everybody knows you never hear first. 515 00:27:37,318 --> 00:27:38,695 Mr. Antinori, I'm gonna show you 516 00:27:38,863 --> 00:27:40,822 three separate head-on profiles of aircraft. 517 00:27:40,992 --> 00:27:43,153 Please point to the one that most resembles the aircraft 518 00:27:43,330 --> 00:27:45,159 that flew over your farm. 519 00:27:53,726 --> 00:27:55,388 No. 520 00:27:57,401 --> 00:27:59,644 - You're sure? - Yes. 521 00:28:00,281 --> 00:28:01,942 There was nothing hanging below the wings? 522 00:28:02,118 --> 00:28:06,416 - No, no, nothing. - You've identified an Italian aircraft. 523 00:28:07,545 --> 00:28:10,253 This is what a F-14 looks like, sir. 524 00:28:10,427 --> 00:28:13,763 It has two large engine intakes suspended beneath each wing. 525 00:28:16,606 --> 00:28:18,066 I am a farmer. 526 00:28:19,737 --> 00:28:23,573 Mr. Antinori, your daughter suffered a miscarriage last year. 527 00:28:23,745 --> 00:28:25,324 Is that correct, sir? 528 00:28:26,458 --> 00:28:27,954 And you blamed her miscarriage 529 00:28:28,128 --> 00:28:30,753 on the noise from low-flying American military aircraft? 530 00:28:31,260 --> 00:28:33,468 The noise make her lose the baby. 531 00:28:33,639 --> 00:28:35,349 Even though, sir, that the Italian air force 532 00:28:35,518 --> 00:28:37,643 flies several dozen missions a day in this region, 533 00:28:37,815 --> 00:28:40,854 is it fair to say that you are still angry with the American military? 534 00:28:41,029 --> 00:28:44,616 They are the ones that fly so low! 535 00:28:44,787 --> 00:28:47,874 No further questions, Your Honour. Thank you, Mr. Antinori. 536 00:28:48,043 --> 00:28:50,619 Court is recessed until 1400. 537 00:28:54,681 --> 00:28:57,935 - Francesca. - Mac. Commander Rabb. 538 00:28:58,105 --> 00:28:59,980 Well, I didn't think we'd see you again. 539 00:29:00,151 --> 00:29:03,357 I was rude at dinner. I wanted to apologise. 540 00:29:03,533 --> 00:29:06,322 I'm sure the admiral just sent you here to keep an eye on us. 541 00:29:06,497 --> 00:29:10,713 No. I told my father what I said and he became very angry with me. 542 00:29:10,881 --> 00:29:12,709 The admiral angry? That's hard to imagine. 543 00:29:12,884 --> 00:29:14,844 You too? I thought he liked you. 544 00:29:15,014 --> 00:29:16,558 Commander. 545 00:29:16,726 --> 00:29:19,397 I'd like to speak to you privately, please. 546 00:29:21,193 --> 00:29:24,482 Yes, congresswoman. Excuse me. 547 00:29:31,756 --> 00:29:33,417 I just got off the phone with the president. 548 00:29:33,593 --> 00:29:35,753 The Italian Parliament has scheduled a special session. 549 00:29:35,931 --> 00:29:37,260 We're gonna get kicked out of Italy 550 00:29:37,434 --> 00:29:40,224 if we don't turn Lieutenant Gordon over to them in 24 hours. 551 00:29:40,398 --> 00:29:42,773 Please give me reason to hope. 552 00:29:43,738 --> 00:29:45,946 I'm gonna have to put Lt. Gordon on the stand, then. 553 00:29:46,117 --> 00:29:47,448 Mac will pick him to pieces. 554 00:29:47,621 --> 00:29:49,283 Well, can you do anything about that? 555 00:29:49,458 --> 00:29:52,414 No. We have no corroborating evidence. 556 00:29:52,589 --> 00:29:54,383 The Italians are insisting there is no way 557 00:29:54,552 --> 00:29:57,306 he dropped that great distance in such a short space of time. 558 00:29:57,474 --> 00:29:59,635 So they're claiming that he was screwing around down low 559 00:29:59,812 --> 00:30:01,854 and then made up the story of avoiding light aircraft 560 00:30:02,025 --> 00:30:04,315 - to cover his tactics? - Exactly. 561 00:30:04,488 --> 00:30:05,901 The only way to dispel that argument 562 00:30:06,075 --> 00:30:09,114 would be to re-create Lieutenant Gordon's flight. 563 00:30:09,581 --> 00:30:11,077 - Let's do it. - No. 564 00:30:11,251 --> 00:30:13,745 The Italians have closed the airspace in the valley, Bobbi. 565 00:30:14,258 --> 00:30:17,926 I can clear the airspace. You can get us an F-14. 566 00:30:18,098 --> 00:30:20,937 Us? Forget about it, congresswoman. 567 00:30:21,105 --> 00:30:24,976 You have no idea how dangerous and violent a manoeuvre like that is. 568 00:30:25,614 --> 00:30:27,905 Harm, I come from some of the toughest streets in Detroit. 569 00:30:28,077 --> 00:30:30,321 I can handle whatever you throw at me. 570 00:30:34,172 --> 00:30:37,627 - You're sure you wanna do this? - I don't do anything I don't wanna do. 571 00:30:37,805 --> 00:30:39,799 I hated it. 572 00:30:39,976 --> 00:30:41,388 Anything frighten you, ma'am? 573 00:30:41,562 --> 00:30:45,231 Yeah. A one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office. 574 00:30:45,612 --> 00:30:46,776 Congresswoman? 575 00:30:48,409 --> 00:30:49,441 What's this? For luck? 576 00:30:49,620 --> 00:30:51,365 No, ma'am. That is a 500-lira coin. 577 00:30:51,541 --> 00:30:53,701 You'll need it if you have to punch out of the aircraft. 578 00:30:53,878 --> 00:30:56,039 Once you hit the ground, assuming you can still walk, 579 00:30:56,216 --> 00:30:58,889 just find the nearest phone booth and give us a call. 580 00:30:59,056 --> 00:31:00,088 Collect. 581 00:31:01,018 --> 00:31:03,594 I love a man with a good sense of humour. 582 00:31:22,310 --> 00:31:23,343 You okay? 583 00:31:23,522 --> 00:31:25,266 I'll let you know when I'm not. 584 00:31:28,739 --> 00:31:32,326 Milan flight information region, this is Navy Alpha Charlie 223. 585 00:31:32,497 --> 00:31:34,955 We are over Point Alpha, commencing descent. 586 00:31:35,127 --> 00:31:39,212 Request you confirm we are exactly on profile Zulu. 587 00:31:39,386 --> 00:31:42,307 Charlie 223, you are cleared to commence descent. 588 00:31:42,476 --> 00:31:44,138 Radar indicates no other traffic. 589 00:31:44,313 --> 00:31:48,315 You are precisely on altitude and air speed, slightly right off course. 590 00:31:48,488 --> 00:31:49,865 Roger. Understood. 591 00:31:51,076 --> 00:31:53,404 Two-two-three, you are exactly on course. 592 00:31:53,581 --> 00:31:54,661 Tell me something. 593 00:31:55,168 --> 00:31:57,542 Where can I sign up for flight training? 594 00:31:59,217 --> 00:32:02,555 This is where Lieutenant Gordon started his radar evasion. 595 00:32:03,017 --> 00:32:04,347 Mask on. 596 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,690 Five hundred forty knots. Two hundred feet AGL. 597 00:32:08,361 --> 00:32:10,522 I don't have him on radar. 598 00:32:15,542 --> 00:32:16,872 I still don't have him. 599 00:32:17,045 --> 00:32:18,505 Navy Alpha Charlie 223. 600 00:32:18,673 --> 00:32:21,214 We just passed the Monte Cassino ruins. 601 00:32:21,387 --> 00:32:23,382 Nice work, Navy Alpha Charlie 223. 602 00:32:23,558 --> 00:32:26,134 You have run the course without radar detection. 603 00:32:26,313 --> 00:32:28,641 Climb to 2000 feet before leaving the exercise zone 604 00:32:28,819 --> 00:32:30,730 and contact Milano Air Control Centre. 605 00:32:30,906 --> 00:32:33,530 This is 223, switching to channel 17. 606 00:32:33,704 --> 00:32:35,994 Leaving 300 for 2000 feet. 607 00:32:39,297 --> 00:32:40,924 He is not on radar. 608 00:32:41,427 --> 00:32:43,802 This is where Lieutenant Gordon saw the light plane, Bobbi. 609 00:32:43,974 --> 00:32:45,683 Hang on. 610 00:32:58,544 --> 00:33:00,124 Let's go home. 611 00:33:00,632 --> 00:33:01,962 Roger that. 612 00:33:16,956 --> 00:33:19,497 If you put your head between your legs, the airsickness will pass. 613 00:33:19,671 --> 00:33:21,998 I feel great. It gives you a buzz right down to your toes. 614 00:33:22,175 --> 00:33:23,801 Don't you hate being strapped in tight? 615 00:33:23,970 --> 00:33:25,467 Not always. 616 00:33:25,641 --> 00:33:27,801 - Sir? - What did you find? 617 00:33:27,979 --> 00:33:29,723 Well, sir, Lt. Gordon's story checks out. 618 00:33:29,899 --> 00:33:33,817 Even at 2000 feet, we were below the radar horizon of Milan. 619 00:33:33,991 --> 00:33:35,866 Thank you, commander. 620 00:33:36,454 --> 00:33:39,328 Bud, the plane captain's having maintenance pull the data recorder. 621 00:33:39,502 --> 00:33:41,330 - Make sure we get that, all right? - Yes, sir. 622 00:33:41,506 --> 00:33:44,000 - You'll get me a copy of the tape? - Absolutely. 623 00:33:44,178 --> 00:33:46,303 You don't expect to enter that into evidence? 624 00:33:46,474 --> 00:33:48,468 Oh, I think I can make a case of it. 625 00:33:48,645 --> 00:33:50,307 You haven't proven a damn thing, Harm. 626 00:33:50,482 --> 00:33:53,521 Lieutenant Gordon's still gonna be prosecuted. 627 00:34:02,297 --> 00:34:04,922 Captain Balducci, it's your testimony that you personally posted 628 00:34:05,095 --> 00:34:07,339 the Notice to Airmen the day before the accident. 629 00:34:07,516 --> 00:34:10,390 - Yes. - What did the notice say? 630 00:34:10,564 --> 00:34:13,354 That there was helicopter activity in the Dora Tea Valley. 631 00:34:13,528 --> 00:34:14,560 What else? 632 00:34:14,739 --> 00:34:18,491 That the airspace below 500 feet was reserved for helicopter activity. 633 00:34:18,663 --> 00:34:21,157 Do you know if Lieutenant Gordon read the NOTAM? 634 00:34:21,335 --> 00:34:24,090 I know he checked the box in his flight plan. 635 00:34:24,258 --> 00:34:26,502 Thank you. No further questions. 636 00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:28,341 Your witness, commander. 637 00:34:29,811 --> 00:34:32,518 Captain Balducci, you were working on the day of the accident, sir? 638 00:34:32,691 --> 00:34:33,724 Yes. 639 00:34:33,902 --> 00:34:36,776 Your shift started at 8 in the morning and finished at 4 in the afternoon? 640 00:34:36,950 --> 00:34:39,028 - Yes. - You spent all eight of those hours 641 00:34:39,204 --> 00:34:41,615 - in the briefing room? - Yes. 642 00:34:41,794 --> 00:34:44,750 So you would have known if a notice came through from the FVAA? 643 00:34:44,924 --> 00:34:46,254 That is my job. 644 00:34:46,427 --> 00:34:48,007 And you would have posted it immediately? 645 00:34:48,181 --> 00:34:49,843 Always. As is my custom. 646 00:34:50,018 --> 00:34:52,392 On a clipboard in the briefing room? 647 00:34:52,606 --> 00:34:53,638 Yes. 648 00:34:53,817 --> 00:34:57,356 Let the record reflect that I am handing the witness Exhibit A. 649 00:34:58,910 --> 00:35:02,117 Captain, will you describe for the court what this exhibit is? 650 00:35:04,756 --> 00:35:09,636 It's a credit card slip dated April 17th for the Rizzoli Café. 651 00:35:09,808 --> 00:35:12,562 Objection. Defence did not disclose the fact of this credit card slip. 652 00:35:12,730 --> 00:35:15,058 I've just received it, sir. 653 00:35:17,030 --> 00:35:20,069 But take all the time you need, counsellor. 654 00:35:28,094 --> 00:35:30,338 Captain, were you at the Rizzoli Café that day? 655 00:35:30,515 --> 00:35:31,845 I may have been. I don't remember. 656 00:35:32,018 --> 00:35:33,895 But you do remember receiving a Notice to Airmen 657 00:35:34,065 --> 00:35:36,106 and posting it in a timely fashion. 658 00:35:36,903 --> 00:35:39,611 Perhaps I went to the café for a drink after work. 659 00:35:39,785 --> 00:35:41,862 Or perhaps my wife had the card that day. 660 00:35:44,710 --> 00:35:46,337 Whose signature is that, sir? 661 00:35:48,385 --> 00:35:49,714 It looks like mine. 662 00:35:53,854 --> 00:35:56,561 Sir, this is a restaurant bill from the Rizzoli Café 663 00:35:56,735 --> 00:35:59,822 indicating that Captain Balducci had a four-course meal that day 664 00:35:59,992 --> 00:36:03,577 until 2 in the afternoon, after the consumption of a bottle of wine. 665 00:36:03,748 --> 00:36:05,542 Objection. Facts not in evidence. 666 00:36:05,711 --> 00:36:07,670 I'll call the waiter in to testify, if you'd like. 667 00:36:12,517 --> 00:36:14,558 Captain, the message came in at 1208. 668 00:36:14,896 --> 00:36:17,734 You returned to work after 1400, after the accident happened. 669 00:36:17,903 --> 00:36:20,146 So when did you post the NOTAM, sir? 670 00:36:22,912 --> 00:36:24,325 Perhaps someone else posted it. 671 00:36:24,499 --> 00:36:27,456 You previously testified that you had received the notice 672 00:36:27,630 --> 00:36:28,911 and that you had posted it, 673 00:36:29,091 --> 00:36:31,764 as is your custom, in a timely fashion. 674 00:36:33,684 --> 00:36:35,263 Captain. 675 00:36:39,612 --> 00:36:40,811 Sir? 676 00:36:40,990 --> 00:36:43,745 I checked the georeferences on the datum indicator. 677 00:36:43,913 --> 00:36:46,585 And I've located the gravel landing strip that you saw from the air. 678 00:36:46,752 --> 00:36:49,209 It's about an hour's drive from here. 679 00:36:49,381 --> 00:36:52,255 - Good work, Bud. - Thank you, sir. 680 00:36:58,442 --> 00:37:00,187 Francesca. 681 00:37:04,663 --> 00:37:06,823 I know how you feel about this case, 682 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:10,705 but I could really use your help interviewing a potential witness. 683 00:37:51,924 --> 00:37:54,048 What do you want me to say, commander? 684 00:37:54,220 --> 00:37:57,758 Did I see the pilot fly 50 feet off the ground like a madman? 685 00:37:58,437 --> 00:37:59,932 Did you? 686 00:38:00,566 --> 00:38:02,276 No. I was in Roma. 687 00:38:03,697 --> 00:38:05,490 Are you a pilot, Mr. Restivo? 688 00:38:06,327 --> 00:38:10,412 Yes. I have a small aircraft I use on the weekends. 689 00:38:12,130 --> 00:38:14,173 Were you in the air the day of the accident, sir? 690 00:38:14,344 --> 00:38:17,763 No. I took the train to Roma that day, on a business. 691 00:38:17,934 --> 00:38:21,223 Was anybody else in the aircraft that day? 692 00:38:22,735 --> 00:38:25,608 Not without my permission. I don't give to no one. 693 00:38:27,286 --> 00:38:29,281 Could we take a look at the plane, sir? 694 00:38:32,965 --> 00:38:34,959 What is your part in all this, commander? 695 00:38:36,054 --> 00:38:39,640 I'm defending the man who caused the helicopter to crash, Mr. Restivo. 696 00:38:39,812 --> 00:38:41,473 Then why would I help you? 697 00:38:41,648 --> 00:38:43,690 That pilot cannot be defended. 698 00:38:52,879 --> 00:38:55,883 The commander works for my father. 699 00:38:56,052 --> 00:38:57,845 My father is the judge advocate general 700 00:38:58,014 --> 00:38:59,843 of the United States Navy. 701 00:39:00,019 --> 00:39:02,559 He is also an honest man. 702 00:39:02,732 --> 00:39:04,691 I am nobody's girlfriend. 703 00:39:05,780 --> 00:39:09,401 And if you have nothing to hide, you will take us to see the airplane. 704 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:18,970 I built it myself. It takes me two winters. 705 00:39:19,140 --> 00:39:22,263 Well, you did a good job, Mr. Restivo. 706 00:39:26,154 --> 00:39:27,531 When did this happen, sir? 707 00:39:33,126 --> 00:39:34,622 I was not aware of this damage. 708 00:39:34,796 --> 00:39:37,635 Sir, I'd like your permission to get a paint sample. 709 00:39:37,803 --> 00:39:40,972 There are scrapings of green paint on the F-14. I believe they'll match. 710 00:39:41,351 --> 00:39:43,726 Surely you don't think the two planes could have collided? 711 00:39:43,898 --> 00:39:47,353 I don't think they collided, but there was some kind of glancing contact. 712 00:39:47,530 --> 00:39:51,318 Whoever was flying this plane is one hell of a pilot. 713 00:39:53,834 --> 00:39:55,663 I told you I was in Rome, commander. 714 00:39:57,509 --> 00:39:59,135 Papa. 715 00:40:07,027 --> 00:40:08,939 - Sir... - You're not welcome here anymore. 716 00:40:09,115 --> 00:40:12,867 - Okay? I want you to leave right now. - Sir. Mr. Restivo. 717 00:40:16,296 --> 00:40:17,958 Arianna. 718 00:40:23,561 --> 00:40:26,648 Yes. I was practising my landings and takeoffs. 719 00:40:26,817 --> 00:40:30,866 In the Dora Tea Valley, 3 miles from where the accident occurred. 720 00:40:31,243 --> 00:40:32,275 What time was it? 721 00:40:33,163 --> 00:40:34,825 Two-thirty in the afternoon. 722 00:40:35,001 --> 00:40:37,209 What altitude were you? 723 00:40:39,008 --> 00:40:42,677 I don't know exactly. Maybe 600 metres. 724 00:40:42,849 --> 00:40:46,720 About 2000 feet. Did you see the American F-14? 725 00:40:47,985 --> 00:40:49,017 Yes. 726 00:40:49,529 --> 00:40:50,811 Where? 727 00:40:52,326 --> 00:40:54,238 It was coming right at me. 728 00:40:54,414 --> 00:40:56,824 What did the pilot of the F-14 do then? 729 00:40:58,004 --> 00:40:59,749 He went down very fast. 730 00:40:59,925 --> 00:41:01,551 Did he collide with your airplane? 731 00:41:01,971 --> 00:41:03,003 I don't know. 732 00:41:03,182 --> 00:41:05,757 I turned over and over. It all happened at once. 733 00:41:05,937 --> 00:41:09,559 It was very hard for me to regain control of the airplane. 734 00:41:11,114 --> 00:41:12,907 What happened next, Arianna? 735 00:41:13,870 --> 00:41:17,574 I got control of the airplane. And I flew home. 736 00:41:17,752 --> 00:41:20,507 When did you learn about the accident with the helicopter? 737 00:41:21,594 --> 00:41:23,255 An hour later. 738 00:41:24,015 --> 00:41:25,975 On the television. 739 00:41:26,145 --> 00:41:28,435 Arianna, who taught you to fly? 740 00:41:29,860 --> 00:41:30,940 My papa. 741 00:41:31,864 --> 00:41:33,609 What did he say about your skills? 742 00:41:33,785 --> 00:41:37,287 He says I'm a natural. 743 00:41:37,458 --> 00:41:39,169 A natural. 744 00:41:39,797 --> 00:41:41,957 Did you tell your father about the accident? 745 00:41:43,637 --> 00:41:45,680 I was afraid, sir. 746 00:41:45,851 --> 00:41:47,679 I had taken the plane up without his permission 747 00:41:47,854 --> 00:41:49,599 and I knew he would be angry with me. 748 00:41:49,775 --> 00:41:52,613 Arianna, you were gonna let the American aviator take the blame 749 00:41:52,781 --> 00:41:55,571 for an accident that you also helped to cause. 750 00:41:56,371 --> 00:41:57,867 Yes. 751 00:41:59,336 --> 00:42:00,617 That makes me ashamed. 752 00:42:00,797 --> 00:42:03,207 But you came here today of your own free will? 753 00:42:03,802 --> 00:42:05,050 Yes. 754 00:42:05,682 --> 00:42:07,225 Why did you do that? 755 00:42:08,771 --> 00:42:10,432 Because... 756 00:42:11,360 --> 00:42:13,936 ...my father taught me to always be honest. 757 00:42:17,330 --> 00:42:19,740 And I want to stop feeling ashamed. 758 00:42:21,421 --> 00:42:23,546 Sir, at this point, I'd like to enter into evidence 759 00:42:23,718 --> 00:42:26,591 paint scrapings from the F-14 involved in the accident 760 00:42:26,766 --> 00:42:29,639 and from the Restivo family home-built aircraft. 761 00:42:29,813 --> 00:42:31,440 Very well. 762 00:42:32,110 --> 00:42:34,781 Arianna, there's something I want you to know. 763 00:42:35,867 --> 00:42:39,703 Accidents like this one, they happen sometimes. 764 00:42:40,167 --> 00:42:42,458 It's nobody's fault. 765 00:42:47,682 --> 00:42:49,226 No further questions, sir. 766 00:42:49,729 --> 00:42:50,761 Major? 767 00:42:51,691 --> 00:42:53,186 I have no questions at this time, sir. 768 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:55,402 Prosecution reserves the right to cross-examine. 769 00:42:55,573 --> 00:42:58,993 This hearing is recessed until 1600. 770 00:43:05,802 --> 00:43:07,083 - Thank you, commander. - Captain. 771 00:43:07,263 --> 00:43:08,843 And you, major. 772 00:43:11,564 --> 00:43:13,772 I'll be recommending that the government drop all charges 773 00:43:13,943 --> 00:43:17,232 against your client, Harm, and return him to flight status. 774 00:43:17,576 --> 00:43:20,247 Good job. Both of you. 775 00:43:20,414 --> 00:43:22,208 I'll see you shortly. 776 00:43:25,174 --> 00:43:28,048 - You have to go? - Yes. 777 00:43:28,389 --> 00:43:30,929 You will tell my father I said hello? 778 00:43:31,103 --> 00:43:33,061 Well, I'll think about it. 779 00:43:34,568 --> 00:43:36,610 It's too bad, commander, 780 00:43:37,616 --> 00:43:40,109 that we are parting only as friends. 781 00:43:40,287 --> 00:43:42,615 Well, I was just happy we're still speaking. 782 00:43:42,793 --> 00:43:44,953 I was hoping for more. 783 00:43:52,145 --> 00:43:53,556 Ciao. 784 00:44:06,925 --> 00:44:09,169 Thank you for everything, commander. 785 00:44:12,351 --> 00:44:13,896 Lieutenant. 786 00:44:28,050 --> 00:44:30,424 That picture is gonna be on the front page of every newspaper 787 00:44:30,596 --> 00:44:33,352 around the world by tomorrow morning. 788 00:44:33,812 --> 00:44:36,139 What can you say that matches that?