European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes monday August 8,1988 convertible kiddie cruise when it s hot and humid in Toronto it s a Pate. It helps to have a Day Tare worker you during the ride. These six tots were High temperatures and humidity Are sex lot More ran to ride around in a convertible like Tammy Copeland willing to take the under Copeland s Loving if not Cooling petted at least for another week in the letting what Little Breeze there is Cool your top off and create the Breeze by fanning care when the temperature soared to 92. Toronto area. False signals led 3 other ships in Gulf to think they were attacked Manama Bahrain a More than two month before the guided missile Cruiser Vincennes mistakenly shot Down an iranian jetliner in the persian Gulf mis leading radar signals caused three other . Warships to believe they were under attack by non existent Ira Nian missiles. Possibly because no casualties occurred neither the radar mix up nor a subsequent investigation by the . Central come Headquarters attracted much pub Lic attention at the time. But for the Navy the april 18 incident raised som of the same questions that officials have since con fronted in the july 3 Vincennes tragedy whether commanders can depend on information fed to them in a fast changing combat situation where they must make split second decisions. Pentagon sources say a report to be issued later this month finds human error in the heat of combat caused Vincennes radar operators to think the Iran air a300 Airbus was an attacking fighter. All 290 aboard died when the plane was shot Down. Spokesmen for the Florida based Central come said an investigation of the april 18 mix up found no Evi Dence of human error inadequate training or equip ment  they also conceded that the same thing could happen again in similar circumstances but they said the report did not make any specific recommendations for change. What you had was a combat scenario which is always characterized by confusion such a scenario could be duplicated again in the Gulf or anywhere in the world said a spokesman maj. Barry Willey. We Are changing procedures constantly on the basis of what s Learned. All the forces take a close look after something like  the incident occurred during a one Day minibar that flared in the Southern Gulf after the United states attacked three iranian Oil platforms in reprisal for the sowing of mines by Iran. In the fighting during which six iranian naval Craft were sunk or disabled radar operators aboard the .guided missile frigate Jack Williams picked up signals indicating that chinese made silkworm anti ship mis Siles were being fired from the iranian coast in the Strait of Hormuz. The ships which included the destroyer o Brignand the missile destroyer Joseph Strauss took evasive action and launched aluminium and Infra red chaff to confuse the missiles guidance systems. The Jack Williams skipper cmdr. Edward Mann and capt. Donald a. Dyer commander of the task group told a five member Pentagon news Pool aboard the frigate that four silkworms had been fired Over Aspan of about an hour. The officers reacted with incredulity when later that Day top Pentagon officials cast doubt on the report saying that no silkworms had been fired. In a news conference june 3 in Manama the chief of Central come Gen. George b. Crist said a subsequent analysis by electronic warfare experts found no hostile missiles were fired and the radar operators had misread tracks of those fired by . Ships and planes. What you got was a number of missiles outgoing a number of laser guided bombs and missiles coming inform . Aircraft. Hits on the system As they picked up seekers and missiles moving through Theair said Crist. He said ship commanders had reacted properly be cause had they been missiles incoming and they did t take the necessary actions they would have been in  some officers have likened the situation to that faced by Vincennes skipper capt. Will c. Rogers Iii who has said he would respond the same Way if Given the same data again. The Best decisions always depend on the flow of information getting to the top says capt. Alex g. Balian commander of the amphibious transport Dock Dubuque. A military Roundup 3 Safe airmen win 87 manager awards Randolph fab Texas three Safe airmen have won air Force outstanding Mili tary and civilian personnel manager of the year awards for 1987. Two airmen from Ramstein a West Ger Many won in the Headquarters level military categories tech. Sgt. Charlie d. Woolard a personnel technician and sgt. Michael s. Keibler a personnel specialist. Base level military winners included sgt. Ste Ven s. Strauss a personnel specialist at Raf Lakenheath England. The award is Given for significant manage ment related achievements and innovations. Genealogical research association to meet Heidelberg West Germany the genealogical association of English speaking re searchers in Europe will meet thursday from 7p.m. To 9 . In the Usa eur Library and resource Center in Mark Twain Village. Barren Holland of the Library staff will demonstrate the use of the Center s genealogical hold Ings including books microfiche and microfilm. The association s goals Are to promote interesting genealogy bring together people interested in family history research strengthen cooperation Between european researchers and . And Ca Nadian researchers in Europe and sponsor Field trips classes seminars and other educational programs. Annual dues Are $5. For More information write association presi Dent Bob Frelinger he Cental sgt Apo 09099, or Call German civilian 06221-390189