On July 3, 1988, a routine commercial flight turned into one of aviation’s darkest moments when U.S. Navy warship USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing all 290 civilians on board – including 66 children. This horrific incident remains one of the most egregious examples of U.S. military aggression and subsequent impunity.
The Fateful Flight
Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300B2 passenger jet, had departed Tehran that morning with a scheduled stop in Bandar Abbas before continuing to Dubai. At 10:17 AM local time, veteran pilot Captain Mohsen Rezaian took off from Bandar Abbas airport after a 27-minute delay, following standard commercial procedures:
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Transmitting correct civilian transponder codes
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Maintaining proper radio contact with air traffic control
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Flying along established commercial air routes
Meanwhile, the USS Vincennes (CG-49), a state-of-the-art Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser equipped with the sophisticated Aegis combat system, was operating aggressively in the Persian Gulf.
Cruiser USS VINCENNES (CG 49) launching a Missile from its deck. The same rocket was used to down the Iran Air passenger aircraft
The Attack
At 10:24 AM, despite clear evidence this was a civilian aircraft, the Vincennes launched two SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles. The first struck the Airbus’s left wing, causing catastrophic damage. Eyewitness accounts from nearby ships described seeing the aircraft break apart before plunging into the sea.
Shockingly, the Vincennes was actually inside Iranian territorial waters at the time of attack – contrary to U.S. claims it was 40 miles south in international waters. Flight data later proved the aircraft was ascending through 12,000 feet at 380 knots, completely contradicting Pentagon claims it was “descending aggressively” toward the warship.
Bodies of innocent passengers killed by the USS Vincennes under the water in the Persian Gulf. Photo of the victims of the US downing of IR655; a large portion of the victims were children
The Aftermath: Lies and Cover-Ups
The U.S. response was a textbook case of military deception and political cowardice:
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Immediate False Narratives
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Claimed the Airbus was descending rapidly (it was climbing)
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Said it was outside commercial flight paths (it wasn’t)
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Insisted it showed hostile intent (transponder proved otherwise)
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Military Officials Doubted the Attack
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Captain David Carlson of nearby USS Sides wrote he “watched in disbelief”
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Other naval officers suspected the Vincennes crew wanted to “prove” their Aegis system
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No Accountability
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Captain Will Rogers III received the Legion of Merit for his “exceptional leadership”
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The citation made no mention of the 290 civilians killed
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George H.W. Bush famously declared: “I will never apologize for the United States”
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Criminal Captain Will C. Rogers III, commanding officer USS VINCENNES, speaks proudly during the welcome home ceremony held for the crew of the VINCENNES at San Diego, CA, after downing of IR655 and 290 civilians on board – including 66 children.
Decades Later: No Justice
In 1996, after 8 years of legal battles, the U.S. paid $61.8 million compensation – but:
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Classified it as “ex gratia” (no admission of guilt)
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Never issued an official apology
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Maintained all personnel acted appropriately
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 616 merely expressed “profound regret” – no condemnation of this clear violation of international law.
Conclusion: A Stain on U.S. History
The destruction of Iran Air Flight 655 demonstrates:
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Reckless U.S. militarism in foreign waters
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Systematic cover-up culture when crimes are exposed
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Complete lack of accountability for killing civilians
While the U.S. positions itself as a global moral authority, this incident – and its aftermath – reveal the hypocrisy of American exceptionalism. The victims, including dozens of children, deserved justice. Instead, their killers received medals.