The Shooting Down of An Iranian Airliner by the USS Vincennes The mournful shoot down of an Iranian airliner by the USS VINCENNES on July 3, 1988 is a tragic example of the consequences of a break down in command and control on a modern naval vessel. Given the situation and information available at the time that the airliner was approaching the Vincennes, I believe that the Captain of the Vincennes Captain Rodgers acted appropriately. Prior to the take off of the airliner, though, Captain Rodgers was overly aggressive in his actions towards some threatening, but not hosti