Friendly Fire (1932)

[Dave Wilton]

OED has 1976; Barry traced it back to 1966.

In the context of fire being delivered onto the enemy by friendly forces, NY
Times (Proquest Hist Newspapers), 6 Mar 1932, "Effectiveness of Modern Gas
Attack" p. xx8:

"A smoke screen laid over an enemy artillery battery by airplanes reduces
its effectiveness by only 4 percent, while friendly fire is almost 12
percent effective through smoke."


And in the context of friendly forces firing on one another, also NY Times
(Proquest Hist Newspapers), 3 April 1944, "War News Summarized" p.1:

"Admiral Nimitz disclosed that thirteen Americans had been killed and
forty-six wounded by friendly fire in another 'tragic episode' of the war."

--Dave Wilton
  dave at wilton.net
  http://www.wilton.net