[arsenal]

Wouldn't "Manila Hotel" be the AWACS plane? Either way, they are the ones that are supposed to know who is in what area.
The pilots clearly ask if there where friendlies in the area, and got the response of no. I am not sure if they are required to get clearence to engage the enemy, that would be defined in their ROE. Based on the tape, it sounds like their ROE did not include waiting to be fired upon, and to take out the enemy on sight.

There is obvious confusion as to what was on top of the flat bed trucks.
If their forward comand is telling them that there are no friendlies in the area (communication break down) the pilots has to make the decision to engage or stand down. If they are getting bad intel, the pilots are not the only ones to blame.