Plane shot down?

A P-38 lightning was shot down over Massachusetts the pilot ejected but the radar operator disapeared with the airplane after a major search for the plane and the radar operator nothing came up. The pilot later explained that the plane wasnt SHOT down it was apperantly hit by EMP blast that knocked out the planes controls. The unlucky radar operator was never found, and the only part of the airplane that was found was the canopy that blew of when the pilot ejected, im really confused about this story could someone give some feedback?

[edit on 20-2-2007 by Falken]

Do you have any links to this story?

This is an interesting story.

When did this happen, do you have any names for the pilot and radar operator?

[edit on 2/20/2007 by Mechanic 32]

Pretty strange story, since a P-38 Lightening is a WWll vintage airplane.

I found this incident and it sounds close to yours check it out here:

QUESTIONS ON A 1953 CAPE COD MYSTERY
At about 600 feet, he went out of the aircraft and was about two to three seconds from impact. He ejected from the aircraft. His chute opened and acted like an air brake... it slowed him down, and in one swing he was on the ground. To make a long story short, the aircraft itself… somewhere between the time when he separated from the aircraft and the next two or three seconds….that aircraft literally vanished! It has never been found to this day."

Well I guess you got me there. Your post didn't say when it occurred. I doubt a 1940s built aircraft had an ejection seat, however. Interesting story.

Originally posted by TheAvenger
Well I guess you got me there. Your post didn't say when it occurred. I doubt a 1940s built aircraft had an ejection seat, however. Interesting story.

They didnt have rocket ejection seats but they did have parachutes and they were trained to "bail out" in an emergency.

Sorry, either i didn't pay attention to the story or i forgot the pilots name but the story also mentions Foo Fighters the nickname the airforce pilots gave to the glowing orbs they saw.

P.S and the pilot did bail out he didn't eject sorry for the messup.

Plus, p-38's only had a pilot...no "radar operator".

Wow you're right guess someone overlooked that ill go back and check thnx

Are you sure you aren't thinking of the Kinross Incident?
Different plane. Only case I can recall with a P-38 was the 1947 Montana case (later denounced)...

I'm going to search for more info on this story if i can find my original source i'll get back.

The P-38's that were designed for night-fighting operations had an extra added on canopy for a radar operator. These were the P-38M's or 'Night Lightnings'.

Reading the external source above, maybe it was the F94C fighter in a 1953 incident in Massachusetts?



[edit on 21-2-2007 by TheAvenger]

[edit on 21-2-2007 by TheAvenger]