US Military Asks for Help to Find Missing F-35 Fighter Lost Over SC

[carolinarider09]

This happened in South Carolina.   It seems that the Air Force lost track of the jet.   I don't know if they have ways to track them like civilian aircraft. I would had thought they would but......

From the Link Below:

A Marine Corps pilot safely escaped the F-35B Lightning II jet over North Charleston on Sunday afternoon after a “mishap”, military officials said, and the search for his missing aircraft was now focused on two lakes north of North Charleston.

The pilot parachuted safely into North Charleston at about 2pm and was taken to a local hospital, where he was in stable condition, said Maj Melanie Salinas. The pilot’s name has not been released.

Based on the missing plane’s location and trajectory, the search for the F-35 Lightning II jet was focused on Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, said Senior Master Sergeant Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston. Both lakes are north of North Charleston.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/18/missing-f-35b-lighting-ii-fighter-jet-us-military-help-marine-corps-pilot-ejects

[3fan4life]

From the link:

The local Republican congresswoman, Nancy Mace, said: “How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”

I was thinking pretty much exactly the same thing!

[Valkorado]

From the link:

The local Republican congresswoman, Nancy Mace, said: “How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”

I was thinking pretty much exactly the same thing!

Not confidence inspiring.  Anyone have scuba gear or a personal submarine?

[old2soon]

    ring up china north korea and the russians. Dollar to a donut these dudes WILL find the missing multi million dollar jet aircraft.  RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

What's the point to Stealth if it advertises where it's at ?

[Willow]

It sounds like the pilot did a good job of pointing the aircraft to a lake, away from populated areas, before ejecting.

Those two lakes have depths of 75 to 77 feet.

Incidentally, the aircraft was not Air Force, but Marine Corps.  Involvement of the Air Force is likely because of the nearby Joint Base from which the plane likely departed.  Nothing in the report yet indicates what went wrong causing the pilot to choose to eject.

[Psychotic Bovine]

Offer a reward of $50,000 and everyone with a 4 wheeler or a boat will find it in hours.

[carolinarider09]

From Newsmax, "Unconfirmed reports say the F-35 has been found".   I could not find a similar statement on line in my search.

What I did not remember, again from Newsmax.  (From Link Below).

July 15, 2021

How China Stole The Designs For The F-35 Stealth Fighter

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/how-china-stole-the-designs-for-the-f-35-stealth-fighter/

[Jersey mike]

So we lost one of the most advanced combat planes in the world?

[scooperhsd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpFQ39U658U

Video on the things surrounding this particular incident.

[Jess from VA]

We've had 35 broken arrows (lost nuclear weapons), and 6 are still unaccounted for.   

[carolinarider09]

We've had 35 broken arrows (lost nuclear weapons), and 6 are still unaccounted for.   

Ummmm  That I have not heard before (well at least I don't remember it if I did).  WOW!!!

[Valkorado]

Sounds like they've found a debris field.

[Valkorado]

We've had 35 broken arrows (lost nuclear weapons), and 6 are still unaccounted for.  

Ummmm  That I have not heard before (well at least I don't remember it if I did).  WOW!!!

They even made a not so great movie about it.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0115759/

[carolinarider09]

From the link below:

Joint Base Charleston confirmed Monday night that found a debris field now believed to be the site of an F-35 crash two hours northeast of the base.

The base did not provide a specific area within Williamsburg County where the debris field was spotted, but asked members of the community to avoid the area as the recovery team secured the debris field.

Joint Base Charleston said it was transferring incident command to the U.S. Marine Corps as they begin the recovery process.

Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye could not provide information on exactly where the parts were found, but Bartells Road in Indiantown, which is near Hemingway, is blocked off, WMBF reported.

https://www.wistv.com/2023/09/18/debris-field-found-search-f-35-jet-williamsburg-county/

Indiantown, SC is about 68 miles NNE of Charleston about about 40 miles West of Myrtle Beach, SC.

[carolinarider09]

Just in case you are interested, in 1958 the U. S. Air Force accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb on Mars Bluff, SC.  The bomb was in 'safe" mode so there was no nuclear explosion just the "stuff" that is suppose to make the nuclear powered explosion happen.  Turns out there was a family living and out and about in this rural area.   You can read about the event at the link below if you wish.

https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/nuclear-bomb-air-force-south-carolina-1958.htm

This is about 38 miles north of the location the downed F-35 was found.

And I have been there on one of our bike rides to the beach, it is an interesting site. 

More information at the link below

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mars-bluff-crater

[carolinarider09]

Marines order grounding all jets worldwide over missing F-35: Report

From the link below:

On Monday, the Marine Corps reportedly issued a two-day stand-down for all aviation units over the military’s missing F-35 that disappeared after its pilot safely ejected due to a “mishap.”

Marine Corps Commandant Eric Smith issued the stand-down, which will take place this week for all aviation units in the United States and abroad, a spokesperson said, according to ABC News.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/09/marines-order-grounding-all-jets-worldwide-over-missing-f-35-report/

What was/is interesting is that I saw a "headline" that stated that the U.S. Military had issued a stand down order for all Jets.   As I was reading this "headline", two military jets flew over the house. 

How did I know they were military jet??  They were low and loud and their spacing was in keeping with Military standards for low level flight. 

[Jess from VA]

Marines order grounding all jets worldwide over missing F-35: Report

Each significant aircraft accident has both a 1) safety and an 2) accident investigation (each run independently).  The safety investigation is not concerned with fault, only with fixing planes and pilots to get better/safer results.  The accident investigation is concerned with fault.  I worked several accident investigations as legal advisor; the investigator is usually a senior pilot of the type of plane that had the accident.

The age old conflict in aircraft accident investigations is whether the accident was the plane's fault or the pilot's fault.  Politically, aircraft manufacturers and senior service personnel involved in choosing and designing planes hope the accident was pilot error (they don't want their precious plane to be at fault).  Flyers/pilots want it to be the plane's fault.

On the chance the plane may be at fault, it is quite common for all of those make/model planes to be grounded for time to make sure they don't have some system defect that could result in additional losses.

One of my investigations revealed the metallurgy in a jet engine fan blade retaining ring was substandard and not up to the tremendous torque of a B1B bomber aircraft.  The retaining ring let loose, the fan blades came off at operating speeds  (really high RPMs), cut through the fuel line (with fire), then cut through the titanium motor mounts, the engine dropped down, tore off and departed the plane (and landed in a farmer's field, and burned some crops we had to pay for).  The pilots did not know the engine was gone, but they knew they had a fire, hit extinguishers to kill the fire, and did an emergency landing at a remote runway in Pueblo CO.  Only when they got off the aircraft to look did they see they were missing one inboard engine.  Holy Sh!t!!  

All BiB bombers were grounded for a time.

The B1B was made by Rockwell, but the engines for it were made by GE, and it was GE's fault the fan blade retaining ring was defective.  No pilot error.  On the contrary, the pilots did a remarkable job of saving the aircraft and landing minus one engine.

It was decided to fly the aircraft to an AFB for (extensive) repair.  The missing engine was fairinged over to reduce turbulence.  No active duty B1B pilot wanted to take that plane off and fly it to the AFB.  They got a hot shot civilian test pilot who looked it all over and said no problem, and he did take off and fly it on only 3 engines.

 

[old2soon]

     I've just read that the F 35 C variant-U S M C-may have incorporated an Auto Eject Martin Baker seat. While I did in FACT train on the Martin Baker seat in 1964 what I learned then IS more likely than not outdated and I seperated from Active Service in 1968. The hover capabilty of the F 35 C as I understand it is Required BECAUSE of the hover mode. The down force fan may get damaged or quit and sensors supposedly take over faster than the Pilot can react. Article also stated It IS Supposition at this point in time as The Marines have NOT been forthcoming with Any information until After the investigation is finished. I was part of 1 or 2 accident investications and even in the 60s penalties for speaking without OFFICIAL OKEY DOKEY Were rather severe. RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

The Marine version is F35B, Navy version is F35C .

Air Force Version (F35A) can be looked upon as the "mold" or starting point, B  is Marine for the Hover, and C Navy has larger wings / more internal fuel. The Navy version can fly slower / more controlled for use on carriers. B and C models do not have an internal gun, but a gun pod can be added (like the earlier F4 Phantoms).

[old2soon]

The Marine version is F35B, Navy version is F35C .

Air Force Version (F35A) can be looked upon as the "mold" or starting point, B  is Marine for the Hover, and C Navy has larger wings / more internal fuel. The Navy version can fly slower / more controlled for use on carriers. B and C models do not have an internal gun, but a gun pod can be added (like the earlier F4 Phantoms).

    Thank You. Had to many numbers and letters flittin around in the old thinker muscle!  RIDE SAFE.

[carolinarider09]

This has been making the local news and some TV news, just in case you wanted to hear from the person who first called 911 about the plane and then the Pilot.

https://rumble.com/v3k4kgu-heres-the-911-call-for-the-f-35-pilot-who-ejected.html

[Willow]

This has been making the local news and some TV news, just in case you wanted to hear from the person who first called 911 about the plane and then the Pilot.

https://rumble.com/v3k4kgu-heres-the-911-call-for-the-f-35-pilot-who-ejected.html

Wow!  Listening to that exchange one realizes how incredibly stupid someone can be and still be a 911 operator.   

[ridingron]

I probably would have hung up the phone about half way through that recording time span. She was probably following some flow chart list of questions. Sounded like the pilot was more concerned about the plane's where-abouts, as he well should have been. The ejection story sounds a little fishy to me but as mentioned the military takes that kind of stuff seriously. Reminds me of the TV show JAG when the Admiral accidently ejected from the back seat of a jet.

[carolinarider09]

She was probably following some flow chart list of questions.

I will am willing to bet a small confectionary on the above being true. 

It would be very interesting to see what the "requirements" were for the 911 operator answering the call.  I am willing to bet it's highly scripted and probably on a computer screen and the answers are probably typed in.  That way it would be hard to change (well yes Serk could with no problem but....)

[scooperhsd]

The ejection story sounds a little fishy to me but as mentioned the military takes that kind of stuff seriously. Reminds me of the TV show JAG when the Admiral accidently ejected from the back seat of a jet.

Actually - on another Youtube channel I follow, he had a story where a SWO Captain was taking a fam ride in in F-14  - and the Captain accidently pulled the ejection handle. The pilot landed back on the carrier - sans Captain.

[Jess from VA]

When I got a backseat ride in an F16B, the Wing commander (my pilot) told me if I pulled the bright yellow handle between my legs marked EJECT for any reason other than he told me to or passed out, he would give me a general court martial (and he was the court martial convening authority).  I acknowledged the order.

I didn't even touch that handle the whole ride.  I doubt they have a hair trigger and probably require a good hard pull.  I think it would be hard to do by accident.  Unless you thought you were pulling on your willie.   


When I chopped a finger in the chipper and called the ambulance, the telephone operator wanted to keep me on the phone (at all times).  I told her I needed to go shut off the machine and wipe the blood off my front door.  She objected, and I told her I'd be back shortly (buzz off). 

[ridingron]

The 911 operators are probably filling the blanks on a chart so the paramedics have information when they get there.

[carolinarider09]

The 911 operators are probably filling the blanks on a chart so the paramedics have information when they get there.

 

[Willow]

The 911 operators are probably filling the blanks on a chart so the paramedics have information when they get there.

LOL!  I do realize she was reading from a script.  Whether the script was the correct one or not is open to question.  That the questions were from a script makes it no less stupid to ask them.

Perhaps they don't need humans as 911 operators.  AI could recite a script.   

[Jess from VA]

Has anyone noticed when you call ANY medical office these days and get a recording, they all start with... if this is emergency, hang up and call 911?  They don't do emergencies, and they don't want to get sued either.

Listen, I've run out of boner pills, and that's an emergency, and last time the ambulance came to my house, they didn't even have any boner pills.  So I'm not falling for that one again.        

[carolinarider09]

Just in case you might have been wondering about why the 911 service may not have been as good as expected in this event here is the reason.

It's a Federal Program. 

From the Link Below:

The National 911 Program's mission is to provide leadership and coordination in supporting and promoting optimal 911 services. This federal "home" for 911 plays a critical role by coordinating federal efforts that support 911 services across the nation.

Again, from the Link Below:

National Association of State 911 Administrators

The National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) promotes information-sharing among those states with programs dedicated to implementing 911 emergency telephone systems. NASNA serves as a resource to assist states with statewide implementation and maintenance, as well as identify and recommend minimum standards and appropriate legislation.

https://www.911.gov/about/

[ridingron]

The 911 operators are probably filling the blanks on a chart so the paramedics have information when they get there.

LOL!  I do realize she was reading from a script.  Whether the script was the correct one or not is open to question.  That the questions were from a script makes it no less stupid to ask them.

Perhaps they don't need humans as 911 operators.  AI could recite a script.   

 It probably is an on going gathering of statistics.  If she doesn't get the questionnaire filled out, the paramedics probably will have to do it.   With the government, you're not done until the paper work is finished.   

She did say the ambulance was on the way, I think twice. The pilot didn't seem to be in an emergency condition other than he lost his airplane.    

[3fan4life]

You would think that the pilot would have a number to call for such an event.

1 800 Find my Plane might work.