Debris field located in South Carolina in search for F-35
A debris field has been located in Williamsburg Country, South Carolina, that may be associated with the missing F-35. The Marines announced a two-day pause to address aviation safety and practices. Over the next two days, proper flight procedures, ground safety, maintenance and combat readiness will be covered. Congresswoman Nancy Mace did not appear to be satisfied with the briefing she received on this incident.
From Fox News:
The situation has perplexed Americans, including South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who said she had a very uninformative briefing on the incident.
One of the shortest meetings I’ve ever had, bc guess what, no one @usmc sent over to brief me and my staff had any answers. Shocker. https://t.co/86OUi4Oxtk
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) September 18, 2023
“One of the shortest meetings I’ve ever had, bc guess what, no one @usmc sent over to brief me and my staff had any answers,” Mace wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Shocker.”
Earlier on Monday, the Marine Corps announced that there would be a two-day pause in operations “to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices.”
The branch referenced three Class-A aviation “mishaps” over the past six weeks as the main reason for the stand-down. During the pause, Marines will focus on measures such as proper flight procedures, ground safety, maintenance and combat readiness.
“This stand down [is] being taken to ensure the service is maintaining operational standardization of combat-ready aircraft with well-prepared pilots and crews,” the Marine Corps said in a press release.
“This pause invests time and energy in reinforcing the Marine aviation community’s established policies, practices and procedures in the interests of public safety, protecting our Marines and sailors, and ensuring the Marine Corps remains a ready and highly-trained fighting force,” the press release added.
Fox News, Military.com, Axios, and Forbes provide additional information on this latest development.
Category: Marines, Military issues, Navy
Big question is how far did the F-35 fly after pilot ejected? What was the in flight emergency that caused the ejection?
If the reason is the pilot inadvertently grabbed the bang handle, then the stand down to review procedures becomes evident. “Yo! Jarhead! Don’t yank the bang handle unless you are doing a MiG-28 and your instrument panel is lit up like Christmas.”
Capt 1 “Once when I was a lieutenant, I lost my rifle for a whole day. It was really embarrassing.”
Capt 2 “I think I can top that. . . . “
I thought maybe it was an exercise, and he was trying to hang in a turning dogfight with a Stearman or a Sopwith.
The All Hands Self-flagellation known as a Safety Stand-around? Brilliant.
Yep. One guy shits his pants and now everyone has to wear diapers.
Well it’s Plane to see that the USMC plainely won’t give a plane answer to Ms. Mace which is a disgrace and is plane to see. I hope I don’t have to ex plane the comment. see you later Alligator.
Well you made that as plane as the nose on your face.
https://insidedefense.com/insider/smith-orders-aviation-pause-after-third-aircraft-mishap
Is “stand down” code for covering our asses while we come up with a good reason for losing an airplane?
It is code for “CYA while determining which E-level individual to scapegoat”.
Actually, a Safety Stand Down is SOP every six months in Regular Navy aviation. Don’t know about the Marines.
This makes no sense. A pilot ejects from a F-35 and then the plane flys about 100 miles on autopilot…
WHY DIDN’T YOU LAND THE DAMN THING???
Upon further investigation, authorities announced that although this was debris from an F-35, it is not the debris from the F-35 they are looking for. 🥴
LMOA!!!
The should have tied a lanyard to the aircraft and to the pilot, the way the Staff Sergeant does for the idiot PFC who keeps losing his rifle.
The pilot goes to Supply and tells the guy behind the counter “I need a missing gear statement.” The young Marine hands him the form. Pilot says “I’m going to need more paper.”
Then young Marine says, “Got more paper, but we’re all out of crayons Sir.”
Still missing, are we sure Biden didn’t sell and smuggle it to China?
I ask again…Anybody heard anything from Mick? Anyone? Bueller?
Odd that the ‘splaining hasn’t begun yet.
LOL at the Pepsi jet comment.
The bad part is some other poor SOB has to do the CASREP. Thanks, buddy.
Also, Robin Sage is going on so maybe the SF guys are really that good…..
There is never a time when an F-35 location is unknown. This story is too stupid to have ever been given a moment of credibility.
It’s almost Bernathian.
Why does Mace feel that she has any need to know? She is nowhere in their chain of command, and frankly other than being from that state, it is none of her business. Pretty arrogant behavior that I would expect from a socialist democrat frankly.
I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that the USMC told Ms Mace everything they know. Which at that stage of the investigation consists of: (1) An F35 crashed. (2) The pilot ejected safely. (3) We haven’t found the aircraft. She ain’t satisfied with that? She’s gonna have to wait.
I briefly saw a headline this morning claiming the pilot of theF35 “lost it” in the weather. Translation: the pilot lacked proper instrument flight skills or flew into bad weather (T-storms) as a matter of poor piloting choices. It’s going to be interesting how this pans out.
Will be interesting to hear what the wingman says. (Many places say it was a 2 ship flight)
Was this an Affirmative Action pilot? I’ve read elsewhere that this aircraft is barely flyable and turns into a fireball if it encounters any flack. Getting rid of the A-10 for this useless pile of dogturds?