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US military asks for help to find missing F-35 fighter jet after ‘mishap’ sees pilot eject.

by Dave Hardin••92

Search for F-35B Lightning II fighter jet focused on two lakes after Marine Corps pilot ejected over North Charleston for unknown reason.

US military officials have appealed to the public for help to find a fighter jet after losing track of it somewhere over South Carolina when the pilot ejected.

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.

The pilot ejected almost directly over my house.  Not exactly sure how this Jarhead is going to explain that he lost his F-35.   I checked my yard, shed, looked up on the roof.  No sign of the missing plane so far.

I am not ruling out the Former Soviet hiding it for ransom.

Source: US military asks for help to find missing F-35 fighter jet after ‘mishap’ sees pilot eject | US military | The Guardian

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92 thoughts on “US military asks for help to find missing F-35 fighter jet after ‘mishap’ sees pilot eject.”

  1. Somebody took FJBs advice and is keeping it in his barn for a rainy day. Since FJB is planning on nuking us in event of a rebellion it could come in handy.

      1. F-106 did it in 1970. Pilot couldn’t recover from a flat spin, but the force of his ejection was enough to right the plane. It flew until it landed out of fuel, setting down gently into a corn field. It was so lightly damaged that it was put back into service for another couple decades.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornfield_Bomber

        1. So you’re telling me that an unpiloted aircraft did a better job of landing in a cornfield than Daniel “Crash” Bernath?🤣

    2. One would think that if the canopy was blown, and the seat left the plane, it would automatically disengage auto pilot.

      Kinda like touching the brakes to disengage cruise control on your car or truck.

  4. “Missing F-35 Sparks Widespread Mockery As Military Asks Public for Help”

    https://www.newsweek.com/missing-f35b-stealth-jet-south-carolina-us-marines-military-asks-public-help-1827675

    “The US Military is being mocked online after a military base in South Carolina appealed to members of the public to help locate a missing F-35 fighter jet.”

    “The @USMC [U.S. Marines] lost a F-35 today and are asking for the public’s help to find it,” one user of X, formerly Twitter, said in a post. “I suggest they put up some… flyers.”

    “Sounds like the stealth systems are working fine!” another social media user wrote. “It’s honestly ridiculous this plane isn’t already recovered,” another added.”

    2. The USAF can staple some “Lost F-35 reward” flyers on some of the utility poles in the area.

  5. I hope the pilot signed the hand receipt as “Dick Hertz” and any witness has a sudden case of amnesia.
    Wouldn’t be surprised if someone has turned the craft’s carcass into a bass boat already. (ok, it’s a repeat from SPotW thread but idgaf, that’s funny right there)

    A Toughbook was biggest item I was ever accused of losing. (Came close to blows with the CO after he called me a liar. God bless the XO for stepping in)

  6. Any of these talking heads actually participated in a search for a downed aircraft?
    Didn’t think so. Last one I was on was a burnt spot with a fuel slick in a swamp. Pure luck it was ever found.

  10. DANG! There’s a F-35 in here!

    Low miles, some front end and water damage, no low ballers I know what I have.

    1. No, the pilot of the F-35 survived!🤣🤣

      There once was a lawer named Dan,
      Who got himself thrown in the can,
      He was finally let out,
      Then went flying about,
      And that’s when the shit hit the fan!

      Man, that never gets old…🤣🤣🤣

  12. Well it could be worse. At least they found the nuke a B-47 dropped back in 1958. But a girl’s playhouse that is now a 50ft crater is easy to find.

    How deep are those two lakes?

  13. Wait?……Don’t these come with beacons that can be homed in on?
    I’d always heard that the F35 was a piss poor design and build, but really?……..

    1. They should have bought the extended warranty from LockMart that would have included a LoJack function.

  16. So if the aircraft was toodling along in autopilot, just how bad was this in-flight emergency? And does the autopilot have an automatic “draw a sky penis” setting?

  19. Yesterday, up in the air,
    I saw a plane that wasn’t there.
    I saw it though, and that’s no jive.
    It was a missing F-35.

  20. Need to cut a long piece of 550 cord and attach it between the pilot and plane. Just what we use to do to keep PVT Snuffy from losing his compass or leaving his rifle behind: dummy cord!

  22. “No shit Sir, I was just stooging around, minding my own goddamn business, I reached down to ease the seat back, and shit just exploded! Next thing ya know, I’m swinging under my ‘chute!”

        1. Hey, I like Space Oddity, but Schilling’s song just hits me in a certain spot. And, even though my German is limited to cuss words and asking for a beer, hearing this song in German is freaking awesome. After all, every rocket and missile in the video came to us courtesy of Werner von Braun and his counterparts. By the way, here’s a cover of Space Oddity by Natalie Merchant:

          https://youtu.be/uSvvGEsZ4R4?si=W2yWsodaxcGSfaG9

          I remember the first time I heard this was driving back to my hotel from a Matthew Sweet concert at Slim’s in San Francisco in late 1999 on my first visit to California. Until I found it on YouTube, I was starting to think it was me misremembering after a few drinks. I thought Natalie was a hottie in the early 90’s, especially after her MTV Unplugged performance with 10,000 Maniacs back in late’93/early’94 timeframe.

          1. Matthew Sweet… that goes back a few years! But then so does Peter Schilling. Major Tom was 1983 I think?

  24. The story that went around rural New England years ago was of the farmer who found an abandoned Rolls-Royce on his property. The farmer, in proper New England farmer fashion, took his pliers and, where they wouldn’t work, his hammer and fixed himself a new pick up truck.

    Now, I’m sure in these more modern times a South Carolina farmer could fashion himself something even better using an F-35 with parts enough left over for a new barbeque grill.

  25. *Looks at watch*
    *Checks TAH home page*
    *Looks at watch*
    *Sighs*
    Ok, who’s running this clown show?
    It’s 1900 Eastern and no mention of my former service’s birthday? What the fuck, guys?🤣

    1. 76 years of having good chow and breaking stuff.

      HBD, (Raytheon, LM, Boeing, etc, d/b/a as) USAF™

      “Aim High in that direction!”

    2. Happy birthday to the United States Air Force!
      And, because I’m now a Soldier and have always been a contrary sort:

      Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
      Climbing high into the sun;
      Here they come, zooming to meet our thunder,
      At ’em boys, Give ‘er the gun! (At ’em now, Give ’em the gun! now)
      Down we dive, spouting our flame from under
      Off with one helluva roar!
      We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
      Nothing’ll stop the Army Air Corps!
      (Verse II)

      Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
      Sent it high into the blue;
      Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
      How they lived God only knew! (God only knew, then!)
      Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
      Gave us wings, ever to soar!
      With scouts before and bombers galore. Hey!
      Nothing’ll stop the Army Air Corps!
      (Verse III)

      Here’s a toast to the host
      Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
      To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
      We drink to those who gave their all of old
      Then down we roar to score the rainbow’s pot of gold.
      A toast to the host of men we boast, the Army Air Corps!
      (Verse IV)

      Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
      Keep the wings level and true.
      If you’d live to be a grey-haired wonder
      Keep the nose out of the blue. (Out of the blue, boy!)
      Flying men, guarding the nation’s border,
      We’ll be there, followed by more!
      In echelon we carry on. Hey!
      Nothing’ll stop the Army Air Corps![3]

  29. I’m no pilot, but what kind of emergency requires bailing out when the plane is flying level?
    And keeps flying after the pilot lands in his parachute?
    Doesn’t seem that emergent yet.

      1. Story I read is that the pilot set the autopilot, turned off the transponder, and punched out. If true, step 2 is kind of odd.

    1. Lockheed had highly recommended the undercoat, the Corps chose the crayon-scented, phallic-shaped air freshener instead.

      Decisions have consequences.

      1. Don’t forget about the software package they purchased from a former Marine who now works for a proud, but humble software company located in Montgomery County, Maryland!

  33. Several reports said it was a 2 ship. Wonder why the wingman didn’t stay with it instead of returning to JB Charleston?

  34. Another perfectly good Fighter Aircraft turned into scrap metal. Was the Pilot fidgeting thinking “HEY, what happens if I pull THIS?”

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