Long-Lost USAF Aircraft Possibly Found

Aviation archaeologist Pat Macha came forward on Tuesday, claiming that he and group of volunteers had located the wreck of a T-33A Shooting Star trainer aircraft that went down off the Southern California coast on Oct. 15, 1955 and has been missing ever since. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Macha says the aircraft, which was lost with two pilots aboard just after takeoff on a nighttime training mission from the Los Angeles International Airport, lies on the ocean floor underneath 100 feet of water. He says he identified the aircraft by matching Air Force records to the serial number on a piece of the wreckage. According to AP, Pentagon officials say Macha’s claim is likely correct, but further investigation is needed, including determining whether the wreck can be recovered. (For more, read CNN International’s Sept. 29 report.)