Anniversary of a strange flight, 1997-2012

On the morning of 2 April 1997, three A-10 attack jets took off from Davis-Montham AFB, Arizona, for a live fire training mission at the Barry M. Goldwater Range, also in Arizona. The mission went according to plan up through a scheduled aerial refueling. Then one of the Warthogs, piloted by Captain Craig D. Button, USAF, left the formation and flew off on its own to the northeast — along with its load of four 500-lb bombs.

For the rest of the story — that is, as much as could later be learned or theorized — see these links:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/1997/11/suicide_watch.single.html

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-12-25/news/1998359025_1_force-pilot-air-force-button

and of course

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_D._Button

A mystery of the air that began 15 years ago today.