And have a nice day (Jack Bog's Blog)

A friend of ours sends along this story that's apparently been circulating around the internet:

Two California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, North of MCAS (Marine CORP Air Station) Miramar. One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching near the crest of a hill.
The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and turned off.

Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact locked onto a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near the location.

Back at the CHP Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the USMC Base Commander.

Back came a reply in true USMC style:

Thank you for the message, which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, an air to ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked onto your equipment.
Fortunately the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched and your hostile radar was destroyed.

Thank you for your concerns.

Comments (4)

Reportedly a hoax, but amusing nonetheless:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/radar.asp

Posted by PMG | January 30, 2008 11:18 AM

Not hoax, true tale, I was there: In NY the 'mounties' set speed traps with a chase car paired for pursuit. Long ago, when radar was a tripod-mounted contraption, a friend in his spanking new long-nosed black Stingray, crested a rise in the beam, panicked, and locked 'em up -- in a spin. The trooper on station dove out his passenger door and rolled somersault and chagrinned. Bill kept it between the shoulders and brought it to rest, sitting to wait his arraignment, a good jog further along but short of sight of the chase car. When fuming came up spuming, all he could say was, "I got you on radar at a hundred-and-six ... going backwards."

Posted by Tenskwatawa | January 30, 2008 11:50 AM

As a former Marine (and chronic speeder) I can appreciate the inherent humor. It puts me in mind of another story regarding an exchange of dialog between an aircraft carrier's CO and a lighthouse keeper as they argued about who had the right-of-way.

Posted by Phil Hanson | January 30, 2008 6:42 PM

"Checkfire, checkfire - fast movers in the area..."

Posted by HMLA267 | January 31, 2008 6:30 PM

Search this site

About

Clippings

Archives

Links

E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

And have a nice day

Comments (4)

Sponsors

In Vino Veritas

The Occasional Book

Road Work