F-15s shattered homeowner’s windows while training in Florida during a recent low-altitude training exercise. Many residents across several towns reported various other property damage as well.
Residents in NW Florida (Putnam County) called the Sheriff Dept about it on March 2, 2024, unhappy that their homes were damaged and wanting to know what the heck was going on.
It destroyed my friggin house!
ABOVE: Listen to some of the 911 calls
”It destroyed my friggin house,” said one 911 caller. “I have major damage,” said another caller, adding “the lights were blown off the walls and ceiling, there’s glass everywhere.”
It’s unclear whether this was all due to a very low-altitude sonic boom, or a bomb drop. However the area in question is not a place where the USAF or USN are authorized for ordnance drops. Military pilots have used sonic booms before as a weapon in combat, to deter adversaries without actually having to kill them. It’s a very effective scare tactic.
Other residents who called 911 reported attic doors blown off, and trailers moved off foundations. One caller said he could see the jets dogfighting the day prior to his south, and noted that the loud booms happened twice back to back. No callers reported seeing any clouds of smoke or fire from an explosion, such as bombs dropped by mistake. One caller did note a strange “gas” smell following the boom.
Florida is a state where most residents are very supportive of the men and women who serve. None of the callers seemed angered at the military in general, but rather were upset and alarmed that the incident happened. One caller even said the crews should go offshore to train, where they won’t affect residents below.
Florida Air National Guard Takes the Blame
The F-15s involved are from the Florida Air National Guard (FL ANG). The FL ANG’s 125th Fighter Wing and 159th Fighter Squadron is based about 90 miles north in Jacksonville. FL ANG confirmed the incident to News4Jax, and has since opened an investigation. Naval Air Station Jacksonville said their crews were not involved, since many initially assumed it was them to blame.
“Florida National Guard command has directed that an investigation take place to determine the facts and implement any necessary measures to prevent this type of incident in the future,” the national guard said in a statement to News4Jax. “The Florida National Guard extends its deepest apologies for any resulting damage and the negative impact to the local community.”
The FL ANG has established a phone line for those residents affected, should they choose to file a claim for the damages caused.
The FL ANG has not confirmed whether the damage was caused by a sonic boom, or a bomb drop.
USAF and Navy aircraft typically train over the nearby Ocala National Forest, where land is set aside for them to drop bombs and conduct the kind of training required for them to fly, fight and win.
The FL ANG 125th Fighter Wing’s mission is to “provide air defense for the southeastern United States, as directed by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), from Charleston, South Carolina to the southern tip of Florida and across the Florida panhandle.”
