It was 1956, and Grumman Aircraft had developed a new aircraft that could counter the MIG-15, a Soviet jet fighter establishing its dominance over the skies of Korea, engulfed in a furious war between Communism and the Free World.

Like the Mig, Grumman had introduced the F11F Tiger: an innovative, swept-wing carrier-based fighter that had already achieved an impressive Mach 1 speed during its maiden flight, turning it into the second US Navy aircraft to reach supersonic speeds.

Test pilot Thomas Attridge was now testing the Tiger’s 20-millimeter guns off the coast of Long Island while simulating a dogfight. The pilot aimed at the ocean, then fired four quick, accurate bursts and immediately went into a dive. Precisely 11 seconds later, he noticed something unusual.
Something had struck his Tiger’s canopy glass and one of the engine intake lips. The Tiger began going down immediately. Attridge was sure it was a bird, but the truth was much more unusual…


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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.