F-104 Starfighters did the “self-shoot down” bit as well: Shoot down towards a target on the ground. Continuing in the dive, the aircraft (already faster than the bullets) flies below the bullet trajectories (which are slowing down slightly due to air resistance), and then the airplane has to pull up from the ground and so slows down. Bullets come from “behind” and hit the Starfighter.
Misaligned gun or mis-attached/loosened gun pod on the plane could do it too. (And may have happened here.)
By the way.
Notice that the administrators want to find out “IF” the aircrew was “ever in danger” - WHEN THE BLOODY AIRPLANE HAD BULLET HOLES IN IT! That is WHAT BULLET HOLES DO TO AIRPLANES!
Bullet holes ALWAYS put the airplane and its crew “in danger” .
So did the F-11A Tiger. The first US plane to successfully shoot itself down when the test pilot fired the cannons while exceeding 800 knots. The aircraft caught up with the rounds and the engine was foddered.
My Dad told me these stories in the 50s. He worked at Republic, but it seems the stories made their way through all the aircraft manufacturers on Long Island at the time.
(already faster than the bullets)
Dumb question?
Wouldn’t the velocity of the projectiles be added to the velocity of the aircraft?